American in Paris

Shakespeare & Co. in Paris is more than a bookstore and a library. Most of the prominent writers of the Lost Generation, such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein, consider it a second home. It is here that one of the most important literary friendships of the 20th century is made – including one between Irish writer James Joyce and bookstore owner Sylvia Beach. When Joyce's controversial book Odysseus is banned, Sylvia takes a huge risk and publishes it under the auspices of Shakespeare & Co.

The most famous and influential book of the century will bring its author success and notoriety, but that is not the case with Sylvia. Its strongest friendships and the future of trade are under threat as Paris, like the rest of the world, falls deeper into the global economic crisis. Sylvia, who has devoted her life to advocating for books that change lives and the world, is hesitant about whether Shakespeare & Co. represents the right path in life.

Published in translation by Barbara Klasová.