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. [1]

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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 publisher Charles Scribner's Sons. ^[1] A 30,000 word extract from the script was published in three consecutive instalments in LIFE during September 1960. ^[1]

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 ) ^[4] 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 bulls ears, its tail and a hoof. ^[5]

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. ^[6] 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. ^[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" ^[8] and "an almost perfect bullfight unmarred by any tricks". ^[9] From six bulls, the pair are awarded the trophies of ten ears, four tails and two hooves, an extraordinary feat. ^[9] 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 bullfighter Pedro Romero. ^[11]

References

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