All photos copyright © Eric Francis. All rights reserved.


George Whitman, founder of Shakespeare & Co. Books, at kilometer zero (across from Notre Dame plaza and the Archeological Crypt of Paris). About 52 years ago, George, a native Bostonian, took over the name of a prior bookshop & created a Beat Generation literary base on par with City Lights of San Francisco. Since then, he estimates that 50,000 young writers have stayed there free of charge, in little beds scattered throughout the shop's several levels. Digital photo by Eric Francis.

10th July 2005