Peruse the shelves for the perfect title.
You often hear of the parallels between travel and reading. They are mind-expanding, soul-enhancing acts that allow one to experience the sheer vastness of our world. Shakespeare and Company is the perfect marriage of the two.
The original Shakespeare and Company bookstore was owned and operated by Sylvia Beach. Being an English bookstore in the heart of Paris attracted familiar names such as Stein, Fitzgerald, and Hemingway. These expats would gather to read, write, or sell their work. Hemingway dedicates an entire chapter of his famous book, A Moveable Feast, to this lovely location and all its kindness.
Though the original has since closed, the new Shakespeare and Company seeks to continue the legacy. One can imagine they are alongside the great writers, as they peruse the shelves for the perfect title. There are books reaching up to the ceiling, while chandeliers illuminate the displays scattered throughout the floor. Antique clocks and chairs make the space feel dated, as though it is chock-full of secrets.
It is easy to get lost, both literally, in the massive shelves, or in time altogether, as the stories start to consume you. Either way, it is quite unlikely that you’ll mind. Once you do find the perfect title, the cashier will authenticate it with an official “Shakespeare and Company” stamp. After that, it’s yours for the taking - that’s when the story really begins.
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