Balade en Aveyron

 

Brantôme

Shakespeare & Co.

 
On the corner of Rue Bucherie, right across the street from Notre Dame, lies a small, modest bookshop called Shakespeare and Company. A faded yellow sign bears the shop's name and a black and white sketch of the bookshop's namesake.

Though the facade may appear simple and unassuming, Shakespeare & Co. is well-known throughout the book-loving community. It is the largest English bookshop in Paris. Events are hosted throughout the year, from poetry readings, singing performances, and readings from Pulitzer-prize winning authors. Visit their site to find Shakespeare & Co.'s current and future planned events.

As I stepped through the door, I felt like Belle when the Beast removed his paws and she first glimpsed his vast and magnificent library. Though Shakespeare & Co. is far less grand than the Beast's castle library, I was no less enchanted with its antiquity charm. Books lay in uneven stacks near the corners, piled on tables  in the middle of the floor, and spilling out of shelves that lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Quaint wooden ladders leaned against the bookshelves. Painted wooden signs marked different sections of the book shop: one for History, another for Fiction, another for Shakespeare himself, et cetera. Narrow, book-cluttered stairs lead to the Children's section of the bookshop, where books could be read on burgundy velvet cushions and plush couches, but could not be removed from the shop. Around the corner from the draped, cushioned reading corner is a small music room with a piano and sheet music. Tourist plunked away at the keys, trying to recreate a tune from memory. I soon recognized the garbled tune as Fur Elise, and eagerly asked if I could play it for them. They were delighted, and I enjoyed sharing my talents with the small audience in the bookshop.

Whether you come to browse the books, purchase a long-desired classic, listen to music, or escape for an afternoon in a childhood favorite, Shakespeare & Co. has something to offer everyone. It is a beautiful, charming little shop, and a must-see for every bookworm traveling through Paris.