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  • Eye Prefer Paris is an ex-New Yorker's insider's guide to Paris. Richard Nahem writes his blog from his fabulous 18th century apartment in the fashionable Marais district of Paris

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« Christmas in Paris 2011: Jours de Fetes | Main | Merry Christmas 2011 »

December 22, 2011

Comments

Chezbonnefemme

I bet most all Americans who have visited Paris and Shakespeare & Company have a George Whitman story. Here's mine: We wandered there on our obligatory after-college backpacking trip in spring of 1983, and George immediately welcomed us upstairs to a sort of "salon" where other Americans were simply sitting around avidly chatting and discussing politics. It felt so....bohemian.

At one point, George asked us where we were from. We said "Des Moines, Iowa." He said: "Well, it's better than Council Bluffs."

A few years later, we wandered in again. He asked us where we were from. We said "Des Moines, Iowa" and he said, "Well, it's better than Council Bluffs."

So funny--I have to remember if he said that to every Iowan!

Another thing: In 2000, I published a book of short stories, and on one trip, I snuck a couple copies into Shakespeare and Company and slipped them on their shelves. I often wonder if anyone every picked them up!

Anyway, thanks for posting this wonderful story. I knew that someday, I would hear of George's death. How appropriate that it was from your blog!

Best,
Wini Moranville
author of the Bonne Femme Cookbook

Layla Morgan Wilde

Hi Richard, thanks for posting Michele's touching tribute to George. I'd read in the NY Times about his passing but this really hit home. It's the end of an era. I'll share on Facebook.
Happy holidays and all best for a incandescently fab 2012!

Blair

Thank you so much for sharing this post – my husband and I fell in love with this bookstore years ago on our honeymoon. I bought a small book on the history of the store – and it is definitely a treasure in my home.

We were beyond thrilled when we saw that the Ethan Hawke movie either “before sunrise” or “after sunset” which opened with a scene in the store.

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