Dear Sophie -
In 1919 SYLVIA BEACH opened her legendary independent bookstore SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY on the left bank in Paris. She championed all of the great writers thoughout the 1920's and 30's including ERNEST HEMMINGWAY, F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, GERTRUDE STEIN and published JAMES JOYCE'S "ULYSSES." She was a central figure to cultural life during this dynamic time.
The original bookstore was closed by the Germans during the occupation and never re-opened. There is another bookstore by the same name as an homage to Sylvia.
Some literature capturing this period includes Beaches own memoir "Shakespeare and Comapny" and Hemingways "A Moveable Feast."
With love,
Mom