Shakespeare & Rosie’s

Paris, France

Saturday before work I decided to visit Shakespeare and Company bookstore before heading to work.

"I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations."- George Whitman, Founder of Shakespeare and Company.

The bookstore is a quaint shop located opposite of Notre Dame. It was started in 1951 by George Whitman as a place not only to sell books but for writers to come a write. There is an apartment above the shop where writers like Jamer Baldwin, Anaïs Nin, and Allen Ginsberg have stayed to work on their books.

During the Depression, George who was in his twenties set out on what he called his “Hobo adventure” and traveled around the US, Mexico, and Central America. He had $40 in his pocket and found himself relying on the kindness of strangers to help him. This was the inspiration for his bookstore.

“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. Since then, an estimated 30,000 young and young-at-heart writers and artists have stayed in the bookshop. - These guests are called Tumbleweeds after the rolling thistles that “drift in and out with the winds of chance,” as George described.

“Three things are asked of each Tumbleweed: read a book a day, help at the shop for a few hours a day, and produce a one-page autobiography. Thousands and thousands of these autobiographies have been collected and now form an impressive archive, capturing generations of writers, travelers, and dreamers who have left behind pieces of their stories.”

You can read more about the history of the shop on their website.

For all the times I've visited Paris, I've never stopped in the shop. I'm glad I went. It’s so cute and well-organized and the staff is delightful. I met a man named Cody from California who has been working there for seven months. He couldn't have been more helpful and patient in answering all my questions.

Photos are not allowed inside but on the main level, they have thousands of books in English for sale. On the second floor is a reading room with chairs and couches. They limit the number of guests inside to make for a more enjoyable shopping experience so there is typically a line down the street. It was my lucky day because there were only about 10 people in line when I arrived.

Shakespeare and Company publishes and sells their own exclusive copy of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. At the checkout, they will stamp and date the inside of the book as a keepsake and souvenir. Add this place to your list the next time you are in Paris.

After a visit to the bookstore, I walked over to see Notre Dame. It is still under renovation as you can see, from the fire on April 15, 2019 but it is scheduled to be open to the public this December.

If you haven't read about the fire and the investigation, click the link. Sadly, many human errors were made which is why the Cathedral was so badly damaged.