Book cover of A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City

Book description

SHORT LISTED FOR THE ACKERLEY PRIZE FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

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'This astonishing book describes a cruel, feral existence and is worthy of standing on the shelf next to George Orwell's Down And Out In Paris And London (1933) as another classic about human exploitation.' - Daily Mail

'Chisholm's story is immersive…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked A Waiter in Paris as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is Paris as you have never seen it (I hope!). A poor English boy finds himself penniless in Paris, and manages to get a job as a waiter in a seemingly smart restaurant. There follows a horrific and hilarious account of the dark underbelly of Paris - filthy kitchens, bullying bosses, sleazy lodgings, scrabbling for tips... I shall never again feel comfortable in a Paris restaurant - but it was a lively and funny read.

A fascinating true story of a very determined young man down on his luck--who turns adversity into success. Inspiring, and riveting. And very well-written!

It's a superbly written tale about a Brit waiter in the City of Light.

The author, Edward Chisholm, is, frankly, much, much better at the craft of writing than many hyped fiction authors. I also like his vivid showing—in the manner of Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London—a grim, truthful side of Paris beneath the glamour.

Frankly, I don't understand how he survived his brutal ordeal as a Parisian server. Maybe the resiliency of youth.

If you love A Waiter in Paris...

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These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

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