VINGT Paris News

Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

Text by Philippa Brangam, photo courtesy of Christina Douzmanian

Henry Miller aptly described Shakespeare & Co as a Wonderland of books. On stepping through the door out of the hustle and bustle of the busy Latin Quarter it is easy to see what he meant. The piles of books over two floors almost insulate the outside noise from coming through, and provide a literary sanctuary. The manner in which a particular book may catch your eye seems to come from an almost cosmic destiny. Many a love affair between author and reader has begun inside these walls. Here books are king. Painted over the doorway at the top of the staircase is the slogan ‘Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise’. For those who have visited will know that Shakespeare & Co is much more than just a bookshop, it is an institution which has been upheld for almost a hundred years. 

Forum des Images

David Britain writing for VINGT Paris - photo Forum des Images

Although its location inside Forum des Halles is not the most desirable, Forum des Images is the gem of this underground maze. Nowhere else will you find such an enormously varied film agenda including 1920s silent film, contemporary art house cinema and everything in between. There is a strong emphasis on the French cinema tradition with regular screenings of films by the French masters of cinema such as Marcel Carné, Louis Malle, Jean Luc Godard and Jean Renoir.  They even offer the delightful ‘Menu Court’ – showings of short films at 1.15pm every day for €1 designed to fit into your lunch break. Upcoming film festivals include The Paris Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Retour du Flamme silent film festival and a retrospective of Quebecois film.

Meet the Godfather of Publishing - The Arts Arena present Robert Gottlieb

Philippa Brangam writing for VINGT Paris

Among the Arts Arena's rich calendar for this fall is an evening with renowned editor Robert Gottlieb on Tuesday 17th November. With over 50 years experience in publishing, Gottlieb has edited around 1000 books for authors including, Doris Lessing, Robert Caro, Toni Morrison and John le Carré. His start in publishing was somewhat accidental. Aged 24, fresh out of College and additionally a new father, he took his first job at Simon and Schuster. His infamous and perhaps best known discovery of Joseph Heller's, Catch 22 made him editor in chief and from then on it was onwards and upwards. Editor in chief positions at Alfred A. Knopf and The New Yorker have rightfully made him one of, if not the most, respected names in the business.

The Arts Arena Presents Françoise Heilbrun: Photography at the Musée d’Orsay

Sarah Moroz writing for VINGT Paris

The Arts Arena is hosting Françoise Heilbrun at its next event. Heilbrun is the head curator of photography at the Musée d'Orsay, a collection comprised of no less than 50,000 prints and negatives. Her forthcoming book, tellingly entitled Photography at the Musée d’Orsay, will surely be an engrossing insider look at the museum's collection and, more broadly, at the history of photograhy itself. Having already written and contributed to 60 published books, this photography aficionado will undoubtedly be a great source of information to all of those who know their Edouard Baldus from their Pierre Bonnard...

The Arts Arena Presents Françoise Heilbrun: Photography at the Musée d’Orsay

Tuesday, November 3, 19h

The Grand Salon

31 avenue Bosquet 75007

Métro: Ecole Militaire or Pont de l'Alma

To reserve seating, please email artsarena@aup.fr