Death in the Afternoon
Quick Summary
Death in the Afternoon is a 1932 nonfiction work by Ernest Hemingway that explores the Spanish spectacle of bullfighting. Hemingway viewed bullfighting not as a sport but as a tragic ceremony and an art form where the artist faces the danger of death. The book delves into the traditions, rituals, and cultural significance of bullfighting, offering Hemingway's perspective on why it captivates some while being condemned by others. He famously stated that bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death. The work also touches upon Hemingway's broader themes of courage, grace under pressure, and the confrontation with mortality.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Juan Belmonteaficionado Ernest Hemingway wrote (in Death in the Afternoon, 1932) that Belmonte “would wind a bull around him like a belt.”
Read Moreaficionado Ernest Hemingway wrote (in Death in the Afternoon, 1932) that Belmonte “would wind a bull around him like a belt.”
Read More
bullfightingErnest Hemingway famously said in Death in the Afternoon (1932), “Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death.”
Read MoreErnest Hemingway famously said in Death in the Afternoon (1932), “Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death.”
Read More- bullfightingBullfighting and the arts
…the most influential—was Ernest Hemingway’s Death in the Afternoon (1932). It is in this nonfiction work that Hemingway opines why so few Americans and Englishmen become matadors:
Read More…the most influential—was Ernest Hemingway’s Death in the Afternoon (1932). It is in this nonfiction work that Hemingway opines why so few Americans and Englishmen become matadors:
Read More