The Little Paris Bookshop

The Little Paris Bookshop takes place in France. The novel begins in Paris, France’s cosmopolitan capital city. As the characters travel on the rivers and canals from Paris to the South of France, they move through other regions before ending in the region of Provence.

The region of Provence is in the South-East of France. Provence is a wine-growing region, known for its steep rolling hills and lavender fields. Although Provence is home to some major cities, it is less metropolitan than Paris. In the novel, the characters from Provence are characterized as more connected to the land; this reflects the strong cultural importance of agricultural crops like grapes, lavender, and olives to the region.

Provence has a cultural history that is distinct from the culture of Paris and the other regions of France. Heavily Catholic, Provence culture places great emphasis on Christmas—a tradition that the novel highlights. In particular, the tradition of the 13 Christmas desserts is significant in the novel. These desserts are traditionally eaten after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The number of desserts represents the number of people at the table for Jesus’s Last Supper. The actual desserts prepared vary but usually include dried fruits, nuts, fresh fruits, and sweet breads.

Another significant cultural tradition is the mistral. The mistral is a strong, cold wind that impacts the Mediterranean region of France. It plays an important role in creating the sunny, clear-aired climate of Provence. As explained in the novel, traditional homes in Provence have been designed to withstand the mistral winds for centuries. Local tradition holds that the winds can stir up all kinds of feelings, but they clear the way for new beginnings.