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The story of the rise and fall of a bullfighter in turn of the century Spain, Sangre y Arena addresses themes both universal (rags to riches, the fleetingness of fame) and specific (the political & class struggles in early 20th C Spain). The protagonist is Juan Gallardo, born into a poor family & fascinated by bullfighting from an early age, who goes on to become a celebrated bullfighter. While I am not usually a big fan of a straightforward realist/minimalist style, I found it an effective way of telling the story. Ibanez lays out the facts for us to decide what we will make of it. The narrative has plenty of drama and sociopolitical details yet the story never devolves into melodrama or pedantry. In short, the book is an enjoyable read whose simple narrative conceals a powerful tale of ambition and loss. ( )