George Whitman – Friday 12 December 1913 East Orange, New Jersey to Wednesday 14 December 2011 Paris, France
I first saw George Whitman at Shakespeare and Company on Tuesday 4 July 1989 during my first (of many) trips to Paris, France. Part of my coursework for the Literary section of the University of California at Berkley’s Travel/Study program was to attend afternoon field trips to various parts of Paris. On that American Independence Day, a visit to the world famous bookstore across from Notre Dame was much anticipated.
My first entry into George Whitman’s life work presented books in every possible space (no faceouts here) – outside and inside; the register right as you entered the store where books could be paid for in American dollars or French francs (Euros were a dozen years away); and the way onto the second floor that was an adventure in “climbing” skills. I went to Shakespeare and Company several times on that first Parisian trip and George was always around somewhere – at the register figuring the currency exchange for customer book payments, escorting collectors into the rare book building, or as in the photograph above, reading at the bookstore’s window.
Years later, when I lived in Paris, the bookstore was a regular haunt of mine for the poetry readings held on the second floor during the cold months and outside in front during the warm months. And it was a frequent stop on my way to or from my favorite place to hang out on the Seine’s Left Bank. From that first visit in July 1989 to the last visit (so far) in August 2002, Shakespeare and Company has been a central part of my Parisian experience, whether as a student traveler or as an all-too-temporary resident. Thank you, George Whitman, for providing me with one of the best experiences in the City of Light. May your next “City of Light” be book-filled and angel-inhabited. Salut George!
Images:
Left: Shakespeare and Company entrance, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo is © An Adrean Darce Brent Image
Center: George Whitman, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo by Dorothy McCorkle
Right: UC Berkley students outside Shakespeare and Company, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo is © An Adrean Darce Brent Image
I first saw George Whitman at Shakespeare and Company on Tuesday 4 July 1989 during my first (of many) trips to Paris, France. Part of my coursework for the Literary section of the University of California at Berkley’s Travel/Study program was to attend afternoon field trips to various parts of Paris. On that American Independence Day, a visit to the world famous bookstore across from Notre Dame was much anticipated.
My first entry into George Whitman’s life work presented books in every possible space (no faceouts here) – outside and inside; the register right as you entered the store where books could be paid for in American dollars or French francs (Euros were a dozen years away); and the way onto the second floor that was an adventure in “climbing” skills. I went to Shakespeare and Company several times on that first Parisian trip and George was always around somewhere – at the register figuring the currency exchange for customer book payments, escorting collectors into the rare book building, or as in the photograph above, reading at the bookstore’s window.
Years later, when I lived in Paris, the bookstore was a regular haunt of mine for the poetry readings held on the second floor during the cold months and outside in front during the warm months. And it was a frequent stop on my way to or from my favorite place to hang out on the Seine’s Left Bank. From that first visit in July 1989 to the last visit (so far) in August 2002, Shakespeare and Company has been a central part of my Parisian experience, whether as a student traveler or as an all-too-temporary resident. Thank you, George Whitman, for providing me with one of the best experiences in the City of Light. May your next “City of Light” be book-filled and angel-inhabited. Salut George!
Images:
Left: Shakespeare and Company entrance, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo is © An Adrean Darce Brent Image
Center: George Whitman, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo by Dorothy McCorkle
Right: UC Berkley students outside Shakespeare and Company, Tuesday 4 July 1989. Photo is © An Adrean Darce Brent Image
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