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  • The Paris Bookseller

  • A sweeping story of love, friendship and betrayal in bohemian 1920s Paris
  • By: Kerri Maher
  • Narrated by: Lauryn Allman
  • Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (60 ratings)

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The Paris Bookseller cover art

The Paris Bookseller

By: Kerri Maher
Narrated by: Lauryn Allman
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Publisher's Summary

Inspired by the woman who founded Shakespeare and Company.

The captivating story of a trailblazing young woman who fought against incredible odds to bring one of the most important books of the 20th century to the world. For fans of The Paris Library, The Age of Light and The Paris Wife.

Paris, 1919.

Young, bookish Sylvia Beach knows there is no greater city in the world than Paris. But when she opens an English-language bookshop on the bohemian Left Bank, Sylvia can't yet know she is making history.

Many leading writers of the day, from Ernest Hemingway to Gertrude Stein, consider Shakespeare and Company a second home. Here some of the most profound literary friendships blossom - and none more so than between James Joyce and Sylvia herself.

When Joyce's controversial novel Ulysses is banned, Sylvia determines to publish it through Shakespeare and Company. But the success and notoriety of publishing the most infamous book of the century comes at deep personal cost as Sylvia risks ruin, reputation and her heart in the name of the life-changing power of books....

©2022 Kerri Maher (P)2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critic Reviews

"A vivid evocation of the famous female-owned Parisian bookshop.... Kerri Maher writes a love letter to books, bookstores and booklovers everywhere." (Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network)

"I was completely enthralled." (Natasha Lester, author of The Paris Secret)

"A compelling and fascinating look at the world-changing mavericks who bonded, bickered and triumphed in the realm of literature." (Nuala O'Connor)

What listeners say about The Paris Bookseller

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful era in Paris, and beautifully written

I love historical fiction and the author does a wonderful job.
The author's notes at the end answered a lot of my questions, very enjoyable overall.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

Truely remarkable story , exceptionally well written and superb reading. It’s a fascinating time in history and beautifully revealed. The characters are so real in the telling.

Best book for a long time.

Look forward to Ms Maher next book. Please don’t stop.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Transportation Back In Time

This book is a fabulous tale of a little corner of the world in one of our great literary times. Sylvia's life work is worthy of such a beauty account. Great narration and insight into the lives of writers in the 20s. Bravo!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book.

I don't normally listen to this genre of books, found this most enjoyable. Gave so much information about what went during this period of time. Thought is good at the start and improve as it continued. Nrration also very good.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

So interesting

I found this book to be captivating. It became more interesting as it went along and I really had no idea this was a book based on true life until the author's notes at the conclusion.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I loved this book so much. From the moment I began to the very end I found it fascinating. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too descriptive scenes

The few descriptive sex scenes drag an exceptional work down to dime store novel level

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Annoyingly Distracting Pronunciation

I tried. I honestly tried, but I just couldn’t listen to another chapter of this narration! The overly emphasised pronunciation of French names and works was annoyingly distracting. Instead of getting lost in the story, I kept getting yanked back to reality by the guttural overemphasis of ‘correct’ French pronunciation.
I may try reading this book, but fear I won’t be able to get the annoying narrator’s voice out of my head while doing so.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I kept waiting for it to live up to its reviews

I have it only a few chapters but could not find anything clever, new, unique about this story. It read like a Mills and Boons ‘electric touches’, ‘feelings in her thighs’ etc etc
Nothing in the description of Paris, the friendship, the bookshops took me there.
Just dull. Ok if you like a Mills and Boon type mindless read.

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