What Is the Oldest Bookstore in Paris?

By Robert Palmer

Paris is a city of culture, art, and literature. It has been the muse for many great writers and artists throughout history.

For book lovers, Paris is a paradise with its numerous libraries and bookstores. Among these is the oldest bookstore in Paris – Shakespeare and Company.

The History of Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company was founded by Sylvia Beach in 1919. The bookstore was originally located at 8 Rue Dupuytren, but it was later moved to its current location at 37 Rue de la Bûcherie in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The name ‘Shakespeare and Company’ was inspired by a bookselling firm with the same name that operated in Paris between 1910 and 1920.

The Bookstore during the Lost Generation

In the 1920s, Shakespeare and Company became an important meeting place for writers of the Lost Generation, including Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and many more. The bookstore played a significant role in publishing James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’, which had been banned in both America and Britain due to its controversial content.

Shakespeare and Company Today

The current owner of Shakespeare and Company is George Whitman’s daughter Sylvia Beach Whitman who took over the store from her father after his death in 2011. George Whitman was a friend of Sylvia Beach who founded the original bookstore.

Today, Shakespeare and Company continues to attract visitors from all over the world who come to browse through its extensive collection of books on literature, history, poetry, philosophy among others. The bookstore also has a popular reading room where visitors can read books for free.

The Legacy of Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company remains an iconic landmark in Paris that holds an important place in the city’s literary history. The bookstore has inspired countless writers and readers alike, and its legacy continues to thrive through the generations.

Conclusion

If you are a book lover, visiting Shakespeare and Company should be on the top of your list of things to do in Paris. This historic bookstore is not just a place to buy books, but it is also a cultural institution that embodies the spirit of literature, art, and community.