La Librairie owner Marine Raynor
French speakers now have their very own second-hand bookshop in Hammersmith – titled La Librairie.
Sited in former restaurant premises at 377 King Street in Stamford Brook, it opened on February 20 to satisfy an unquenched demand for books in the French language.
“We decided to set up the shop to exclusively offer secondhand books in French, for anyone who needs or wants to read in French,” said owner Marine Raynor, who lives in Brackenbury Village and arrived in London in 2012.
“The idea started with the realisation that it wasn’t easy to find many books in French in London, unless ordering online.”
The shelves cover everything: classic and contemporary fiction, non-fiction, children’s, technical, cookery, comics, graphic novels and manga, crime, thrillers and collectables.
“We have a full range of books, mostly appealing to French-speaking families in the area, anyone interested in the French language and those wanting to help their kids learn French at school,” said Marine.
The stock includes many books which arguably should only be read in French, such as Tintin and BD (Bandes Dessinées) graphic novels, which form a huge part of contemporary francophone culture.
On the ‘collectable’ shelves, the old spines and aged volumes include some dating back to Victorian times. The shop is keen to buy good-condition books.
To assist literary digestion, La Librairie also stocks Haribo sweets and biscuits from France, to take away or eat on site with a hot drink (tea and coffee £1.50, comfy armchairs provided), all squeezed into a compact 577 sq ft.
It is also a London point of sale for Bleu Carmin Design, stocking the Animo collection of folded metal sheet objects including lamps, shelves, pegs and jigsaw puzzles for children.
Most recently, the shop – sandwiched between the Moroccan restaurant Azou and And Hairdressing – was a small office, but in a past incarnation has also been a Colombian restaurant.
La Libraire is located at 377 King Street, W6 9JT, opens Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm. For more details, visit: www.lalibrairielondres.com.
What we’re doing for EU residents
Thousands of Hammersmith & Fulham residents from the EU face an uncertain future under Brexit.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has pledged to do everything possible to support EU citizens and protect local jobs and career opportunities.
Many residents who’ve come from Europe have thrived after making H&F their home. They’ve opened unique businesses, adding to the fantastic selection of businesses already much valued within the borough. And they've helped galvanise local communities and provided sporting heroes for us to cheer.
So the council has made a website dedicated to them. To celebrating our valued European population. Visit H&F – The Heart of Europe to read their stories and find out how the council is supporting them.
If you’d like to tell us about your fantastic European friends or neighbours, or promote a business or community organisation that we’ve missed out, please email us at: shareyourviews@lbhf.gov.uk.
By sending us a comment, you are agreeing to our publishing policy.
