Visiting Paris brings back so many memories. When I was 18 I impressed George Whitman, the legendary proprietor of Shakespeare and Co., by purchasing 10 vols of the complete works of Thomas de Quincey. (A strange kid). He invited me to stay in the store and I moved in.
Conversation
Whitman liked to attract young (future) writers so he could boast one day that he had discovered them. 35 yrs later I returned with my daughter. He remembered me clearly but wanted to know: “How many books have you written?”
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Ok, I give up. A year or so ago, impressed by your lively resume of felonious moral action & DDay scholarship I exasperatedly asked if you also played shortstop for the Yanks. Now comes this. Well played, sir.
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Love your story about this iconic book shop. What a wonderful experience.
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Here to assure you that's totally normal behavior for an 18-year-old kid, Robert! Love the story and love that store, where I haven't been in decades. Have a great trip!
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