Iconic, English-language bookstore stocking new & used titles in bohemian surrounds since 1951.

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Shakespeare and Company, nestled on Paris's Left Bank, is more than just a bookstore; it's a literary landmark steeped in history and brimming with bohemian spirit. Originally founded by Sylvia Beach in 1919, it served as a haven for expatriate writers like Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce, famously publishing Joyce's "Ulysses" when it was banned elsewhere. The current iteration, established by George Whitman in 1951, continues the tradition of providing a sanctuary for writers and readers alike. Known for its "tumbleweeds," aspiring writers who are offered lodging in exchange for helping out in the shop and writing a short autobiography, the bookstore fosters a unique community. Its walls, adorned with literary quotes and photographs, echo with the voices of generations of authors. A little-known fact is that Whitman named his daughter Sylvia Beach Whitman, ensuring the legacy of the original founder lived on. The shop's upstairs reading room, with its creaky wooden floors and overflowing bookshelves, offers a quiet escape from the bustling city outside, a place where the spirit of literature truly thrives.

Introduction

Shakespeare and Company continues its founder George Whitman's tradition of hosting aspiring writers as "Tumbleweeds," offering unpublished writers the chance to stay in the bookshop. As a Tumbleweed, individuals are provided with a studio, including a private bathroom, within the bookshop building, intended as a conducive space for working on writing projects and reading. Stays typically range from one week to one month. In exchange, Tumbleweeds support weekly events and contribute a one-page typed autobiography, including their address, profession, and a photo, for the bookshop's archives.

The program emphasizes providing time, space, and privacy for writers to develop their craft, with the expectation that residents will not publicize their stay on social media or invite guests. The bookshop provides a room with a semi-equipped kitchen, bed linen, and towels, but does not cover travel expenses, stipends, visa assistance, laundry, or paid work.

Interested applicants should apply via the provided form, noting that residencies are currently being scheduled for December 2025 and beyond. Suitable applicants will be contacted for a video interview. The Tumbleweed program, born from Whitman’s own experiences as a traveling "Tumbleweed," reflects the bookshop's motto: "Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise." The shop has provided a place to sleep for as many as 40,000 people over the years.

Tumbleweed Community

Sylvia Beach, an American expatriate, indelibly shaped Paris's literary landscape through her founding of the original Shakespeare and Company in 1919. Located first at 8 rue Dupuytren and later at 12 rue de l'Odéon, her bookstore became a haven for English-speaking writers, fostering a vibrant community that included literary giants like Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and T.S. Eliot. Beach's unwavering support for James Joyce led her to publish his groundbreaking novel, Ulysses, a pivotal moment solidifying her legacy. Her bookstore served not only as a purveyor of books but also as a lending library and a gathering place, embodying Beach's warmth and generosity.

Despite closing during the German occupation of Paris in 1941, Beach's spirit lived on. George Whitman, founder of the second Shakespeare and Company, recognized Beach's profound impact, naming his bookstore in her honor in 1964. This act acknowledged Beach as the "spiritual successor" to his own literary haven. Whitman's bookstore, while a separate entity, carries forward Beach's vision of a space for literary exchange and support, offering a sanctuary for writers and readers alike. The current Shakespeare and Company continues to embody the essence of Beach's original mission, serving as a bridge between cultures and a haven for literary exploration.

Sylvia Beach Legacy

Shakespeare and Company stands as a historic beacon for literary expatriates in Paris. Originally opened in 1919 by Sylvia Beach as a haven for the "Lost Generation" writers like James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and Ezra Pound, the bookstore fostered a community of English-speaking authors abroad. It served as a meeting place and a source of support during a pivotal time in literary history. Reopened in 1951 by George Whitman, in a 17th-century former monastery, the shop continued this tradition, becoming a gathering spot for expatriate writers such as Anaïs Nin, Henry Miller, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, James Baldwin, Richard Wright and Julio Cortázar.

Whitman's shop offered more than just books; it provided a space for writers to live and work, famously hosting over 30,000 "tumbleweeds" who slept among the shelves in exchange for helping out. This unique arrangement solidified its reputation as a "socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore." Today, Shakespeare and Company, now run by Whitman's daughter Sylvia Whitman and her partner David Delannet, maintains its legacy by hosting readings and book signings by contemporary authors, continuing to draw literary figures from around the world. The shop's enduring appeal lies in its rich history and ongoing commitment to supporting and celebrating writers in Paris.

Literary Expatriate Hub

Shakespeare and Company, located on Paris's Left Bank, has served as a haven for writers and artists since George Whitman opened it in 1951. Following in the footsteps of Sylvia Beach's original Shakespeare and Company, Whitman's bookstore quickly became a focal point for literary culture in expatriate bohemian Paris. The shop houses aspiring writers and artists in exchange for helping out around the bookstore. Since 1951, over 30,000 individuals have found refuge among the bookshelves, sleeping in beds tucked away within the store.

The bookstore's motto, "Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers Lest They Be Angels in Disguise", reflects its welcoming atmosphere. Early habitués included Beat Generation writers like Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, and William S. Burroughs. Burroughs is even said to have researched sections of Naked Lunch in the bookstore's library. Other notable visitors included James Baldwin, Anaïs Nin, Julio Cortázar, and Richard Wright.

Today, managed by George Whitman's daughter, Sylvia Whitman, and her partner, David Delannet, Shakespeare and Company continues to host literary events and provide a space for writers to create. The shop accommodates up to six writers at a time, offering them a place to stay while they work on their writing. This tradition reinforces the bookstore's role as a sanctuary for literary minds. The bookstore is a novel in three words.

Bohemian Sanctuary

Shakespeare and Company

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