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Shakespeare and Company, Paris
Shakespeare and Company, Paris: A History of the Rag & Bone Shop of the Heart | Krista Halverson, Jeannette Winterson
23 posts | 6 read | 28 to read
A copiously illustrated account of the famed Paris bookstore on its 65th anniversary This first-ever history of the legendary bohemian bookstore in Paris interweaves essays and poetry from dozens of writers associated with the shop--Allen Ginsberg, AnaIs Nin, Ethan Hawke, Robert Stone and Jeanette Winterson, among others--with hundreds of never-before-seen archival pieces, including photographs of James Baldwin, William Burroughs and Langston Hughes, plus a foreword by the celebrated British novelist Jeanette Winterson and an epilogue by Sylvia Whitman, the daughter of the store's founder, George Whitman. The book has been edited by Krista Halverson, director of the newly founded Shakespeare and Company publishing house. George Whitman opened his bookstore in a tumbledown 16th-century building just across the Seine from Notre-Dame in 1951, a decade after the original Shakespeare and Company had closed. Run by Sylvia Beach, it had been the meeting place for the Lost Generation and the first publisher of James Joyce's Ulysses. (This book includes an illustrated adaptation of Beach's memoir.) Since Whitman picked up the mantle, Shakespeare and Company has served as a home-away-from-home for many celebrated writers, from Jorge Luis Borges to Ray Bradbury, A.M. Homes to Dave Eggers, as well as for young authors and poets. Visitors are invited not only to read the books in the library and to share a pot of tea, but sometimes also to live in the bookstore itself--all for free. More than 30,000 people have stayed at Shakespeare and Company, fulfilling Whitman's vision of a "socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore." Through the prism of the shop's history, the book traces the lives of literary expats in Paris from 1951 to the present, touching on the Beat Generation, civil rights, May '68 and the feminist movement--all while pondering that perennial literary question, "What is it about writers and Paris?"
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arlenefinnigan
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Pickpick

This is an absolutely gorgeous book. The charmingly chaotic structure of it kind of reflects the shop itself (a "socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore"). The narrative of the history of the shop is interspersed with photos, drawings, magazine clippings, people's recollections, and the mini-biographies that the Tumbleweeds who stayed at the shop were required to write, making it like a beautifully messy scrapbook. Brilliantly evocative.

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arlenefinnigan
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#ReadHarder challenge 10: a book set in a bookshop. Been really looking forward to this.

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AnneCecilie
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I couldn‘t find my own pictures of Paris and this bookstore, so I found one online.
Paris is my favorite city and I love visiting, and I can‘t wait to visit again.

I hope to be able to visit this fall, if not in the spring.

#HolidayEscape

BarbaraBB I completely understand. I would love to go to Paris too!! 3y
Centique Oh I definitely want to get here one day! What a great memory. 😍 3y
marleed I convinced my son and DIL to visit when they went to Paris in 2019. The loved the experience and purchased the Sylvia Beach book about the store as a gift for me. To add to the gift they posed outside the shop to match the cover art and had a stranger take their photo - just for me! It‘s still the post on top at this book! 3y
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britt_brooke My favorite trip so far, too! Definitely want to go back one day. 3y
Cinfhen I want to visit Paris again…haven‘t been since my honeymoon 34 years ago🤭 3y
Cinfhen Great story @marleed ❤️ 3y
SilversReviews LOVE this photo!! 3y
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Birdsong28
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marleed I‘ve never been to Paris but I did convince my son and DIL to visit this shop when they visited in September. They loved it. And they brought me back the Sylvia Beach book! And stamped with proof of where purchased! 4y
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Palimpsest
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Pickpick

Since I don‘t know when or if I‘ll get the chance to visit Shakespeare and Company this book is the next best thing! There is a section at the beginning highlighting Sylvia Beach, but the book centers on the new shop of the same name owned by George Whitman, his early travels (fascinating) the start of his bookstore in the 1950s and his vision of being a frère lampier. This is the history of the poets & writers who frequented the shop. Love this!

rretzler 😻 5y
8little_paws what a darling kitty! 5y
Palimpsest @8little_paws thanks! He‘s also a super sweet cuddler! 😊 5y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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I made it to Shakespeare and Company. It was a solo adventure b/c poor Mr. B is not feeling well. And also got to see Notre Dame from multiple angles as my directions kept telling me to walk on streets that were ultimately closed off. It is still beautiful, despite what has transpired. And the bookstore was tres bien as well. Only bought two books and three totes. (Gifts for friends!) 🇫🇷📚🇫🇷📚

Hollie Oooh I‘m so jealous! 5y
Lcsmcat I miss Paris! Post lots of photos, please. 5y
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TrishB Loved it there 💕 5y
Cathythoughts Great pic ♥️👍🏻 5y
Sarah83 Great pic 😍 5y
LiteraryinLawrence Enjoy your trip!! 5y
Leftcoastzen Mind is blown! One of my most desired destinations!Love your sunglasses! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Lcsmcat If you‘re on IG, all my photos are there first. I‘m @barbara_searles over there. 5y
Rachel_nyc Loving your photos on IG! Hope you got your books stamped from Shakespeare & Co. I love opening the books I‘ve bought there and seeing it since the memories just flood back. 5y
youneverarrived Great pic 💛 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Rachel_nyc I did get them stamped...of course! Now I have to keep them both forEVER! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Leftcoastzen It was lovely, and their cafe is sweet as well. Posting my purchases shortly. And thanks, about the shades. 😎 5y
BooknerdsLife @BarbaraTheBibliophage Great photo 😍😍 Have a wonderful holiday 🙌🏼📚💖 5y
164 likes14 comments
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LaraReads
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Oh, my goodness Helen! It got too late to post this last night. My heart is so full! ☺️ Thank you so much for sharing this piece of your honeymoon with me! 💕🧳✈️ The wooden bookmark from South Africa is just beautiful & the Parisian postcard & bookmark make me feel like I am right there! I am blessed! And I‘ve been inspired to keep all my #litsylove in my vintage train case. So just like reading, I‘m traveling the world with lovely friends! 😍

hermyknee So sweet! 5y
Crazeedi A perfect place for your #litsylove treasures! 5y
nelehelen I love that vintage case! Glad you like the small goodies. I‘m already putting that coloring book to good use. Thanks again! 😊😊😊 5y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful photo 💞💞 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @nelehelen beautiful couple!! Congratulations ❤️❤️ 5y
LaraReads Thanks! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I was posting to you as you were commenting. 💕 5y
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lauralovesbooks1
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Pickpick

A wonderful bookstore, a delightful book. Reading this was like returning to Paris for a few hours every night. #nonfictionNovember

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Rachbb3
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#bookmail 😀❤😀❤

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i.z.booknook
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This is the bench outside Shakespeare and Company bookshop and cafe in Paris.

“We spend our life, it‘s ours, trying to bring together in the same instant a ray of sunshine and a free bench.” - Samuel Beckett

I wish I could should you guys some pictures of the amazing inside but understandably they ask for no pictures.

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i.z.booknook
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This was outside the Shakespeare and Company bookshop and cafe today in Paris!

😍🇫🇷😍🇫🇷😍🇫🇷

LeahBergen Cool! 😍 6y
batsy Nice! 6y
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i.z.booknook
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In Paris today, I finally went to the Shakespeare and Company cafe and bookshop!

This was were Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald and many others would hang out when they were in Paris! 🤤😍

It‘s amazing! The whole vibe and atmosphere is gorgeous! The books are lovely, the layout is generous!

If anyone finds themselves in Paris it is a must!!!

🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

vicgreentoriafield I'm going in May and this is on my list! If you find any other must see bookish places let me know! 6y
TheBookStacker Ah Paris 😍 6y
batsy It looks lovely! Someday 🙌🏽 6y
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angrylilasian
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I would love to go to France. The food, the wine, the view. More importantly, ever since I heard about Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Company bookstore, I've wanted to go to Paris. I flipped through this book today and it's now at the top of my wish list.
#uncannyoctober #nfaboutacountryyoudliketovisit
@RealLifeReading

TrishB It's awesome 💝 I went earlier this year and fulfilled a life time wish! 6y
scripturient It's the best place. I was a 'tumbleweed' for a while in my early 20s. Best time of my life. You should definitely visit the shop! And to bridge the time, I recommend this book here: 6y
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TheLondonBookworm I really want to go there!! 6y
TheKidUpstairs I second @scripturient 's recommendation! Time Was Soft There is a great read for Paris lovers. 6y
angrylilasian @scripturient @TheKidUpstairs stacked! Thanks for the recommendation! 6y
JaclynW Definitely visit! I went this summer. I could live there! 6y
JaclynW @scripturient This book looks great! I'm adding it. 😊 6y
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Dogearedcopy
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When in Paris, head to the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookstore! Small, and jam-packed w/English language books & tourists, patience is required; but the selection is excellent #getindie

(Pictured: My dau holding a copy of 'Shakespeare and Company Paris: A History of the Rag & Bone Shop of the Heart' edited by Krista Halverson. The book has an "Independent Bookstore Kilometer Zero Paris" sticker on the cover, and is stamped on the inside)

ValerieAndBooks How awesome!! 7y
Lacythebookworm That's great! 😊 7y
LeahBergen Lucky you! I love that place (and have this book stacked). ❤️ 7y
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RowReads1
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Pickpick

This is one beautiful book. The pictures really give you a feel of the place. If you have any curiosity about the bookstore, especially after Sylvia Beach ownership ends, this is a great thorough resource.

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Embla
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Pickpick

The iconic Parisian bookstore seen through the eyes of its guests and clients.

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scripturient
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#TBRtemptation: Shakespeare and Company in Paris is maybe my favorite bookshop in the whole wide world - probably I'm just biased as I spent so much time there in my twenties. 😊 So this former 'tumbleweed' really wants to get her hands on this little gem. 😍😍

WanderingBookaneer I got this for @BookishMarginalia for Valentine's Day. 7y
LeeRHarry Love this book shop, was there last year, so good! 😊 7y
Heather_Reads It's so beautiful. I haven't read it properly yet, but I've looked at the pictures. You should treat yourself 😬 7y
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TrishB Going to Paris in June - can't wait to go there! 7y
BookishMarginalia 💜💜💜 7y
bananasbooks I love this bookshop, it's so cool and beautiful! 7y
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WanderingBookaneer
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Getting ready to give my beloved wife, @BookishMarginalia , her #BookishValentinesGift

BookishMarginalia Yes! Woohoo! Love my gifts! Thank you, wife! 7y
Cinfhen 💕💕 7y
Bibliogeekery You two are the cutest Litsy booknerd couple ever! ❤️📚 7y
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Bookladylinda Awwwwww!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
minkyb Beautiful! 7y
saresmoore 😍 7y
Hooked_on_books Great theme you put together. She's a lucky lady. 7y
LeahBergen Ohhh, what a wonderful gift! 7y
Mimi28 You guys are the most AWESOME of AWESOMENESS!!! 😎😎❤❤😍😍👍👍📚📚 7y
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Autumnscribe
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I am in love. This book is everything. History, Love, Hobo adventures, Paris, And of course, Books. And better yet it is full of photographs and first person accounts. Reading it is like spending a wonderfully rainy afternoon in your grandfather's attic; if your grandfather was a world traveler, iconoclastic intellectual who could has met every person of note to put pen to paper in the last 50 years!!!

LeahBergen 😍 Want! 7y
Autumnscribe @LeahBergen Get! It is so worth it. (edited) 7y
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DaniRa
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Pickpick

Merry Christmas to all of you, I hope you are all healthy and happy ?I received this beautiful picture of the bookshop in Paris "Shakespeare and Company" ....shows that your best friend always knows you best...❤ #bookishgifts

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Heather_Reads
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"I hope one day, I can take someone here and they'll understand.
They'll understand completely, even if they didn't before.
There is something cathartic about this place reading other people's stories - our vain attempt to keep ahead of a thousand and one things - cities, parents, loves, literature - all these things that continue to slip through our fingers - like sand.
Even if your heart is aching now,
I pray one day you'll find it full again."

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Heather_Reads
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I almost hugged the postman today when he delivered this little piece of Paris to my desk. Shakespeare and Company in Paris are doing book mail right - there are so many special little goodies in my parcel, the highlight of which is the handwritten note. Such a special package.

#bookmail

unabridgedchick Omg, covet! 7y
moranadatter That's fantastic! 7y
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Kkhalifeh
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I think a trip to Paris is in order soon....

LeahBergen Yep. 7y
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