Kindle and Amazon may be sending shockwaves through the bookshop industry and threatening to close down purveyors of the printed word, but in France, which still counts thousands of bookshops-- more per capita than most countries-- independent booksellers are in many cases weathering the changing market conditions, and enjoy a loyal and enthusiastic customer base.
Paris has been one of the intellectual and artistic centers of the world since the Medieval period, when the scholars of the Latin Quarter brought Paris new prestige. So it's no wonder French people consider the traditional book to be quasi-sacred. Now that we're well into the autumn, one of my favorite things to do in Paris is occupy a good cafe table and lose myself in the contents of a book. With that in mind, I encourage the bibliophiles among you to explore (and bookmark for future reference) our new guide to the city's best bookshops: some storied independent sellers, like Shakespeare and Company (pictured), others chains with an excellent selection of English-language books.
Read More: Top Bookstores in Paris
Related Features:
- Seine-Side Booksellers
- Paris Flea Markets Guide
- Interview with Sylvia Whitman of Shakespeare and Company
- Budget Shopping in Paris
Pictured: The office at iconic bookshop Shakespeare & Company, decorated with portraits of famed writers Oscar Wilde, Anais Nin, and others. Courtney Traub/Licensed to About.com.
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