TheBestseller
Observatory
1949
THE BRAVE BULLS
Tom Lea
Cover of THE BRAVE BULLS

THE BRAVE BULLS

A Novel

by Tom Lea

Little, Brown. & Company · 1949

Peak rank

#3

Weeks on list

22

Debuted

May 1949

Chart History

#1510151949
dashed = off the list

22 weeks on the Hardcover Fiction list, peaking at #3

Action and glory of a matador, the idol of the bull ring. This is the story of Luis Bello, "The Swordsman of Guerreras", the greatest matador in Mexico, who is at the top of his profession, with everything that comes with it, money, a mistress, family and friends, bravado, the crowds are infatuated with him. But one day fear changes everything, he suddenly feels a fear that previously he had not felt in the invincibility that comes with healthy-macho-youth. His best friend and manager, Raul Fuentes, is killed in a car crash along with Luis's mistress, Linda de Calderon, after Linda and Raul had spent a romantic weekend together. This betrayal shakes Luis's beliefs about what has been real and what is real now. Now Luis must deal with these new-found feelings while at the same time facing the most feared bulls in all of Mexico, "the brave bulls". In his first fight after the auto accident he is gored by a bull because of the doubt and guilt that has come into the ring with him. In addition, while under the influence of Tequila, and some pressure from ring promoter Eladio Gomez, he agreed to let his younger brother Pepe fight these top bulls with him. Luis must now examine his life to find out where the courage comes from and if he can get it back.

All Appearances

6NEWMay 8, 1949wk 1
6May 15, 1949wk 2
5↑1May 22, 1949wk 3
4↑1May 29, 1949wk 4
5↓1June 5, 1949wk 5
4↑1June 12, 1949wk 6
3↑1June 19, 1949wk 7
5↓2June 26, 1949wk 8
3↑2July 3, 1949wk 9
5↓2July 10, 1949wk 10
5July 17, 1949wk 11
6↓1July 24, 1949wk 12

Details

Published
1949
Pages
296
Publisher
Little, Brown. & Company
Categories
Bullfighters

When you purchase a book through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review.