Left Bank Waltz

A town that lacks a bookshop isn’t always a town that wants one…

It is difficult to express the peculiar mixture of elation and pride one felt coming upon the Australian Bookshop in Paris. There it was, utterly national, precious, devoted to writers mostly unknown in Europe, yet it sat conspicuously on the Left Bank, a short walk across from the Louvre, as a feisty affirmation of Australian literary assertion and incursion.

GAIL JONES
At a time in her life when friends were retiring and spending time with their grandchildren, a night out in Paris while she visited her musician son inspired Elaine Lewis to dream of a daring venture in this most enchanting of cities. Her vision was more than just fanciful. After doing the necessary research and groundwork, Elaine packed her bags and left Australia to open, on the Left Bank, the first Australian bookshop in central Paris. Full of incredible energy and enthusiasm, and with the help of locals and visiting Australians, she created her shop in the heart of the St-Germain-des-Pres literary quarter. Situated just around the corner from Notre Dame, her cosy literary haven quickly became an important cultural centre and a home away from home for Australian writers and artists in Paris. Writers who