- The Dangerous Summer
during the "dangerous summer" of 1959. It has been described as Hemingway's last book.cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=ix ]
Background
"The Dangerous Summer" is an edited version of a 75,000 word manuscript Hemingway wrote between October 1959 and May 1960 as an assignment from LIFE Magazine. Hemingway summoned his close friend
Will Lang Jr. to come to Spain to deliver the story to LIFE Magazine. The book was edited from the original manuscript by his American publisherCharles Scribner's Sons .cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=ix ] A 30,000 word extract from the script was published in three consecutive instalments in LIFE during September 1960.cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=ix ]Account of the season
The book charts the rise of Antonio Ordóñez (the son of
Cayetano Ordóñez about whose exploits in the bull ring and fighting technique Hemingway had written in "The Sun Also Rises ") [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=6 ] across a season of bullfights during 1959. During a fight onMay 13 inAranjuez , Ordóñez is badly gored, but demonstrates his potential by remaining in the ring and killing the bull, a performance rewarded by trophies of both the bulls ears, its tail and a hoof. [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=43-47 ]In contrast Luis Miguel Dominguín is a famous bullfighter returning to the ring after several years in retirement. Less naturally gifted than Ordóñez, his pride and self-belief draws him into an intense rivalry with the newcomer and the two meet in the ring several times during the season. [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=91 ] Starting the season supremely confident, Dominguín is slowly humbled by this competition, where Ordóñez displays breathtaking skill and artistry in the fights, performing highly dangerous classical passes, Dominguín often resorts to what Hemingway describes as "tricks", moves that look impressive to the crowd but which are in reality much safer. [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=7 ] Despite this, Dominguín is also gored badly at a fight in Valencia. Ordóñez is gored again at another fight shortly afterwards and then less than a month later, the two bullfighters meet in the ring again for what Hemingway described as "one of the greatest bullfights I have ever seen" [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=103 ] and "an almost perfect bullfight unmarred by any tricks". [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=109 ] From six bulls, the pair are awarded the trophies of ten ears, four tails and two hooves, an extraordinary feat. [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=109 ] The final fight takes place in
Bilbao with Dominguín receiving a near-fatal goring and Ordóñez showing his absolute mastery by performing the kill 'recibiendo', one of the oldest and most dangerous techniques. The kill takes three attempts, bravery and artistry Hemingway likens to the legendary bullfighterPedro Romero . [cite book |last=Hemingway|first=Ernest |authorlink=Ernest Hemingway |coauthors= |title=The Dangerous Summer|year=1985 |publisher= Hamish Hamilton Ltd|location= London|isbn=0241115213|pages=131-132 ]References
External links
* [http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/07/04/specials/hemingway-summer.html New York Times review by William Kennedy]
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