Product Details
A Load of Bull: An Englishman's Adventures In Madrid

A Load of Bull: An Englishman's Adventures In Madrid
By Tim Parfitt

Price:

This item is not available for purchase from this store.
Click here to go to Amazon to see other purchasing options.


21 new or used available from $1.91

Average customer review:

Product Description

In the late 1980's Tim Parfitt talked his way into a job at Condé Nast in London and, from there, into a six-week stint in Madrid to help launch Spanish Vogue. Six weeks turned into nine years, and helping out turned into running the company. Tim Parfitt never saw a Costa and he certainly never bought an olive grove. Instead, he discovered a booming city in hedonistic reaction to years of facism, where the evenings lasted until dawn, sleep was something you only did at work, and five hour lunches invariably involved a plate of bull's testicles. Frothing with a language designed to make foreigners dribble, hospitalized by tapa-induced flatulence, and constantly frustrated by the unapproachable beauty of the women parading through the Vogue offices, he nevertheless falls in love with a city, a country, and its people—despite the fact he hasn't a clue what they're on about. Tim Parfitt's rise from unwanted guest to paparazzi-pursued mover in Spain's glamorous social scene is a hilarious comedy of errors.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1676100 in Books
  • Published on: 2006-07-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 254 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Tim Parfitt lives in Suffolk with his wife and children. This is his first book.

Customer Reviews

Very Funny Book5
I have visited Madrid twice as a tourist and I have few personal funny stories struggling with the Spanish language. But I have never close to the difficulties the author, Tim Parfitt had when he was living and working in Madrid. I found myself laughing reading each chapter, following the author's life story. His troubles trying to fit in with the Madrilenos, their eating habits and his hilarious insights of the Spanish culture.

I have to add, I really enjoyed how the book ended. Instead of Tom Parfitt lives happy ever after, which he does, the author has a surprising and funny ending.

Bill

Ticklingly True5
A darn good read that switches from funny to touching and back to banana-skins-at-dawn funny again. Parfitt's honesty gives the book the ability to mix the enormous range of human experience in Madrid and combine details of an amazing career.

The writing itself is pitched well: readable, clear and elegant. I chewed through the opus espanicus in a couple of days.

The only problem with 'A Load Of Bull' is I don't see how there can be a sequel - unless Parfitt has more untold tales up the sleeve of his tweed jacket?