From Notre Dame we crossed the bridge to the Left Bank to get to Shakespeare and Company, the cosy little English-language bookshop in the academic Quartier Latin.
Shakespeare and Company has been around since 1951, and since then the bookstore has been hosting writers in exchange for a couple of hours of voluntary work. It has provided shelter to some 50,000 people now.
The shop is full of new books as well as used ones. Apparently, there are also 8 makeshift beds all over the place, for the writers to sleep in.
A is one of the biggest literature lovers I know and she purchased a hardbound book here. I confess that I am sort of a mild hoarder of books, mostly of the travel and food literature variety, but I find the prices here rather steep, perhaps the markup is mostly because of the location and nostalgia. At this point, I’m perfectly fine scouring the Booksale outlets back home.
One of my favorite movies, Before Sunset, filmed here so it makes the place quite special as well.
Shakespeare and Company
http://www.shakespeareandcompany.com
37 rue de la Bûcherie 75005 Paris
Weekdays: 10am – 11pm; Weekends: 11am – 11pm
Metro: St. Michel / Cluny / Sorbonne
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Love that bookshop. Actually, all bookshops! I love your photos especially the stairs! You have a really great eye, I swear. Sigh. I wish I could have my own bookstore in a nice place, ala Notting Hill. That has always been the pipe dream. As for hoarding books, I don’t even want to think about my bad habit. I will suffer enough for it come moving time…
Thank you Mrs T 🙂 I hope your bookshop dreams come true, and then I will definitely come and visit 😉
OMG. It’s my dream to go here <3<3
Lovely photos, Frances dear!