Sunday, 12 August 2007

Shakespeare and Company


I would like to live or at least to work in this independent bookshop in Paris. It´s definetely one of the most charming I have seen so far if not the most charming of all. A peacefull oasis for a passing-by book-lover like me. The location could not be better: on the Left Bank opposite to Notre Dame, in the Latin Quarter.

Surprisingly enough, I found the owner George Whitman on one of the little rooms upstairs. He did not seem surprised at all that I just walked into his assumed bedroom which was naturally bursting with old books. Just signed me to come forward instead of backing out to the staircase. Seems that in this house you never know what you will find behind the next corner - it is a maze of books peppered with pianos, cats and little notes from the visitors. Really unique atmosphere, somehow magical and overwhelmingly cozy at the same time. Felt like stepping into another world, thousands of miles from the busy bank of Seine. Sussi in Wonderland, part 2.

Apart from selling both old and new books, the house hosts writers. There are some beds here and where, some sinks and coffee cups, among some other marks of life like backpacks and arm chairs occupied by someone reading his favourite novel.

No comments:

Post a Comment