Ive read a few other Hemingway books and confess from the start I am not a huge fan, with the notable exception of this one. It's non-fiction and considered one of his minor works, and I'm not entirely sure why – because the writing is exquisite. And I don't mean exquisite in a technical flowery way – I mean that it's one of the most evocative books I've ever read – transmitting so much more than the sum of it's parts – as only the very best authors can do. Death in the Afternoon tells you an awful lot about bullfighting and bullfighters (and it's fascinating stuff – you will agree after reading, I promise!), but it reveals just as much about Hemingway the man, and Spain the country. By the end you will feel at least a shadow of the love Hemingway has for the country, people and sport. Regardless of whether you have any interest in bullfighting (I certainly didn't before first reading it, although I do now), this is a wonderful book that gets even better with each repeat read.
