Part 1, Chapter 1

Content Warning: The source text and this section of the guide discuss death by suicide. The source text also includes outdated and offensive terms to refer to gay and lesbian people. Sylvia has recently moved to Paris. She recalls living there with her family 15 years ago; at the time, she found the city to be a breathtaking contrast to her life in the United States. Now, Sylvia walks into a bookshop, A. Monnier, and speaks with the cashier, <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Character" href="https://www.supersummary.com/the-paris-bookseller/major-character-analysis/#514385">Adrienne Monnier</a>. They bond over their love of literature, and Sylvia feels a mutual attraction growing between them. However, Sylvia is disappointed to learn that Adrienne already has a partner named Suzanne. Suzanne invites Sylvia to a reading of some French authors at the shop. Later, Sylvia is distracted by the memory of Adrienne as she attempts to write, trying to fill her family’s expectation that she will one day become a writer. She thinks about her sister Cyprian’s success as an actress; they are both in Paris because Cyprian has a recurring role in a film series. At the reading, Suzanne introduces Sylvia to her writer friends, Valery and Jules. Sylvia converses with them comfortably and feels her connection to Adrienne growing stronger.

Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 2

Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 3

Part 1, Chapter 3 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 4

Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 5

Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 6

Part 1, Chapter 6 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 7

Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary

Part 1, Chapter 8

Part 1, Chapter 8 Summary

Part 1 Part 1 Analysis

Humanities

Books & Literature

Society

Community

Literary Area of Study

French Literature

Relationships

Friendship

Fiction

Historical Fiction

Sexuality

LGBTQ Literature

Popular Book Clubs

Popular Book Club Picks

Literary Movement

The Lost Generation

Women's Studies

Kerri Maher

Adult

Novel

Guide

Study Guide

Book Brief

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About The Paris Bookseller

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The Paris Bookseller Summary and Study Guide

Background

The Paris Bookseller Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “1917-20”

The Paris Bookseller Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “1921-22”

Part 2 The Paris Bookseller Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “1925-32”

Part 3 The Paris Bookseller Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “1933-36”

Part 4 The Paris Bookseller Part 4 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

The Paris Bookseller Character Analysis

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The Paris Bookseller

Part 1Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “1917-20”

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