Death and Money in the Afternoon: A History of the Spanish Bullfight [Hardcover]

Adrian Shubert (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0788197568 | ISBN-13: 978-0788197567 | Publication Date: February 1, 1999 | Edition: First

Bullfighting has long been perceived as an antiquated, barbarous legacy from Spain's medieval past. In fact, many in Spain have accepted the corrida as the embodiment of Spain's rejection of the modern world. The modern bullfight did not emerge until the early 18th century & was far from being an archaic remnant of the past -- it was a precursor of the 20th century mass leisure industry. Shubert analyzes the business of the sport -- replete with promoters, agents, journalists, & well-paid bullfighters who were exploited to endorse products -- & explores the bullfighter's world: their social & geographic origins, careers, & social status. Illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In our modern world, leisuretime activities are extremely common and very plentiful, but this was not always the case. Shubert's well-researched history of bullfights throughout the centuries reveals the Don King^-like promotion of the bullring even during the eighteenth century; the star treatment given to the matadors, earlier versions of today's high-priced athletes; and the selling of other products (concessions) that went along with promoting the bullfight. Shubert explores the history of the sport as we know it today. Star matadors are featured, most notably twentieth-century legend Manuel Rodriguez Manolete, and an entire chapter is devoted to female bullfighters. Spanish history cannot help but be tied up with bullfighting, especially in terms of economic and social aspects of Spanish culture. For those interested in bullfighting, Shubert's work is incredibly thorough, and his prose, though occasionally dry, is glib enough to keep even the most casual observer engrossed. Joe Collins --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An original and persuasive interpretation of an institution that has been intimately identified with Spanish society by Spaniards and foreigners alike for more than two centuries. Drawing on archivl evidence, travelers' accounts, trade journals, and legislative and political sources, as well as from the massive secondary literature, Adrian Shubert argues that, as an early and highly successful example of a commercialized leisure activity, the bullfight was `one of the most modern things in Spain' in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This is an engaging work of social history that will be of interest to general readers as well as specialists in the field."--Carolyn Boyd, Chair and Professor of History, University of Texas, Austin

"An impressive achievement of tone and scholarship over the usual bombast, this book is recommended for Spanish culture or large sports collections."--Library Journal

"A remarkable and wholy successful book. Offering a new interpretation of this most Spanish of Spanish pastimes, Shubert liberates the corrida from the machismo attributed by Hemingway and other foreign writers. In a word, capitalism is in, romanticism out, as Shubert, examining the business-side of the corrida, rightly sees bullfighting as a pioneer institution in the commercialization of leisure and sport. In doing so, moreover, Shubert alters the traditional view of Spain as a country out of step with modernity itself. Lucidly written, this book--like the bullfight itself--deserves a wide audience."--Richard Kagan, Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University

"Shubert's study is a delight. This is clearly the best one-volume social history of the classic bullfight available in any language."--Stanley Payne, Professor of History, University of Wisconsin, Madison

"Adrian Shubert's book on bullfighting is a major contribution to the social history of modern Spain but it is also much more--a scholarly, witty and endlessly fascinating book which helps us understand many of the enigmas of the recent Spanish past." --Paul Preston, Principe de Asturias Chair of Contemporary Spanish History and Director of the Ca�ada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies, London School of Economics. Author of Franco: A Biography, The Triumph of Democracy in Spain and The Coming of the Spanish Civil War

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 270 pages
• Publisher: Diane Pub Co; First edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788197568
• ISBN-13: 978-0788197567
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,334,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Factual and Incredibly Dry, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death and Money in The Afternoon: A History of the Spanish Bullfight (Hardcover)

In a clearly acedemic work the authors imparts a wealth of information about business of bullfighting in the 18th and 19th century. The different factions within the business of bullfighting, matadors, their assistants, promotors, bull breeders, the press, and the crowds are all examined in fine detail. Unfortunately, this interesting information is delivered as simply one fact after another with little consideration for creating an engaging narrative. By the end of the book you'll know a great deal about the history of the business of bullfighting but it'll be up to you to put the facts together the get more complete picture.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impartiality at Last!, March 31, 2000

By 

Diego Izurieta "pitamoncha" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death and Money in The Afternoon: A History of the Spanish Bullfight (Hardcover)

Adrian Shubert presents a historical view of the bullfights that is neither pro or con, which is very rare today. The origins, although unclear to everyone, are presented in an unbiased form. Having attended over fifty bullfights in my 34 years of life, I found it very refreshing to learn the importance of the bullfight, not only in the romantic and cultural sense, but from historical and buisiness facts. This was definately worth the money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Historical Guide to Bullfighting, March 11, 2002

By 

"tauromaja" (Mexico City, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death and Money in The Afternoon: A History of the Spanish Bullfight (Hardcover)

I am doing my thesis on bullfighting and find Schubert's investigation interesting and helpful. It may not be the most interesting topic in the world to people who aren't crazy about bullfighting but I feel that this would open doors to allow people to see the other side of bullfighting, instead of seeing it for the death that everyone thinks that it's about.