The Dangerous Summer
Encyclopedia
The Dangerous Summer is a book written by Ernest Hemingway
published in 1985, which describes the rivalry between bullfighters
Luis Miguel Dominguín
and his brother-in-law Antonio Ordóñez
during the "dangerous summer" of 1959. It has been described as Hemingway's last book.
. 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 publisher Charles Scribner's Sons
. A 30,000-word extract from the script was published in three consecutive installments in LIFE during September 1960.
, whose exploits in the bull ring and fighting technique Hemingway had written about in The Sun Also Rises
) across a season of bullfights during 1959. During a fight on May 13 in Aranjuez
, 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 bull's ears, its tail and a hoof.
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. 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 passés, Dominguín often resorts to what Hemingway describes as "tricks", moves that look impressive to the crowd but that are actually much safer. Despite this, Dominguín is also gored badly at a fight in Valencia. Ordóñez is gored again at another fight shortly afterward. 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" and "an almost perfect bullfight unmarred by any tricks." From the six bulls which they fight, the pair are awarded the trophies of ten ears, four tails and two hooves, an extraordinary feat. The final fight takes place in Bilbao
with Dominguín's receiving a near-fatal goring and Ordóñez's showing his absolute mastery by performing the kill recibiendo, one of the oldest and most dangerous techniques. The kill takes three attempts, displaying Ordóñez's bravery and artistry which Hemingway likens to that of the legendary bullfighter Pedro Romero
.
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
published in 1985, which describes the rivalry between bullfighters
Spanish-style bullfighting
Spanish-style bullfighting is called a corrida de toros , or fiesta brava. In traditional corrida, three toreros, also called matadores or, in French, toréadors, each fight two out of a total of six fighting bulls, each of which is at least four years old and weighs up to about Spanish-style...
Luis Miguel Dominguín
Luis Miguel González Lucas
Luis Miguel González Lucas was a famous bullfighter from Spain, better known as Luis Miguel Dominguín. His father was the legendary Domingo Dominguín; he adopted his father's name to gain popularity....
and his brother-in-law Antonio Ordóñez
Antonio Ordóñez
Antonio Ordóñez Araujo was a famous Spanish bullfighter.-Bullfighting career:Ordóñez was born Antonio Ordóñez Araujo in Ronda, Spain. He was one of the top bullfighters of his time. As a matador, Ordoñez came face to face with over 3000 bulls...
during the "dangerous summer" of 1959. It has been described as Hemingway's last book.
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 MagazineLife (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
. Hemingway summoned his close friend Will Lang Jr.
Will Lang Jr.
William John Lang Jr. was an American journalist and a bureau head for Life magazine.- Early career :...
to come to Spain to deliver the story to LIFE Magazine. The book was edited from the original manuscript by his American publisher Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
. A 30,000-word extract from the script was published in three consecutive installments in LIFE during September 1960.
Account of the season
The book charts the rise of Antonio Ordóñez (the son of Cayetano OrdóñezCayetano Ordóñez
Cayetano Ordóñez is the founder of the Ordóñez family of bullfighters.His parents owned a shoeshop called La Palma, which gave him his nickname . In 1917 he first began to perform as a bullfighter in the ranches of the area were he lived...
, whose exploits in the bull ring and fighting technique Hemingway had written about in The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises is a 1926 novel written by American author Ernest Hemingway about a group of American and British expatriates who travel from Paris to the Festival of San Fermín in Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls and the bullfights. An early and enduring modernist novel, it received...
) across a season of bullfights during 1959. During a fight on May 13 in Aranjuez
Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
, 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 bull's ears, its tail and a hoof.
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. 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 passés, Dominguín often resorts to what Hemingway describes as "tricks", moves that look impressive to the crowd but that are actually much safer. Despite this, Dominguín is also gored badly at a fight in Valencia. Ordóñez is gored again at another fight shortly afterward. 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" and "an almost perfect bullfight unmarred by any tricks." From the six bulls which they fight, the pair are awarded the trophies of ten ears, four tails and two hooves, an extraordinary feat. The final fight takes place in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
with Dominguín's receiving a near-fatal goring and Ordóñez's showing his absolute mastery by performing the kill recibiendo, one of the oldest and most dangerous techniques. The kill takes three attempts, displaying Ordóñez's bravery and artistry which Hemingway likens to that of the legendary bullfighter Pedro Romero
Pedro Romero
Pedro Romero Martínez was a legendary bullfighter from the Romero family in Ronda, Spain. His grandfather Francisco is credited with advancing the art of using the muletilla; his father and two brothers were also toreros...
.