On Bullfighting

People have always been fascinated by the bull, its violent beauty and innate appeal as a symbol of sexual power. And the elaborate choreography of the bullfight also provides an opportunity to confront the other great obsession – death. To watch a bullfight is an extraordianry act of voyeurism. Beyond the theatre, the costumes and the well-worn plot is the fact that a man faces death while the crowd looks on. And so people are drawn to the areana to witness the ultimate spectator sport. They go to admire gracefulness and agility; to be horrified by the proximity of death; to witness a spectacle – all part of the business of watching an animal die. And that’s why people argue about bullfighting – whether it is a sport, an art form, or simply a type of stylized torture. The author explores them all, guiding the reader through the maelstrom of ideas.

Reviews of On Bullfighting

"One of the best books of the year." – Jeanette Winterson"A strange and beautiful book." – Michael Ignatieff""On Bullfighting" casts an unofficial eye over a world of male exploit; the public spectacles are treated with a fresh particularity, the inner landscapes of pain with an ardent, high-risk honesty." – Julian Barnes"From the Trade Paperback edition."