As I said, graphic design in Paris seems to be on the back burner, however there are some very cool places for the arty creative types (surprise surprise).
One of these places is the Shakespeare and Company bookstore on the bank of the seine just opposite Notre Damme, It was opened before the war and has had quite an interesting past, it published Ulysses by James Joyce, when the States and the UK banned it, it was closed by the Nazis when the then owner wouldn't sell Finnegans Wake by James Joyce to a Nazi soldier, it sold risque books like Lady Chattersley's Lover when it was banned in other countries and was a hotspot for travelling authors of the 'lost generation' like Hemmingway and Fitzgerald.
After its closure it was reopened by George Whitman, and american soldier who didn't want to go back to the USA, it followed on in the same tradition as the original shop, becoming a cultural point of reference for bohemians and authors alike, it offered a very open door policy to travelling authors offering them free accommodation in return for a few hours work in the shop. This tradition continues today with shop housing 70 beds for traveling authors and bohemians, in addition there is a piano which the owner encourage the customers to play, similarly the writing booth complete with typewriter and fresh ink ribbon is there for all the aspiring writers.
The shop is fantastic housing every book you could possibly wish for, 1st editions, re additions, classics, modern classics, fictional or reference, all aspects are covered, with velvet seats scattered around the upstairs for you to sit and read.
It is of personal interest for me as I am a big fan of American Literature especially Fitzgerald, so just to see the places he hung out, drew inspiration from and was a part off is quite an experience.
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