Books: Metador

BELMONTE, THE MATADOR — Henry Baerlein—Smith & Haas ($3.50).

"He is ugly, very ugly, with bowed shoulders, rather bandy-legged and with an excessive chin. But, gentlemen, he was made by God and when he begins with the cape and when he unfolds his marvelous muleta he reminds us of his divine origin. . . ."

So wrote Don Modesto of Madrid, most feared of bullfight critics, after seeing Juan Belmonte for the first time. For the 15 years (1912-27) of Belmonte's ring career all Spain proudly echoed Don Modesto's opinion. Biographer Baerlein goes even further,...