On the Left Bank of Paris, the English-language bookshop Shakespeare and Company has been a popular gathering place and lending library for expatriate writers from Hemingway to Joyce since the 1920s and 1930s.
The shop’s current owner, 95-year old American expat George Whitman, has handed over the reins to his 28-year-old daughter, Sylvia, who has big ambitions to take Shakespeare and Company–which until recently had no internet access or even a telephone–into the modern era.
Over the years, the store has housed literally thousands of writers and artists in need of place to stay and even today, a handful of nomadic writers still bunk down there. But in a sign of changing times at the store, the dusty, decrepit rooms for writers are being spruced up, while a café and small theater are also being installed. Sylvia Whitman has struck a lucrative deal with Rodier champagne company, who will sponsor author readings, and other new arrangements include hiring students at New York University to work and write at the shop.
A sponsorship deal with Eurostar gives visiting authors a free round-trip, first- class passage between London and Paris. Despite the changes, Whitman insists that the legendary bookstore will stay true to its roots. “I don’t need to rebrand the place,” she recently told Bloomberg. “This is the rebirth of the most powerful brand in the bookstore business.”
But however much some things may change, Whitman predicts the shop’s top 3 selling titles will remain the same: A Moveable Feast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Little Prince. The French government recently recognized the singularity of Whitman’s efforts by elevating the American bookseller to the rank of Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters, one of the country’s highest honors, and one that is rarely given to a foreigner.
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June 11, 2009 at 10:50 am
Rob V
I’m interested in the descendent of Walt Whitman – particularly since the poet had no documented children. Could this be a great grand-nephew rather than son? Or, perhaps, is this one of the famous bastard children Whitman claimed he had that never stepped forward for their modest inheritance after his death?
June 14, 2009 at 1:15 pm
noveldestinations
Hi Rob,
You’re absolutely right–George Whitman has long claimed (perhaps, tongue-in-cheek?) to be an illegitimate descendant of Walt Whitman, but it’s certainly not substantiated and therefore I’ve removed that attribution from the post. Thank you for drawing this point to our attention! — Joni
July 20, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Gary Wyatt
Hey,
Update on the Mark Twain boyhood home in Hannibal , MO.
Work is still being done to restore the Becky Thatcher home,and of course donations are still needed. Now they have found out the drugstore where Twain’s family actually lived upstairs in the apartment is also in danger of falling down. So….now the financial needs are even in more dire need now. Just thought I’d let you know. Again if you have questions or need more information please contact Henry Sweets at the boyhood home in Hannibal. Tell him I let you know about this too. Thanks!
Here is the press release for Grant’s drug store,and the apartment Twain lived in that’s upstairs.
http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/index.php/press-room/recent-press-releases/43-missouris-most-endangered-historic-places-for-2009-announced
Gary Wyatt
July 20, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Gary Wyatt
http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/
September 14, 2010 at 10:17 am
Arti
Just stumbled upon your wonderful blog as I was researching on George Whitman and S. & Co. I have just come back from Paris, and Bath… and just posted on them. I’m excited to read what you’ve written in all your posts! I’ll catch up. Hope it’s fine that I link you to my Blogroll.
September 24, 2010 at 9:24 am
noveldestinations
Hi, Arti. Welcome to NovelDestinations.com! It’s always a treat to meet a fellow literary traveler. Your blog is wonderful, and I was just reading your posts about Paris and Bath. I have yet to visit Bath, and it was fun to take a virtual tour. Joni researched the chapter about Jane Austen in Novel Destinations. We’re honored to be included in your blog roll and will return the favor. Happy travels! -Shannon
September 22, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Edward Renehan
Sorry to be late to the party. George is a grand-nephew of Walt.
September 24, 2011 at 1:21 pm
noveldestinations
It’s never too late to join the party! That’s such a neat literary connection — thank you for sharing.