Into The Arena: The World of the Spanish Bullfight

by Alexander Fiske-Harrison

A portrait of bullfighting in Spain, formed out of a journey beginning in Olivenza and ending in Zaragoza which covers the entire 2009 bullfighting season and also some training in the ring. Travel book and a personal ‘quest' and an involving exploration of a controversial subject.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spain, Journalism, Travel

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2011

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really terrific account of one mans 2 year journey through the Spanish Bullfight scene, complete with extraordinary characters and amusing anecdotes told in a prose that often delves into the dramatic and with its subject matter fits entirely. I didn't know anything about the subject just the hyperbolic English Media's account which a bit like a conservative election manifesto cant really be trusted, this book didn't make me want to see a Bullfight, it didn't make me want to campaign against it. It just brought me into a mysterious subculture steeped in tradition and history and I would recommend it to everyone.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since going to a bullfight last year in Spain I've been both fascinated with it and trying to figure out my fascination for something so undeniably brutal. The author of this book has kind of the same experience and takes it to the extreme -- first becoming close with bullfighters and their community in order to write about them, and eventually training himself to enter the ring. I've read four or five books on bullfighting in the past year, and this one is the best in covering the intricacies of the bullfight itself, its history, and the ethics of it, all very thoughtfully.

[Catherine Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very important to taurine literature in that it does not posture and swagger like Hemingway, it does not apologise like Kennedy. It faces the subject head on, flies in the face of fear, death and adventure, and Fiske-Harrison grabs the bull by the horns,literally, seeking out his place in the taurine world in order to experience the true meaning of what it means to fight and kill a bull. It is also completely impressive to me that he managed to infiltrate, befriend and continue to be validated,even impress, a number of many important bullfighting professionals, which is extremely difficult to do in decades, let alone a number of months for even a Spanish man, let alone English. A brave, sometimes caustic journal. Intriguing and addictive.

[Laurent · Rating 3 out of 5]

How much you enjoy this book probably depends to a great extent on how much you're interested in bullfighting. That said, most sporting literature is awful, and I'm sure that taurine writing isn't an exception. This book departs from this in that for a start, the author does not take refuge in well-worn arguments on the ethics of this, but openly acknowledges that it exists on the edge of an "ethical precipice". Instead of trawling through extant writing on the topic with its' attending clichés, he sets out to fight a bull himself, immersing himself into this strange and fascinating milieu. Whatever else you may think, the man has both intellectual and physical guts. Do him the courtesy of approaching his book with an open mind.

[Thomas Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Brit writer fell in love with bullfighting and even went down the path to be a matador-in-training. Along the way he introduces to recent bullfighting history, some important figures and behind the scenes elements, especiall bull breeding and traing. The author makes some convincing arguments that the "sport" (it is really sporting, like hunting?) is more humane than factor farming beef cattle, but in the end I am not convinced actually killing the bull for entertainment is defensible.

[Chris Newens · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, detailed introduction to the corrida. What's most impressive here is the access writer gets straight away to the very highest echelons of the culture. He's not rubbing shoulders with the plebs in the stands, but rather knocking back the sherry with aristo bull breeders and some of the most famous matadors of the modern era. This makes it good fun -- who wouldn't want to know what famous matadors get up to on their nights off? -- though also feels like it overlooks the roots of bullfighting culture.

Also, I got the sense that Fiske-Harrison makes too good a friend of all the people he's writing about to really pick apart their personalities and motivations on the page. We get some good stuff about his own inner conflict about the morality of bullfighting, but other 'characters' are often lionised into two-dimensionality.

This being said, for an introduction to this strange and fascinating culture, I know of no better book in English. Fiske-Harrison is much more comprehensive and ethically rigorous than Hemingway, even if his prose style doesn't scale such lofty heights.

[Alexander Fiske-harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just thought I'd add some press quotes etc. to the page. For more, go to http:www.intothearena.co.uk

The book was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2011, aka, the Bookie Prize. It was also selected for the following lists:

“Most inspiring sports book for Christmas” Sunday Times 2011
“Sports Books for Christmas” Sunday Telegraph 2011
“Best summer holiday reads” Sunday Telegraph 2011
“Essential summer reading” Sunday Times 2011

Here is what the reviewers said

“Complex and ambitious. Compelling and lyrical.”
Mail on Sunday *****

“An engrossing introduction to Spain’s ‘great feast of art and danger’…brilliantly capturing a fascinating, intoxicating culture.”
Sunday Times

“A compelling read, unusual for its genre, exalting the bullfight as pure theatre.”
Sunday Telegraph

“An informed piece of work on a subject about which we are all expected to have a view.”
Daily Mail

“Thrilling. An engrossing introduction to bullfighting.”
Financial Times

“Fantastic. A fascinating insight into a world we know little about but are quick to judge.”
Metro


“An informative and breathtaking volume of gonzo journalism”
The Herald (Scotland)

“Intoxicating. Pulses with the writer’s love of the world and the people he has found himself among.”
The Australian (Australia)

“A thoughtful, well-researched and deeply felt investigation… vivid evocations of men who risk their lives in a beautiful, vulgar battle with the bulls.”
The Prague Post (Czech Republic)


“An entertaining account seeks a demonstration of the values which distinguish bullfighting from butchery.”
The Spectator

“Particularly good. Transposes spectacle into words with great success, conveying the drama with eloquence and precision.”
Literary Review

“An engaging adventure story of a young man pursuing a dream with determination and courage.”
The Times Literary Supplement


“To his credit, Fiske-Harrison acknowledges the morally questionable nature of the bullfight. And the book contains interesting explorations of concepts such as fear, bravery and drive.”
League Against Cruel Sports

“A larger than life character. A hugely enjoyable and easy read. Moving and instructive.”
Club Taurino of London

“One of the most engaging books on the Bulls I have ever read. One feels every failure, every success, every thrill.”
Taurine Bibliophiles of America

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not terribly well written, but what is deeply impressive about this book is the degree to which Fiske-Harrison has penetrated, and been accepted into, the fold of today's top name bullfighters, giving some fascinating behind the scenes accounts of hugely famous toreros. The transformation of his attitude from a certain averseness to bullfighting, to the intelligent understanding that fighting bulls lead greater lives and die better deaths than the cattle the world unthinkingly eats is to be admired, as are his attempts to get into the ring brandishing a muleta himself.

[John Furnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books on the subject of bullfighting that I have read in English. This book is honest. The author expounds on what he likes about bullfighting and also what he dislikes about it without pulling any punches. In order to get to the absolute essence of the spectacle he even trains to become a bullfighter and tells it like it is.
If you're interested in knowing more about bullfighting (whatever your motives) or you want to know why it's so popular, this book is an excellent place to start.

[BVZM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micro-recensioni per questo e per altri libri in questo post sul mio blog.

Finalmente, dopo quasi dieci anni che ce l'ho, ho letto Into the Arena , saggio autobiografico di uno scrittore inglese sulla corrida e sulla sua, appunto, esperienza nell'arena contro un toro. Come forse era l'intento dell'autore, invece di chiarirmi le idee sulla Fiesta de los Toros, me le ha confuse.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, with lots of information about bull fighting and the write clearly had a lot of insight due to good research and trying to become a part of the community of matadors.
However a lot of this book is about himself and random nights which sometimes, as someone who was looking to learn about bullfighting, was irrelevant and distracting.

Overall a good read though.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting subject almost completely ruined by the awful writing of the most uncharismatic author in the history of the world. Read the bits about the bullfighting and matadors, ignore completely any part where the author talks about himself and you'll be fine.

[Max · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tried to finish it but lost interest before halfway. It's not bad, just didn't manage to engage me at all