Full Description
"Erudite and eye-catching, Bookstores of the World is a treat for armchair travelers and an inspirational list of destinations for any book lover." — Shelf Awareness
A magnificently illustrated global tour of contemporary bookstores, from Paris to Seoul.
Even in these days of online commerce, the physical bookstore retains its fascination as a place to gather and discover new art and ideas, often serendipitously; in fact, the bookstore is a refuge from the often unreflective world outside. This splendid tribute to the bookstores of the world begins in France—which has the most bookstores per capita of any country—and continues throughout Europe, the Americas, the Near East, Asia, and Africa. Along the way we encounter legendary emporia such as City Lights in San Francisco and Foyle's in London, as well as new innovators such as the architecturally breathtaking Zhongshuge in Hangzhou. The insightful text explores the factors that have shaped bookselling in each region, from the price-fixing laws of France and Germany to the cultural and geographic diversity of the United States.
Illustrated with superb photographs of storefront and interiors, packed shelves and carefully curated displays, Bookstores of the World will inspire every bibliophile to chart new itineraries.
Contents
19 Introduction
Jean-Yves Mollier
29 Europe
Patricia Sorel
32 France
34 Paris
62 Around Paris
68 Around France
94 Europe
96 United Kingdom
and Ireland
110 Germany
114 The Iberian Peninsula
122 Italy
124 Greece
126 The Netherlands
and Belgium
132 Eastern Europe
134 Northern Europe
137 The Americas
Jean-Yves Mollier
138 North America
140 The United States
and Canada
188 Mexico
194 South America
196 Argentina
202 Chile
206 Colombia
210 Brazil
217 The Near East
Jean-Yves Mollier
218 Turkey
222 Egypt
228 Lebanon
230 Syria and Iraq
230 Israel
233 Asia and Oceania
Jean-Yves Mollier
234 India
236 China
248 South Korea
252 Taiwan
254 Japan
262 Australia
269 Africa
Jean-Yves Mollier
270 South Africa
276 Benin, Cameroon,
and Senegal
282 Morocco
284 Tunisia and Algeria
289 Conclusion
Patricia Sorel
299 Bibliography
300 Index of Bookstores
303 Photography Credits
Left
L'ESPERLUÈTE
Chartres, France
Page 2
CLARKE'S BOOKSHOP
Cape Town, South Africa
Pages 4-5
LELLO
Porto, Portugal
Pages 6-7
CĂRTUREŞTI CARUSEL
Bucharest
Pages 8-9
LER DEVAGAR
Lisbon
Pages 10-11
THE LAST BOOKSTORE
Los Angeles
Pages 12-13
EL ATENEO GRAND SPLENDID
Buenos Aires
Pages 14-15
ZHONGSHUGE
Hangzhou, China
