Ritual and Sacrifice in the Corrida

Allen Josephs paints a portrait of life in and around the world's most prestigious bullrings, demonstrating how and why the ""corrida"" (or bullfight) remains a sacred and integral part of Hispanic culture. Joseph's unromanticized account is the result of four seasons spent on the corridor circuit with Cesar Rincon, the most esteemed matador in Colombia. Following Rincon through Spain, France and South America, through the highs and lows of his career, Josephs develops a close and privileged relationship with him and is able to reveal an insider's view of the bullfighter's life and of the Fiesta Brava (""Wild Feast"") itself, never seen by the spectator. From his boyhood in the slums of Bogota to his extraordinary breakthrough 1991 season in Madrid, Rincon is challenged not only by the bull, but by the circumstances of his life. A national hero in his native Colombia, he is nevertheless the subject of frequent prejudice as a non-Spanish mataodor. Recreating the atmosphere of life on the road, Josephs details all-night drives across the Spanish countryside, meals in roadside cafes and conversations with fellow aficionados and taurine writers. He conveys not only an understanding of the art of bullfighting, but also an appreciation of Spanish culture, society and its psychology and traditions. Drawing on over 30 years of personal participation in the culture of the Spanish Fiesta Brave, Josephs brings an intimate knowledge of taurine technique to his account.