Shakespeare & Co. and A Tale of Two Cities

Paris 5ème

Shakespeare & Company is my very favorite bookshop in Paris, and A Tale of Two Cities is one of my absolute favorite reads. I could not, therefore, resist purchasing a cute little edition of it while book-browsing by Notre Dame a few weeks ago.

Shakespeare & Co. is utterly magical. The prettiest editions of every classic are lined up in the loveliest way along seemingly endless shelves… they really do seem to go on forever; no exaggeration or romanticism intended. I wanted a copy of nearly everything, but was somehow able to narrow my wish-list down to merely two novels. Photographs are not permitted inside the store, so you’ll have to visit yourself to experience book-nerd heaven. I can’t think of a better reason to ‘book’ a holiday to Paris ASAP… 😉


Shakespeare & Company

37 Rue de la Bûcherie
75005, Paris
Metro: Saint Michel


A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities


8 favorite quotes

  1. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
  2. “I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.”
  3. “There is prodigious strength in sorrow and despair.”
  4. “Think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you.”
  5. “Above all, one hideous figure grew as familiar as if it had been before the general gaze from the foundations of the world – the figure of the sharp female called La Guillotine.
    It was the popular theme for jests; it was the best cure for headache, it infallibly prevented hair from turning gray, it imparted a peculiar delicacy to the complexion, it was the National Razor which shaved close: who kissed La Guillotine looked through the little window and sneezed into the sack.”
  6. “Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death; — the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Guillotine!”
  7. “A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. A solemn consideration, when I enter a great city by night, that every one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret; that every room in every one of them encloses its own secret; that every beating heart in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there, is, in some of its imagin-ings, a secret to the heart nearest it! Something of the awfulness, even of Death itself, is referable to this.”
  8. “I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

xoxo,

Abby

Note: Oops, nearly forgot to mention that A Tale of Two Cities is by Charles Dickens. Though hopefully you knew that… 😉

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8 comments on “Shakespeare & Co. and A Tale of Two Cities”

  1. The shop looks so charming – and French! – in your photograph. I would love to visit there. 🙂

    • Oh, Sarah, you would just adore it! They have so many classic stories, fairytales, plays, art books… and all in the prettiest editions. Such a magical little English bookshop in the heart of Paris. <3

  2. I’ve never read A Tale of Two Cities, but I did see the play when my high school performed it! Oh gosh, I love bookstores so much, especially secondhand bookstores. -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s

    • A Tale of Two Cities is SO. GOOD. It always makes me a tear up a little… god, could Charles Dickens WRITE.

      And yesss, bookstores! This one is absolutely incredible. You’ll have to make it here someday. <3

  3. What a magical spot to spend a wintry afternoon!