Product Description

A Load Of Bull is the true story of an Englishman finding his way in one of the most perplexing, anarchic and exuberant cities on earth: Madrid.

In the late 80's Tim Parfitt blagged 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 sleep was something you only did at work. Tim Parfitt's rise from unwanted guest to paparazzi pursued mover in Spain's glamorous social scene is a hilarious comedy of errors.

'Hugely entertaining memoir ... frequently laugh-out-loud funny' Daily Express

'A love letter to Madrid ... brilliantly captures a truly eccentric and hedonistic place' Daily Mirror

'Parfitt's light touch and neat line in self-deprecating humour perfectly suits this entertaining urban spin on the old tale of Brits having fun under the Spanish sun' Sunday Times

'Vivid yet affectionate ... fascinating, escapist stuff' OK! Magazine

'Will do for Madrid what 'Driving over Lemons' has done for Andalucia.' Spain Magazine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160849 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

Daily Express
'Hugely entertaining memoir ... frequently laugh-out-loud funny'

East Anglian Daily Times
'A fast-paced, tapas-fuelled, sleep-deprived ride through Madrid before it was even a glint in David Beckham's eye.'

The Sunday Times
'Parfitt's light touch and neat line in self-deprecating humour perfectly suits this entertaining urban spin'

Customer Reviews

SOBRESALIENTE ("TOP MARKS" IN SPANISH!)
This is a gem of a read. If you are reading it and have never been abroad in your life before you'll find this highly enjoyable, if you've ever lived abroad you'll find it hilarious and if, like me, you've actually lived in Madrid you'll find yourself howling with empathetic laughter and just recognising so many truths about living in the great city and living among its people. So - yes: the ridiculously long (and delicious) WORKING lunches and returning to work a tad tired (borracho) is something I've encountered too (along with the subsequent bouts of farting that Tim delightfully recounts!). Yes - it's a nightmare to actually have what a hot blooded Anglo Saxon male would see as a "full" relationship with a senorita from Spain ( I was once told "calientan pero no queman - they'll warm you but they won't burn you) as per Tim's Odyssey of trying to find a true and "full on" relationship. The idiosyncracies of Madrilenos and foreigners living in Madrid is wonderfully told by Tim. I really do recommend this book if you've lived in Madrid or any of Spain's other wonderful cities (I actually lived round the corner from Tim's first apartment on Calle Lope De Vega in the centre - though at a different time) but even if you have not visited Spain (and by that I mean the REAL Spain) this is a great read and will warm yer cockles throughout. Tim seems a top bloke as well - down to earth and like any other single bloke from England when he first arrives in Madrid. If I ever bump into you in Madrid, Tim - te invito tomar una copa. Top marks!

Several Belly Laughs....
I have never been to Madrid but, having read Tim Parfitt's 'A load of Bull', it is now on my list of places to visit.

During the late eighties the author was sent by his employer to Madrid to help launch Spanish Vogue - his six week stint stretching to almost a decade!

'A Load of Bull' not only gives a delightful account of the characters he met, offering an insight into their way of life, but also details his comical attempts to get a grip on the lifestyle, the language and the senoritas! The easy style in which it's written, along with the author's sense of humour, makes it very readable.

It's funny - there were many chuckles and several belly-laughs too, but what I really like about this book is its honesty. Tim Parfitt seems like an unpretentious, nice guy and truly made me feel I was there living it alongside him.

If you are thinking about living and working in Spain then you should read this book, and even if you're not you should read it anyway and just enjoy the ride...

don't waste your time on this book
I bought this book as a gift for my English boyfriend as we are planning to visit my native Madrid soon and I thought it would be a good idea for him to get a humorous introduction to the city from a fellow brit's point of view.

After reading it, I am not sure that I can subject him to it. The author does not try to hide his distaste for tabloid-type magazines, but his own book consists of a collection of names that would usually only be found in those very magazines. More often than not, the name dropping exercise does not lead to even an anecdote or story, basically there is no point to it; and if you are not spanish or leaving in Spain, you won't even get who they are talking about.

The stories are not well developed and every other page you are left with a feeling of "so what?". And unfortunately, the literary quality is non-existent.

If you think this book can be compared to "A year in le Merde", think again. It was what I was hoping for, but this only managed a couple of laughs out of me.