The Paris Bookseller
A sweeping story of love, friendship and betrayal in bohemian 1920s Paris
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2.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
INSPIRED BY AN EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY...
'A novel I long to live in' Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network
PARIS, 1920. On the bohemian Left Bank, Sylvia runs a little bookshop called Shakespeare and Company. Here she welcomes the greatest writers of the day - and from the moment James Joyce finally walks through her door, the two become friends.
When Joyce's controversial novel Ulysses is banned, Sylvia is determined to publish it herself.
But championing the most scandalous book of the century will come at a cost - and Sylvia finds herself risking ruin, her reputation and her heart, all in the name of the life-changing power of books.
Set in post-war Paris, The Paris Bookseller is a sweeping story of love, courage and betrayal - and a breathtakingly beautiful love letter to books.
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'A worthy homage to Sylvia Beach and a love letter to all bookstores, libraries and the passionate and committed women who run them' New York Journal of Books
'I was completely enthralled' Natasha Lester, author of The Paris Secret
'An intriguing story, beguilingly told' Mail on Sunday
'Absorbing and beautifully written... transports you to 1920s Paris - and keeps you utterly captivated with its vivid cast of characters and their bohemian lifestyles' Heat
'A compelling coming-of-age tale, in addition to an impressive piece of historical fiction' Culturefly
'A book for the bookshop lovers . . . an absorbing novel about the life changing nature of our favourite reads' Belfast Telegraph
'A compelling and fascinating look at the world-changing mavericks who bonded, bickered and triumphed in the realm of literature' Nuala O'Connor
'A compelling portrait of a remarkable woman, who steps from the pages in all her charm, courage and vulnerability' Gill Paul
'Intelligent, fierce and filled with reverence for a fascinating epoch in literary history... a delight for readers and writers' Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of Light
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Maher (The Girl in White Gloves) offers an alluring look at the history of Paris's Shakespeare and Company bookstore. American writer Sylvia Beach is living in Paris in 1917 when she becomes enamored with bookseller Adrienne Monnier. Sylvia's passion for books outweighs her passion for writing, and with money provided by her mother, she opens her own shop. As Adrienne and Sylvia embark on a romance, they become immersed in the literary world of Paris, spending time with Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein. After Joyce's novel Ulysses is banned in the U.S., Sylvia takes on the task of publishing it. The printing costs strain her finances, and Joyce keeps revising the work, but as the tide turns a decade later, it proves a sound investment. Maher's portrayal of Sylvia ably capitalizes on the historical figure's singular life, highlighting how the bookseller and publisher embraced the progressive literature of the time and established a loving partnership with Adrienne that would not have been accepted in the U.S. This succeeds at carrying the flame for the lost generation.
