The story opens in Paris in 1917. Sylvia Beach, an American young woman wants to do something of importance. After meeting Adrienne Monnier, the woman who would become a central and important person in her life, she opens the first American bookstore in Paris. Shakespeare and Co. quickly became a meeting and gathering place for many of the expatriates living in Paris. It could be said that James Joyce's controversial book, Ulysses, shaped her future. She became the first publisher of the book which was something she had never imagined for herself.
The author skillfully brings to life the literary and cultural scene of Paris in the 1920s and '30s. The narrative is populated with the luminaries of the time: Hemingway, Joyce, Pound, Stein, just to name a few. It is easy to imagine lively conversations and the exchange of ideas. Publishing the book was no small feat and it came with personal costs, but her commitment prevailed.
Even though this is a work of historical fiction, it reads like a biography of a real woman who holds a notable place in literary history. I found the Author's Note to be interesting as it gives more information about this remarkable woman. Highly recommended.
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