For the purposes of this book, culture is defined as the arts, so the essays by various authors included in this book deal with literature, theater, dance, painting, etc., which could be very interesting, but not in this case. I got the impression that the essays were all examples of experts showing off how expert they are; very dry, lacking emotion, failing to inspire or excite. Too analytical, all head and no heart. For an excellent book on the modern life, living, arts, politics and all of Spain is "The New Spaniards" by John Hooper.

This well researched book gives readers a good overview of Spanish culture and Spanish history.

One of the many fine things about Spanish culture is BULLFIGHTING! Bullfighting is highly regarded among many peoples of southern Europe (and beyond) because it represents masculine power, virility and danger. The matador often represents the bravery that most people would like to display in the face of deadly danger. The fine art of bullfighting is really a salute to bravery. Bullfighting also is a form of pageantry.

The picador ("picker") sits on a large horse, spear in hand. His horse wears a padded cover so as to be protected from the raging bull. He impales the bull with his spear. The bandillieros then impale the bull with darts and sever the tendons in the bull's neck. The bull then runs with his head in a lower position.

The matador is the last to enter the arena. He must demonstrate his bravery by a series of cape manuevers prior to killing the bull with his sword. The more dangerously close to death the matador is, the braver he appears. The closer the bull gets to the matador and barely missing the cape, the better the bullfight. Bullfighting is really a ballet of bravery; it is a pageantry of masculine power.

People opposed to bullfighting feel it is cruel to the bull and some "experts" have described this fine sport as being sado-masochistic. The bull's demise in the arena is far less cruel and gruesome than the death he would face in a slaughterhouse. Bullfighting adds pageantry and bravery into the mix. I love a good bullfight, myself.

Matadors throughout history have been regarded as very brave men. Manolete, Joselito, Belmonte, Ordez...these are some of the men who have made the fine art of bullfighting even more so. Bullfighting is really a cultural art.