A bookshop for anglophones in the middle of Paris. Shakespeare and Company is one of the oldest Parisian bookstores, founded in 1951 by an American, but also the most famous one. Tourists from all over the world line up outside this small shop on the banks of the Seine.
Right across Notre Dame, the Shakespeare and Company bookshop doesn’t look like much… Founded in 1951 by an American, this shop sells books in different languages. In front of its green facade with an awning overlooking the street, dozens of tourists are taking pictures. David is one of them. He discovered the bookshop on Instagram.
David : « So months ago, I am on some places to visit, some interesting activities, some off the beaten path, but it’s quite on the beaten path I saw because of the queue to go in.«
The shop had to hire a security guard
A queue so long the shop even had to hire a security guard, to deal with the curious visitors who saw the shop in a film or read about it in a guidebook. They were attracted by its retro charm. Jacka is an American student.
Jacka : “I come from a place where everything is so retail-oriented. Coming to a place like this, it feels very homey, even though it’s touristic.«
To keep the focus on the books, it is forbidden to take pictures inside. That’s good news for Britney, who is visiting from the Philippines.
Britney : “So you are actually really forced as a consumer to try to take it not just through the esthetic but really take genuine appreciation for the books that you are exploring and reading”
Shoppers do enjoy perusing the floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves. Most of them leave with a bag filled with books, sometimes even two. Books in English, sold by anglophones. Something Jacka, in France for a few months, is looking for.
Jacka : “It’s very nice because, I know it’s really hard for French speakers to speak in English, so I appreciate it. And you know, I feel like I don’t need to pull google translator, kinda straight to the point”.
Facing depression with books
Same thing for Astrid. Even though the Mexican is only in Paris for 2 days, she is seeking books on history that she can read in English or Spanish. Books often hard to find in foreign cities.
Astrid : « I have been in a few bookshops around Colmar and Strasbourg, and they don’t have books in English« .
Reading is crucial for Astrid, she says, to counter her depression.
Astrid : “This year, books and music saved my life, so coming here and seeing this bookshop it’s amazing.”
Shakespeare and Company is also literally a refuge. In exchange for working at the shop, writers, even amateurs, can board in several studios from one week to a month above the shop.
Elsa Fournier