The Little Paris Bookshop

Nina George’s romance novel The Little Paris Bookshop was originally published in German in 2013 and was translated to English by Simon Pare in 2015. The story follows Jean Perdu, a bookseller, as he travels from Paris to Avignon on his floating bookstore, the Literary Apothecary. Perdu leaves Paris on a whim after receiving heartbreaking news about the death of his former lover. Perdu is joined in his travels by Max Jordan, a bestselling author with writer’s block, and a romantic Italian named Salvatore Cuneo. Perdu and his companions explore the depths of love and loss on their way to the South of France, where Perdu hopes to finally find closure for his grief. The novel explores themes of The Healing Power of Literature, The Impact of Loss and Grief, and The Beauty and Significance of Human Connection.

This guide refers to the American paperback edition of the text, translation by Simon Pare, published by Broadway books in 2015.

Plot Summary

Jean Perdu lives in Paris in the building at 27 Rue Montagnard. As the novel opens, a new resident is moving in to the building.