The Bullfighters

work by Montherlant

Also known as: “Les Bestiaires”

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Henry de Montherlant's novel Les Bestiaires (1926), translated as The Bullfighters, explores the constant threat of death faced by matadors in the bullring. The work reflects Montherlant's own search for intense experiences and heroism after serving in World War I.1

Bullfighting itself has a long history in art and literature, with depictions of man's struggles with bulls dating back to prehistoric cave paintings. The traditional bullfight, often described as a "dance with death," has captivated artists and writers for centuries, inspiring works by figures like Goya, Picasso, and Hemingway. While often controversial, bullfighting remains a potent theme in Spanish culture and art.2

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bullfighting
Bullfighting and the arts
…de Montherlant’s Les Bestiaires (1926; The Bullfighters) also deals with the matador’s ever-present threat of death in the ring.
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…de Montherlant’s Les Bestiaires (1926; The Bullfighters) also deals with the matador’s ever-present threat of death in the ring.
Read More

Henry de Montherlant
Les Bestiaires (1926; The Bullfighters), a novel about bullfighting, records his feverish search for the peacetime equivalents of the physical excitement, heroism, and comradeship he had found at the front during his two years of service in World War I.
Read More
Les Bestiaires (1926; The Bullfighters), a novel about bullfighting, records his feverish search for the peacetime equivalents of the physical excitement, heroism, and comradeship he had found at the front during his two years of service in World War I.
Read More