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An Ode to Shakespeare and Company
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Paris Bookshop Review
I'd seen Shakespeare and Company in the movies—from Midnight in Paris to Julie & Julia. And from afar, this piqued my interest in seeing this iconic bookstore.
Understand that I had worked in book stores for nearly two decades. And I have leisurely walked the aisles of hundreds of book shops, all marvelous in their own way.
But I itched to see Shakespeare and Company up close. Last summer, I joined my family in finally exploring this magical landmark on the literary map.
Nestled in the heart of Paris, just blocks from Notre-Dame de Paris, Shakespeare and Company stands as one of the most storied bookstores in the world.
Its birth traces back to 1919, when Sylvia Beach opened the original shop on the Left Bank of the Seine River. Beach’s original bookstore closed during World War II, but its spirit lived on.
In 1951, George Whitman opened a new English-language bookstore nearby, later renaming it Shakespeare and Company in tribute to Beach, whose many contributions included publishing James Joyce’s Ulysses in 1922, a novel then banned elsewhere.
"I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations."
George Whitman on Shakespeare and Company
Eyeing Shakespeare and Company’s facade, I was struck by this old world storefront that blended in perfectly with the surrounding Parisian ascetics. Visitors are greeted by a green wooden exterior with yellow lettering and a framed portrait of the bard himself. Widening the lens, I observed the chalk writing on the shutters—a tradition started by Whitman and known as the “Paris Wall Newspaper.” The blackboards, covering worn shutters and windows, feature daily messages, poems and quotes scribbled in white chalk.
Stepping inside, I anticipated an intriguing scenery and I was not disappointed. The rather rustic interior projected a charming, yet cramped vibe, with creaky wooden floors, narrow passageways, reading rooms, typewriters, and books ceiling-to-ceiling. A labyrinth of literary works or as Whitman imagined a “socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore.”
In the end, I spent hours there. And I came back a second and third time before leaving the City of Light. We walked away with several Modern Penguin classics, a bookbag, t-shirt, and bookmarks.
Surely I was smitten by this romanticized place where literature is not just sold, but cherished by visitors from around the world.
Visit Shakespeare and Company to get your own taste of this special booklover’s attraction.
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