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> The warren-like 17th-century building has played host to readings by authors ... James Joyce (who some claim is buried in the cellar) That's just...a very Pa
by skytreader 5y ago
> The warren-like 17th-century building has played host to readings by authors ... James Joyce (who some claim is buried in the cellar)
That's just...a very Paris rumor to circulate. :) Especially in the vicinity of Notre-Dame and the catacombs.
My Shakespeare and Co. anecdote: I visited them February 2020, just before the lockdowns (in fact, the Monday following my visit, the Louvre employees would go on strike due to COVID19). I was musing about whether or not their interior layout is intentional or accidental. It seemed to me it was a maze of nooks to just rest, read, or just marvel and soak in the ambiance. It's a cozy experience you don't have to pay for to just sit on a couch, browse a book, or observe people in there.
(I did end up buying two books, because how could I not! You can get it stamped with the store logo on the cashier so you can show it off to other bibliophiles.)
If you ever find yourself overwhelmed doing tourist-y things in Paris, find Shakespeare and Co. There is/was also a nice cafe outside, you can try out.
- rhblake 5y agoI mean, visiting Shakespeare & Co _is_ a very touristy thing :) They have a nice selection, but it feels a bit like a well-curated tourist trap these days (pre-covid, anyway...), with a large part of the visitors mainly there to take a selfie. Regarding Joyce: the present Shakespeare & Co is not the one of Joyce and Hemingway. That was a different store at a different location with a different owner, closed in 1941. The present one (1951-) wasn't called Shakespeare and Company until 1964. But for sure it also had its fair share of famous patrons. My #1 recommendation for English books (new and used) in Paris would be The Abbey Bookshop, which is not far from Shakespeare & Co. Run by a friendly Canadian guy since 1989. It's quite an experience.
- specproc 5y agoThey've got a tiny little branch in Vienna too. Great selection and incredibly well structured for browsing. I came out with a stack of books I'd have never found otherwise.