Krista Halverson

A book and a monument that you can wander through just as if you were in a bookstore itself.

This is a truly wonderful tribute to and history of the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris. It includes a mini-graphic novel that tells the story of Sylvia Beach's original Paris book store from the 1920's-1930's which was closed due to the German occupation of WWII and never reopened. It tells the story of George Whitman's youth through his diary entries and then his founding of his own store called Mistral Books in Paris in 1951 and how he inherited the Shakespeare and Company name from Sylvia Beach herself. The rest of the history is divided up into chapters by decade where the entries include photographs, archival tumbleweed (Whitman's petname for overnight guests) biographies, present day tumbleweed memories, newspaper clippings, etc. with an overall through-text (in oversize font to distinguish it from the rest) by editor Krista Halverson and a concluding section by Sylvia Whitman. Whitman's daughter Sylvia took over the store in 2005 and has modernized it into the 21st century with an online presence that will hopefully ensure its survival for times to come.… (meer)

What's not to love?? This is a biography of the bookstore itself as well as many of the people who have passed through it throughout the years. This is an amazing history of the wonderful place that touches everyone who ventures through its doors. Filled with many great photos and short bios of Tumbleweeds who have taken residence in this shop over its long tenure. This book is a must for anyone who has visited this fabulous place of history. I have visited it once, but after reading this, I must return. Fantastic!!… (meer)