08/20/2026
As they say, never judge a book by its cover. This particular book, though quite plain looking, holds a beautiful secret that one would only be able to discover when you open the book. The book, titled "Soliloquies in England" by George Santayana, was published in 1922. The best part, is that this was originally sold at the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris. The location existed from 1919-1941, run by renown Sylvia Beach, and was a haven for book lovers and considered the center of the Anglo-American literary culture in Europe. In fact, when no other publisher would print James Joyce's 'Ulysses,' Beach would in 1922, which would become one of the most notable pieces of literature of the 20th century.
The book featured was on the shelves at the same time as Ulysses, and includes an original bookplate of Shakespeare and Company! Though it may appear like a small thing, the bookplate is quite difficult to find due to the short lifespan of the store. However, this piece of history will be available in a much smaller bookstore in historical downtown Salem beginning tomorrow. See you soon at the
