User:Morgmueller/Bouquinistes

Bibliography

Lead
The Bouquinistes of Paris, France, are booksellers of used and antiquarian books and rare vintage postcards who ply their trade along large sections of the banks of the Seine: on the right bank from the Pont Marie to the Quai du Louvre, and on the left bank from the Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire. The Seine is thus described as 'the only river in the world that runs between two bookshelves, with the Bouquinistes functioning as the last strictly Parisian active profession '. The tradition of the Bouqinistes dates back to the 16th Century, constantly playing a crucial part in the social fabric of public space in the heart of Paris.

History[edit]
The tradition of the second-hand booksellers began around the 16th century with little market peddlers. Under pressure from booksellers, a settlement of 1649 prohibited stalls and the display of books on the Pont Neuf. The authorities at the time were rather anxious to limit parallel markets not subjected to official censorship. Travelling booksellers during the period were driven out and then reinstated under approval.

The traditional emblem of the second-hand booksellers is "a lizard looking at a sword".[citation needed]

The term "bouquiniste" appears in the dictionary of the Académie française in 1762. The term "boucquain", which derived from the Flemish boeckijn ("little book"), appeared in 1459 and is recorded as "bouquin" towards the end of the 16th century.

In 1859, concessions were implemented by the city of Paris and the bouquinistes were permitted to be established at fixed points. Each one is entitled to 10 meters of railing for an annual fee of 26,35 F and a 25 F licence. The openings are from sunrise to sunset. Finally, in 1930 the dimensions of the "boxes" were fixed.

During the 1970s, the bouquinistes felt threatened by the construction of the Voie Express Rive Gauche on the bank of the Seine. By then, Parisians' interest for literature decreased (more TV and radio), leading to a decline in the quality of the antiques distributed by the bouquinistes. French President François Mitterrand was a regular customer of Paris' bouquinistes.

Installed along more than three kilometers of the Seine and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, the 240 bouquinistes make use of 900 "green boxes" to house some 300,000 old books and a very great number of journals, stamps and trading cards.

The second-hand booksellers of Paris have inspired booksellers in other cities such as Ottawa, Beijing and Tokyo.

Description[edit]
Excerpt from the "Rules of Bouquinistes": Article 9 of the by-law of October 1993, signed by Jacques Chirac:

The boxes used by book stores will be of a type approved by the Administration with an external bodywork determined by the dimensions below, for a maximum length of 8.6 metres:


 * Length: 2 metres
 * Width: 0.75 metres
 * Height:
 * Seine side: 0.6 metres
 * Shore side: 0.35 metres
 * (These dimensions are for closed boxes, lids included).
 * During use, the upper edge of the opened box should not reach over 2.1 metres above the ground
 * Boxes are characteristically dark green, vert wagon
 * Around 240 Bouquinistes are spread around 3km of quays
 * Quai de la Tournelle, Quai des Grands Augustins on the Left and Right Bank

Cultural Significance [edit]
'''The Bouquinistes have an important place in the historic and cultural fabric of Paris. They are an example of the city's literary history and the importance of independent merchants. They are just one of the many reasons that Paris is regarded as a literary hub . Since the Bouquinistes have been around since the 16th Century, they are an iconic part of Paris with the general opinion being to protect and preserve their existence. They also play an important role in the tourism industry, while selling vintage books, posters, postcards, and art with a large percent of it relating to Paris in some way. Current French President Emmanuel Macron says the Bouquinistes of the Seine are a "living heritage of the capital," underlining their cultural and historic value .'''

Current Events [edit]
'''Paris, France is the host of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, and there was great debate surrounding the potential closure of the Bouquinistes during the Games. The French police held security concerns due to the fact that the kiosks could conceal explosive devices. The opening ceremony and its crowd will be along the Seine, as will the Bouquinistes so a very large crowd could potentially be in danger. However, Macron intervened and declared the Bouquinistes will in fact stay open . Many booksellers would have faced potential extinction if forced to close for several weeks of this incredibly busy, tourist centric summer. After the Covid pandemic, the livelihoods of the booksellers were threatened and many had to close. So, this decision for preservation reflected their cultural importance and public opinion regarding these quintessential elements of Paris.'''

In Popular Culture[edit]

 * The Bookseller (2012), a mystery novel by Mark Pryor (Seventh Street Books, Amherst, NY), features a bouquiniste character named Max Koche.
 * Midnight in Paris (2011), a nostalgic film following a man named Gil vacationing in Paris where the Bouquinistes are a backdrop to his deep interest in Paris on his journey of self-discovery.
 * Amélie (2001), a comedy film following a young women Amélie in Paris featuring the Bouquinistes as portrayal of Parisian charm.
 * Emily in Paris (2020), a Netflix series following the life of an American in the marketing field move to Paris and start a life. The Bouquinistes among other iconic Paris motifs are featured.
 * Chanel Catwalk Show Inspiration: Karl Lagerfeld's 2018/2019 autumn-winter collection was inspired by the Bouquinistes and post-war Paris' joie de vivre.