Brian spence abbey bookshop

The canadian shop has since shut down but the paris extension continues to thrive today. The bookshop, opened in 1989 by torontoborn brian spence has a stock of over 30,000 books, most secondhand, but also some new ones. She told me the shop originally began as the little sister of the abbey bookshop in toronto, owned by francophile and book lover brian spence. Brian spence, the owner, is on hand to explain the history of. The cockle shell over the door is the symbol of saint james, whose tomb at compostela in northern spain was the pilgrims ultimate destination. As i mentioned at the beginning, ive been reading as many books as i can from another store the abbey bookshop in paris. The abbey bookshop hangs flyers around the neighborhood, relies on wordofmouth and random passersby to bring business in. Abbeys australias premier foreign language bookshop. In 1989, brian spence, who hails from toronto, crossed the atlantic to bring his abbey bookshop to an international audience. The abbey bookshop will still be operating during the national lockdown. This is the abbey bookshop, a store selling all manner of new, vintage, and rare books.

The abbey bookshop is a hotspot for students and foreign readers, yes, but also for french people who want to finetune their english proficiency. The abbey is owned by brian spence, a torontonian living in paris. He conducted his research on hemingway at the john f. Okay, the fireworks were for bastille day, but why get technical. Almost every inch from basement to ceiling is covered with new and used books, including a large number on politics and social science, and a wellstocked travel section.

After having little luck with real estate agents, brian found the location for his bookstore by walking around paris neighborhoods that he himself liked and knocking on the doors. A readers dream the abbey bookshop, paris traveller. Abbeys at 1 york street next to qvb is an aladdins cave for readers and sydneys muchloved indie bookshop since 1968 where ideas grow. Founded in 1989 by canadian book lover, brian spence, the magical store is situated in the very heart of. Opened in 1989 by expat canadian brian spence, this very pretty little bookshop in the latin quarter attracts a global audience thanks to the eclectic collection of over 35,000 titles in english ranging from scholarly to popular literature. The bookshop, opened in 1989 by torontoborn brian spence, has a stock of over 30,000 books, most secondhand, but also some new ones. New hemingway book launch at abbey bookshop secrets of paris.

Katakis, who read excerpts from his new book and took audience questions. Author david benjamin weaves an fastpaced and extremely quirky tale of a mysterious manuscript that goes missing and the most ragtag group of characters including one modeled after the abbeys owner brian spence who endeavor to. I read it many times, then grew out of my horse phase and lost the book and forgot the title. Its owner, brian spence, is from toronto and opened his shop in. Sitting amidst overflowing shelves and precarious stacks of books, one could be forgiven for thinking the abbey bookshop owner, brian spence, is hiding among the wonderful words that surround him on the pages of the many thousands of books that cram his latin quarter bookshop in paris i stumbled upon this charming english language bookshop quite by. Stop in and say helloif you dont know what to read next, ask him for a recommendation. In broken french, she offered him 100 euros to use his phone for an emergency call. The abbey was originally a bookstore located in my very own city of toronto, in the university of toronto neighbourhood. Brian spence, a toronto, canada native, opened it in 1989. The historic and iconic american bookshop in the city of.

Brian spence story continues below advertisement a visit inside pariss first canadian bookstore, the abbey bookshop, requires slow, deliberate movements and careful coordination, much. Spicer pours out a frothy champagne cocktail of a police procedural, with crisp, and often chilling, notes of wine industry skullduggery and international conspiracy. Why is it easier to run a canadian bookstore in paris than in canada. Abbey s at 1 york street next to qvb is an aladdins cave for readers and sydneys muchloved indie bookshop since 1968 where ideas grow.

Kennedy presidential library in boston where the legendary authors personal papers are stored. We had a chat with the owner, brian spence, who opened the bookstore in 1989 next year, on july 1st, the abbey bookshop will be 20 years old. Located only a few blocks from the worldrenowned and touristthronged shakespeare and company is this tiny, holeinthewall gem filled to the ceiling with new and used englishlanguage treasures. This little page filled nirvana is even nearer and dearer to me, as it was opened by an extorontonian, a man named brian spence. Whether youre looking for local stories set in paris or novels written by the literary set of the city, whether you prefer poems or world history, travel writing, classics, or simply want a good whodunnit, you can find it all here. Its owner, brian spence, is from toronto and opened his shop in 1989. Home news paris antiamazon initiative spreads its wings. There is another, possibly more discrete bookshop, but also more than full of old and new books. With the help of ali smiths autumn and brian spence of the abbey bookshop in paris, i found it again. You may just learn more about the business of champagne than you ever wanted to. A literary journey in paris a portlanders search for.

Paris first englishfrench canadian bookstore is a tiny, narrow shop stocking old and new works, with a specialised canadian section and highbrow subjects down its rickety staircase. New hemingway book launch at abbey bookshop secrets of. Tucked away in the very heart of the latin quarter, the abbey bookshop is an unexpected find in a maze of small streets, clustered churches and all the eateries. The abbey bookshop in pariss latin quarter has for the last twenty years become a cultural epicenter for canadians, anglophones and anglophiles from all corners of the world. Founded in 1989 by canadian book lover, brian spence, the magical store is situated in the very heart of the latin quarter. The owner, brian spence, of canadian origin, opened this shop in 1989. This tiny, cluttered gem is achingly parisian jumbled books lie in chaotic piles on endless shelves and along the floors of charmingly tight passages. While canadian content is available, the inventory ranges across all international origins in new and used english books. Brian spence in front of the abbey bookshop, built in the 1730s near the start of the medieval pilgrims path from paris. Thanks to abbey bookshop owner brian spence for hosting this happy event. Only blocks from another famous and very busy english language book purveyor in paris, abbey bookshop remains accessible and enjoyable, with stacks of english language tomes to choose from. Canadian expat brian spence runs this independent bookshop specializing in new and used books from canada in. Paul schmidtberger design flaws of the human condition. I knew about the abbey bookshop but never having been there i stumbled upon it when walking around the latin quarter.

Founded in 1989 by canadian brian spence, today the abbey bookshop is one of the very best, as well as the most popular english language bookstores in paris. Francois picard interviews brian spence, owner of the abbey book shop in paris near notre dame, on the fire that devastated the cathedral. More importantly for my language skills, it deals in english books. Housed in a onetime hotel in a neighborhood that historically brought together scribes and bookmakers of all ilks, the packed bookshop is an ode to anglophone literature. Evenings with an author, michael peppiatt in conversation. When talking to the serene brian spence, owner of the book store who opened shop in 1989, i came to realise that behind the romantic disarray was actually something hyperorganized.

The abbey bookshop shopping in quartier latin, paris. Not looking at the bookshops name, or the canadian flag hanging stockstill on the windfree paris afternoon, what made me stop and look was the display of books and the odd christmas decorations on the short narrow rue parcheminerie. I loved this book when i was an awkward texan anglophile horse lover, aged 8. Please join us for an evening with author michael peppiatt, who will be in conversation with brian spence abbey bookshop on life, work, art, and love in 1960s paris. And heres the view from their front door the abbey bookshop. Founded in 1989 by canadian book lover, brian spence, the magical store is. Yes, that is indeed the abbey bookshop on the cover on this book, which is also featured in the book.

Life in france bilingual bookshops in paris bilingual. It could almost seem impossible to proceed through the thick piles of volumes and the delightful confusion of this bookshop, offering an exceptional abundancy and variety of titles. Why is it easier to run a canadian bookstore in paris than. Reading englishlanguage books in paris the new york times. Canadianborn brian spence, who founded the abbey bookshop in the latin quarter in 1989. Reader to reader takes place in paris within the homely bookstacked walls of brian spence s abbey bookshop. The shops owner brian spence on the right introduced mr. Brian spence story continues below advertisement a visit inside pariss first canadian bookstore, the abbey bookshop, requires slow, deliberate movements and. Since 1989, canada native brian spence has operated the abbey bookshop in an 18thcentury hotel with a handsome stone facade, carved doors and fan windows. The abbey bookshop in pariss latin quarter has for the last twenty years become a cultural epicenter for canadians, anglophones and anglophiles from all.