When Joyce’s controversial novel Ulysses is banned, Sylvia determines to publish it through Shakespeare and Company. But the success and notoriety of publishing the most infamous book of the century comes at deep personal cost as Sylvia risks ruin, reputation and her heart in the name of the life-changing power of books… If you ever dreamed you could transport yourself to Paris in the twenties, to Sylvia Beach’s famous bookstore where Joyce, Hemingway, and Pound wandered the aisles, this story’s for you. Maher’s magical touch brings to life a woman whose struggles resonate in today’s world, while also examining the intricacies of friendship, fortitude, and the love of the written word.” This novel is full of real-life strong women making history. Were any of their actions surprising to you, given the time period? Do you think there was something special about Paris at this particular time that made their actions possible? Not every star is like the étoile polaire , chérie . Some are more elusive, more subtle. But they are no less brilliant, no less important."

THE PARIS BOOKSELLER | Kirkus Reviews

Silvia was also great friends with Hemingway and Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein so all these characters appear in the book also. American woman Sylvia Beach who lives in Paris dares to open an American book selling company in Paris. It was named Shakespeare and Company. This right here is what I love about historical books. I learn so much from them that I would have otherwise never known,

READERS GUIDE

In some ways, Cyprian was the reason they were in Paris at all, so Sylvia supposed she ought to be grateful. Her sister had a recurring part in a popular weekly film called Judex, which was so well known that the two of them were regularly stopped in the street and asked for autographs; occasionally, someone would even ask Sylvia for her signature, assuming she was some sort of up-and-comer hanging around with the glittering, gorgeous star. Sylvia would sigh and reflect that it had always been this way between her and her younger sister. Even at thirty years old, Sylvia was still riled that Cyprian could rely on her arresting looks to get attention, while she toiled in libraries and at desks, hoping her words and ideas might be discovered someday. In an overly enthusiastic gesture, Sylvia thrust out her hand, which Suzanne appeared amused to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle Beach." Could she ever write so bravely, knowing her minister father, whom she loved dearly, would read every word? It was one thing for him to quietly accept her spinsterhood, and perhaps even her discreet sapphism—for he'd never encouraged her to marry and he'd never questioned the friendships she'd had with women, which after all had run the gamut between entirely platonic and, rarely, heart-wrenchingly intimate—but it would be quite another thing for her to write about her desires with the kind of honesty she admired in the new writing she was starting to see in the more progressive journals.

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher | Goodreads

Shakespeare and Company is more than a bookstore and lending library: Many of the prominent writers of the Lost Generation, like Ernest Hemingway, consider it a second home. It's where some of the most important literary friendships of the twentieth century are forged--none more so than the one between Irish writer James Joyce and Sylvia herself. When Joyce's controversial novel Ulysses is banned, Beach takes a massive risk and publishes it under the auspices of Shakespeare and Company. Shakespeare and Company was a renowned Paris bookstore established in 1919 by a woman, Sylvia Beach. It was during a time when Hemingway, Ezra Pound, James Joyce lived and wrote and frequented Sylvia's bookstore, which was an anomaly at that time, since women were not encouraged to excel outside the home, and it took great fortitude to create the phenomenon that her bookstore became. In addition, she undertook to publish one of the most controversial novels of the times, James Joyce's Ulysses. Hi! So great to see you on Goodreads - it's such an amazing place for readers and authors to connect. United States v. One Book Called Ulysses was a 1933 case in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dealing with free speech. At issue was whether James Joyce's novel was obscene. In deciding it was not, Judge John M. Woolsey opened the door to importation and publication of serious works of literature, even when they used coarse language or involved sexual subjects. The decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit,on August 08, 1934, but it is Judge Woolsey's trial court opinion which is now often cited as an erudite and discerning affirmation of literary free speech. This was a fun book for book lovers. Many famous authors made appearances in the midst of a great story line. The heroine of the story was a strong woman with lofty goals during a time when women weren't looked upon as successful entrepreneurs. There were surprises throughout the book which kept my interest while reading. It was well written and the descriptions made you feel like you were there. I highly recommend this book for all types of readers.Scott Shane's outstanding work Flee North tells the little-known tale of an unlikely partnership ... La llibretera de París' és un homenatge a l'amor, en tots els sentits. L'amor cap als llibres i la literatura, que fan que la Sylvia s'embarqui en el projecte de la Shakespeare and Company quan sembla que té totes les de perdre. L'amor a l'ofici de llibretera, a donar vida a les llibreries i convertir-les en un punt de trobada bohemi i liberal. L'amor com a tal, lliure, desacomplexat i sense prejudicis. I París embolcallant-ho tot, un marc inconfusible, i la sensació que la història no podria haver succeït en cap altra ciutat. París era una festa. Havia de ser París. It was an interesting part of history, when Sylvia Beach opened Shakespeare and Co in Paris. In 1922, she published Ulysses of James Joyce.

The Paris Bookseller - BookPage The Paris Bookseller - BookPage

A PopSugar Much-Anticipated 2022 Novel ∙ A BookTrib Top Ten Historical Fiction Book of Spring ∙ A SheReads’ Best Literary Historical Fiction Coming in 2022 ∙ A Reader’s Digest’sBest Books for Women Written by Female Authors ∙ A BookBub Best Historical Fiction Book of 2022I was half way through this book before I realized it is essentially an accurate and lengthy biography of Sylvia Beach and her English language bookshop. Beach and her Paris shop, “Shakespeare and Company”, hosted many of the writers and thinkers of the early half of the 20th century. She came to fame with her publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses when no one else would publish it. In fact, America had declared it pornography and prevented it from being published or sold in the US. The novel also covers her relationship with Adrienne Monnier and Monnier’s French language bookshop. Both women were sponsors of American, French and British writers. That he is a very great writer but not a great man.” Was that what she’d (Adrienne) said? When they first talked about her publishing Ulysses? … “But he is such a genius.” “Geniuses are not always good husbands.” Silvia was a really interesting lady and a great friend and admirer of James Joyce and also published The book also captures the challenges for women trying to earn a name in the publishing business, but also the successes of individuals like Sylvia Beach an unsung hero who should have received more recognition over the ensuing years. I also thought the author captured the relative freedom for same sex couples in Paris vs. other countries during this time. I would recommend to anyone interested in Paris between the two World Wars and the many authors who called Paris home. This is a very personal story of Sylvia Beach and her life in addition to the bookstore. It opens the door to a world in the past with many fascinating moments to treasure. Sylvia calls her shop Shakespeare and Company. Discuss the second part of that name, and Company, and the way it arises as a theme throughout the book.