The Flamencos of Cadiz Bay Hardcover – January 1, 1993

This is one of the very few great classics of the flamenco literature; and it will never be rivalled, because the way of life it portrays has disappeared, for better or worse.Gerald Howson came to Spain to learn Flamenco in the 50's. Beginning by force of circumstance in the very unflamenco northern city of Vigo, he eventually managed to work his way to Cádiz, in Andalusia. There the gaditanos at first regarded him as an oddity, and then gradually came to accept him.This is his account of their way of life, and of the culture shock he had to go through to adjust. It's certainly one of the best books I've ever read, besides being essential reading for anyone interested in Flamenco. The easy and natural style brings all the scenes vividly to life.Central to the story is Aurelio Sellés (Aurelio de Cádiz), one of the greatest of the oldtime singers. Mr Howson's guitar teacher is given the pseudonym Efrén: but he seems in fact to have been Eloy Blanco (one of the books dedicatees), who can be seen on the DVD Rito y Geografía del cante Flamenco, Volume 18.Originally published in 1965, this book was commendably reissued in 1994 (by The Bold Strummer) in a revised edition: the pseudonyms of some of the characters who had passed away were reverted to their true names, and a postscript was added about the changes in Cádiz and Flamenco since that time. If you're not a collector then, I should say that the later edition is the one to get.

I just wanted to note that you can order this book directly from the publisher, the Bold Strummer, for about $25.00. I cannot understand the prices here. Ridiculous.

I was offered a copy of the original hardback version in 1971. The Bristol Spanish Guitar Centre were selling the book half-price to try to reduce their stock (I don't think it was selling very well at the time), but in those days I didn't have a lot of knowledge about flamenco, and even less about what it was like in its heartland of Andalucia. I decided not to buy the book then.It was only in the 1980's that I started taking a real interest in flamenco - learning to dance and play flamenco guitar - and this book was recommended to me by the late K Boundy (El Osito). Osito gave me such a romantic view of the old flamenco way of life that I thought it was about time to read the book. Alas, by that time it was out of print, and I never got around to finding a second-hand copy or ordering it from the library.Luckily the book has been reprinted and, although it is not the same as having the original hardback, the words still bring alive the life of flamenco at that time. I think everybody interested in flamenco should read it, and I can't do more than agree with Paul Magnussen's review below.