Shakespeare & Company, Paris

Shakespeare and Company, an English-language bookstore in Paris, offers an excellent choice of new, second-hand, and antiquarian books from various genres and periods. Whether you want to stock up on study materials, seek the latest titles from the British press, or perhaps search for some hidden literary treasures, this place has everything you need. And there are plenty of cozy nooks and crannies where you can take a break and just read or peruse books.

The shop was opened in 1951 by American George Whitman under the name "Le Mistral." It was renamed in 1964 in tribute to the original Shakespeare and Company bookstore and William Shakespeare's 400th birthday. This name change cemented the store's connection to its legendary predecessor, which opened in 1919 by Sylvia Beach and welcomed famous writers such as Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin, and James Joyce. Sylvia famously defied the system by publishing Joyce's "Ulysses" in 1922, but her store closed down in 1941.

After the war, Whitman took up the mantle, celebrating literary giants. The new Shakespeare and Company has been a cultural hub ever since, attracting authors like Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and James Baldwin, who found here not just a place to obtain books but a vibrant community. Described by its founder as a "socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore," this place has the tradition of hosting aspiring writers—referred to as "Tumbleweeds"—who stay in beds among the bookshelves for free in exchange for helping around the store, committing to reading daily, and writing a single-page autobiography for the store’s archives.

After George Whitman's passing, his daughter Sylvia took over in 2003, continuing the bookstore's legacy of literary fervor and community spirit. Despite facing significant challenges, including an 80% drop in sales in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the store has maintained its role as a literary sanctuary under Sylvia’s stewardship. The store’s motto, "Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers Lest They Be Angels in Disguise," perfectly captures its ethos of openness and hospitality. Since its inception, the store has welcomed over 30,000 guests.

Shakespeare and Company also made its mark in publishing, launching significant literary journals such as Merlin, which first published Samuel Beckett in English. The store's influence extends into popular culture too, featuring in films like Richard Linklater's "Before Sunset," Nora Ephron's "Julie & Julia," and Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris."