Founding & Sylvia beach
Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1919 by Sylvia Beach, an American expatriate in Paris. The bookstore quickly became a hub for English and American writers living in or visiting Paris during the 1920s. Notable figures like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Joyce frequented the store, making it a vibrant center of literary culture.
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From the first day the store opened, writers, artists, and intellectuals were invited to sleep among the shop's shelves and piles of books on small beds that doubled as benches during the day.at doubled as benches during the day
James Joyce
One of the most significant contributions of Shakespeare & Company was the publication of James Joyce's groundbreaking novel, "Ulysses," in 1922. Beach took the risk of publishing this controversial work, which went on to become a masterpiece of modernist literature.
WW2
During World War II, the bookstore faced challenges. The Germans interned the beach, and the store had to close temporarily. The war brought a pause to the vibrant literary scene that had thrived within its walls.
Reopening And George Whitman
After the war, in 1951, another literary enthusiast named George Whitman opened a bookstore called "Le Mistral" in Paris. Whitman's store was inspired by Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare & Company, and he later took the name and legacy of the original store, renaming his shop "Shakespeare & Company" in honour of Beach's contribution to the literary world.
Tumbleweeds
During the 1950s and 1960s, Shakespeare & Company became a sanctuary for Beat Generation writers like Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William S. Burroughs. The store provided them with a place to write, read, and engage in intellectual discussion.
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MOMENTS
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Today
The modern Shakespeare and Company bookstore is located at 37 rue de la Bûcherie. It remains a significant literary hub in Paris, attracting visitors from around the world. In addition to the bookstore there is a charming café where visitors can enjoy coffee, pastries, and light meals while enjoying in the literary atmosphere
