Customer Reviews

The Flamencos of Cadiz Bay

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This is one of the very few great classics of the flamenco literature; and it will never be rivalled, because the way of life it portrays has disappeared, for better or worse.

Gerald Howson came Spain to learn Flamenco in the 50's. Beginning by force of circumstance in the very unflamenco northern city of Vigo, he eventually managed to work his way to Cádiz, in Andalusia. There the gaditanos at first regarded him as an oddity, and then gradually came to accept him.

This is his account of their way of life, and of the culture shock he had to go through to adjust. It's certainly one of the best books I've ever read, besides being essential reading for anyone interested in Flamenco. The easy and natural style brings all the scenes vividly to life.

Central to the story is Aurelio Sellés (Aurelio de Cádiz), one of the greatest of the oldtime singers. Mr Howson's guitar teacher is given the pseudonym Efrén: but he seems in fact to have been Eloy Blanco (one of the books dedicatees), who can be seen on the DVD Rito y Geografía del cante Flamenco, Volume 18.

Originally published in 1965, this book was commendably reissued in 1994 (by The Bold Strummer) in a revised edition: the pseudonyms of some of the characters who had passed away were reverted to their true names, and a postscript was added about the changes in Cádiz and Flamenco since that time. If you're not a collector then, I should say that the later edition is the one to get.

This is one of the very few great classics of the flamenco literature; and it will never be rivalled, because the way of life it portrays has disappeared, for better or worse.

Gerald Howson came Spain to learn Flamenco in the 50's. Beginning by force of circumstance in the very unflamenco northern city of Vigo, he eventually managed to work his way to Cádiz, in Andalusia. There the gaditanos at first regarded him as an oddity, and then gradually came to accept him.

This is his account of their way of life, and of the culture shock he had to go through to adjust. It's certainly one of the best books I've ever read, besides being essential reading for anyone interested in Flamenco. The easy and natural style brings all the scenes vividly to life.

Central to the story is Aurelio Sellés (Aurelio de Cádiz), one of the greatest of the oldtime singers. Mr Howson's guitar teacher is given the pseudonym Efrén: but he seems in fact to have been Eloy Blanco (one of the books dedicatees), who can be seen on the DVD Rito y Geografía del Cante Flamenco, Volume 18.

Originally published in 1965, this book was commendably reissued in 1994 (by The Bold Strummer) in a revised edition: the pseudonyms of some of the characters who had passed away were reverted to their true names, and a postscript was added about the changes in Cádiz and Flamenco since that time. If you're not a collector then, I should say that the later edition is the one to get.