Description
Book SynopsisThe story of Sidney Franklin, a gay Jewish American bullfighter who triumphed over prejudice and adversity as he achieved what no American had ever accomplished, teaching Ernest Hemingway lessons in grace, machismo, and respect.
Trade Review“Interjecting his opinions clearly while letting readers judge Franklin’s motives for themselves, Paul presents an absorbing biography of a twentieth century original, a confidante, lover, narcissist, and bravura performer whose capacity for suffering captured one of America’s greatest literary minds.”—
Publishers Weekly “Lovingly and engagingly written.”—Kate McLoughlin,
Times Literary Supplement“Finally! A fascinating, in-depth, warts-and-all biography of the legendary Hemingway hero, surely one of the great picaresque and colorful enigmas of modern times. Ears and tail to Bart Paul!”—Barnaby Conrad, author of
Matador and
The Death of Manolete“A must-read for all those interested in Ernest Hemingway’s life and loves, even if bullfighting leaves them cold.”—Martin Rubin,
Washington Times “Since people began writing about the adventurous life of Sidney Franklin, be it Lillian Ross, Ernest Hemingway or others, [his story] seems to be shrouded in hyperbole, mystery, or just plain b.s. It’s taken Bart Paul to come along and tell the whole truth. I am very happy that after all these years, a real biography has finally been written. Congratulations, Bart Paul.
Por fin, la verdad.”—Tony Brand,
Aficionado práctico and scholar of bullfighting
“In this well-researched biography, Bart Paul deftly depicts the extraordinary life of the Jewish boy from Brooklyn who became the most famous American bullfighter. Franklin not only was Ernest Hemingway’s inside informant while he was writing
Death in the Afternoon, the writer arranged for the bullfighter to accompany him to Spain while he covered the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. Mr. Paul captures Franklin’s wavering fortunes, alongside all the glitter, the gossip and the turmoil of the taurine scene in the early to mid twentieth century.”—Valerie Hemingway, author of
Running with the Bulls: My Years with the HemingwaysTable of ContentsList of Illustrations
Introduction:The Alternative
Act One
1. The Bull
2. Que Viva Mexico
3. The Wisdom of the Aztec
Act Two
4. El Niño de la Synagoga
5. Thanks, Ma
6. Yanqui Flamenco
7. Death in the Afternoon –with Drinks and Dinner to Follow
8. To the Ear
9.Hard Times
Act Three
10. The Big Parade
11. A Fine Romance
12. The Beard
13. The Master Horn
14. The Sword
15. Separate Trails
16. Hemingway’s Gay Blade
17. The Alternativa
18. The New Man
19. Servalavari
20. Recuerdos
21. Sol y Sombra
Acknowledgments and Afterthoughts
Notes
Bibliography
Index
