Literature in Paris: finding Anglophone bookshops

Paris has a reputation for being a literary haven – Charles Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway all produced some of their greatest works while living in la ville lumière.

For lovers of literature, there is no better souvenir than a book bought in the same city that inspired it! Here we’ve collated a list of the best Anglophone bookshops in Paris.

So be prepared to lose yourself in Paris through the page!

Shakespeare and Co.

Probably the most famous bookshop in the world, Shakespeare and Co. has always been the haunt of intellectual writers. Today, you can still feel the history of the shop as you walk between the cramped bookshelves.

Selling the latest in literature, here you’ll find plenty to occupy you on the plane home. Located just opposite the grand Notre Dame, you can see why so many of the most influential writers found inspiration here.

The Abbey Bookshop

Located just a couple of streets behind Shakespeare and Co., we have never before seen so many books in one room as in The Abbey Bookshop! If you’re brave enough to squeeze between the towering shelves, you won’t be sorry.

You’ll find anything you’re looking for plus plenty more in this charming, bohemian Anglophone bookshop, hidden off the beaten track.

Galignani

Proudly standing on the prestigious rue de Rivoli, this Anglophone bookshop has the distinction of selling not just the latest Anglophone releases, but translations of contemporary French literature too.

The first Anglophone bookshop ever to open in mainland Europe, this one definitely deserves our support!

WHSmith

British bookshop WHSmith has a branch on the rue de Rivoli, selling more than just Anglophone literature. Perfect for English expats, this shop boasts a food section, filled with British branded foods and regional specialties.

So if you’re craving Heinz or just dying to try some Scottish shortbread, you won’t need to cross the channel.

I Love My Blender

If you like your independent shops quirky then this is the Anglophone bookshop for you. Located in the effortlessly trendy Marais, I Love My Blender sells a variety of both Anglophone and Francophone literature, alongside some fairly unique souvenirs…

Trust us; you’ll be leaving this shop with more than just a smile on your face!

Have you had the chance to visit any of these wonderful shops? Please share with us your experiences of an Anglophone bookshop and literature in the City of Lights.