Librairie Galignani — Local services in Paris

Galignani Bookshop, located at 224 Rue de Rivoli in Paris, is the oldest English-language bookshop on the European continent. Its history began in 1520 with the publishing activities of the Galignani family in Venice. Publication of Ptolemy's Geography, a bestseller of the time. In 1801, Giovanni Antonio Galignani opened a bookshop and reading room in Paris, and began publishing the daily newspaper Galignani’s Messenger, which became an important source of news for the English-speaking community in Europe and attracted literary figures such as Byron, Wordsworth, and Thackeray. In 1856, the shop moved to its current location on rue de Rivoli, where it remains to this day. The store is divided into three main sections: an English-language section with literature in English, a French-language section with literature in French (including literature, history, essays, and books on current issues, as well as the La Pléiade collection, which contains works by great literary figures), and a visual arts section with books on art, fashion, and photography. Galignani is renowned for its rich history and famous visitors. The store collaborates with leading museums, luxury hotels (such as the Ritz, Crillon, and Le Meurice), and fashion houses (including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier) to help them create private libraries and select books for their needs. In addition, Galignani regularly hosts events, including book presentations, conferences, author meetings, and private evenings. Galignani's displays are updated every two weeks to showcase books on current topics and cultural events, making them a sight in themselves. The store's atmosphere is vibrant and elegant. With tall wooden shelves from the 1930s, large windows, and beautifully...

This is one of my favourite bookstores is Paris and I come in here and spend quite a while getting lost in their beautiful selections of works. Today however I had quite the unpleasant experience, which made me walk out in the verge of tears.

I went inside with my AirPods on because I was in a call, as I was looking for a book I was approach and told I was not allowed to be on the phone inside. I understood, as it was a reasonable request and hung up. I then proceeded to look for something else to listen to - you see I have an attention deficit and listening to either music or someone’s voice helps me concentrate and makes any task more enjoyable. I was then tapped in the shoulder again, by the same woman, in front of the same clientele and told that I was also not allowed to listen to music. I don’t understand why that would be a problem at all, me listening quietly to something in my ear... I wish I would have question the lady but she was so abrupt that I just felt my cheeks flushing followed by an urgent feeling to get out of there. I was embarrassed and felt unwanted. Did not even spend 5 minutes in there.

I hate that now I’m going to have to start avoiding a place that used to bring me...

Good book shop, well located across from the Tuileries rue de Rivoli. Been there once already, bought the Ben Moser Susan Sontag biography ten days ago.

Last night attended a book reading by Nobel Prize winner and English-language author Abdulrazaq Gurnah.

Just before the reading bought a French translation of "Paradise" (for autographing purposes) by mistake and when I immediately asked to exchange it for the English original I suddenly feared for my life. I got the fair impression that the young woman at the counter sent daggers with her glare, so apparently unhappy as she was that I dared, dared, ask for an exchange (how French of her). Not only that, but instead of refunding my credit card, I got a ... store credit (how 20th century of her) with, to add insult to injury, a six month clock on it.

The book reading wasn't anything like what one sees done in New York or Washington, it was amateurish and lasted about ten seconds (an afterthought more than a reading), surprising for a book shop of Galignani's renown.

Nevertheless, feeding at the culture trough is hardly ever a waste of time, even in this case: I discovered an author from Zanzibar and left with a new book...