Sylvia Beach was enchanted by Paris when she lived there as a child. As an adult her dream was to open an English language bookstore there. Her first taste of a bookshop in Paris came when she browsed in Adrienne Monnier’s bookstore. The attraction between the two was instantaneous and Adrienne became a major part of Sylvia’s life when she opened her own bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, in the1920s.
The book is historical fiction, but it’s well researched and revolves more around the famous authors, Hemingway, Stein, Pound, and others who frequented the shop and became Sylvia’s friends than a romance. The most important figure in Sylvia’s life as a bookseller was James Joyce. Theirs was a strong bond. When Ulysses was banned in the United States, Sylvia decided to publish the book under the auspices of Shakespeare and Company. Although she championed Joyce and published his novel, they eventually broke when he went to a New York publisher. I thought the author did an excellent job describing the sometimes difficult relationship between the two.
Sylvia’s life in the bohemian areas of Paris is fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the glimpse of the soon to be famous writers who frequented the shop. The book is heavy on the historical detail. The author’s final notes on how she chose dates and characters to portray to keep the story moving are well worth reading. If you enjoy English literature, this is a must read.
I received this book from Net Galley for this review.
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