Bullfight - Hardcover

Garry Marvin

3.86

7 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 063115471X ISBN 13: 9780631154716

Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell, 1988

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Widely regarded as cruel and even barbaric by outsiders, the bullfight remains central to Spanish culture and continues to form an important element of the "romance" of Spain. But why is this seemingly bizarre and undoubtedly dangerous ritual confined to a small part of Europe and why do men risk their lives to perform with and kill wild bulls? In this work, the author investigates the importance of the bullfight for the Spanish people. He describes and analyzes every aspect, from the the breeding of fighting bulls, and the venues of bullfights to the "corrida" itself where the roles of human and animal participants reflect deep-rooted cultural themes. In doing so, he shows how bullfighting is the key to understanding Spanish conceptions of what it is to be civilised and what it is to be a man.

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Review:

"A balanced, readable, and unprejudiced account of a disappearing cultural phenomenon." -- Times Literary Supplement

From the Back Cover:

This accessible account explores how and why men risk their lives to perform with and kill wild bulls as part of a public celebration, describing and analyzing the corrida in a way not previously attempted in English.

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