Blood and Sand

By Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Vincente Blasco Ibáñez, W a Gillespie, et al.

Book Overview

Blood and Sand is a novel by Spanish author Vicente Blasco Ib����������ez, originally published in 1908. Set in the bullfighting world of Valencia, Spain, the story follows the rise and fall of Juan Gallardo, a talented but impoverished young man who becomes a famous matador. Gallardo's success brings him wealth, fame, and the love of the beautiful and wealthy Carmen, but also draws him into a world of jealousy, betrayal, and dangerous rivalries. As he becomes increasingly arrogant and reckless, he risks losing everything he has worked for, including his life.The novel explores themes of ambition, class, love, and the destructive power of fame. It is a vivid and gripping portrayal of the bullfighting culture of Spain, with detailed descriptions of the fights and the colorful characters involved.Blood and Sand has been adapted into several films and has become a classic of Spanish literature, cementing Blasco Ib����������ez's reputation as one of the country's most important writers.1919. Ibanez, Spanish novelist and political activist, also wrote The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which made him world famous. From the lowest ranks of poverty to unprecedented heights of riches and popular acclaim-thus was the career of Juan Gallardo, Spanish bull fighter. In telling his story, Ibanez has achieved a novel even more dramatic and powerful than his legendary Four Horsemen. From his boyhood Juan longed to be a bull fighter and, as he climbs the ladder step by step, the reader lives with him in the very atmosphere of the arena. No detail of the picture is spared-one can see and almost hear the actual battle-the crowds-the many characters that stream through the pages. And Juan himself, with his vanities, his superstitions, his daring attacks, his wounds and recoveries, emerges as real, vital and colorful as the sport to which he and many others dedicated their lives. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1417911352
• ISBN13: 9781417911356
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A critique of Spanish life

I have seen the film several times, always missing the piint, and seeing it as a personal tragedy for Gallardo. More importantly, after I read the book, in English, I found that it is a stinging critique of fascism, of catholicism in its primitive forms, of the wealthy and their sloth and a glorification of romanitc, populist truth in the form of the bandit who appears in the middle of the book(This is omitted from the film!)I found it powerful writing, full of magnificent symbolism e.g. when Gallardo goes into the Church to pray, and clean, evocative writing. I now intend to read it in el Espanol.

All About Juan

Who in the world is Juan Gallardo?This could be the question you're asking yourself. Juan Gallardo is a good looking young man who keepsthe family tradition of bullfighting alive.Afterliving in poverty most of his life,Juan becomesfamous and rich.He marries a pretty young womancalled Carmen.Their happiness is interrupted bythe sexy Dona Sol.Juan,who is naive and illiteratesuccumbs to Dona Sol's temptations,leaving behinda distraught Carmen and cuadrilla.Juan Gallardo is not clever.He has everything hecould want,but it is never good enough.He squandershis money on valueless items and alcohol ratherthen using it to do good for someone else.We pity Juan for this reason but also ask"Where are your brains?"Ofcourse we know that if Juan had had brainshe may not have been a matador.It is safe to say his theme song would havebeen "If I only had a brain."This is what makes the story interesting,besides, how often do we get to read aboutbullfighting?If you want to know what happens to Juanat the end, READ THE BOOK!!!