A Waiter in Paris

Name: A Waiter in Paris
Brand: Octopus Publishing Group
SKU: 9781800960206
Price: 27.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City

By Edward Chisholm

4.04

( 4,212 ratings, 449 reviews)

Summary

A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm offers a gritty look into the hidden lives of Parisian restaurant workers. Through the author's own experiences, readers gain insight into the challenges, toils, and camaraderie found in the underbelly of the city’s dining establishments.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$27⁹⁹

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A Waiter in Paris

$27⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by behind-the-scenes looks at the restaurant industry, especially in Paris. It's a gripping memoir that offers a raw and vivid portrayal of the challenges and triumphs of working in the bustling Parisian dining scene.

A Waiter in Paris

Inspired by Orwell, a brilliant portrait of the underbelly of contemporary Paris through the eyes of a young waiter scraping a living in the city.

Description

SHORT LISTED FOR THE ACKERLEY PRIZE FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

'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 and often thrilling ... He's a fine writer.' - WSJ

'Kitchen Confidential for Generation Z' - Fortune

'An English waiter's riveting account of working in Paris' - Daily Mail

'Visceral and unbelievably compelling' - Emerald Fennell

'Vividly written and merciless in its detail' - Edward Stourton

'An excellent book' - Strong Words magazine

'A completely fascinating read and feels like the book Anthony Bourdain would have written' - Rosie Kellet

'A Dickensian tale of a young man's trial by fire in a French bistro gives rise to biting commentary on Parisian culture in Chisholm's intoxicating debut' - Publisher's Weekly

'Ah, Paris... gastronomie magnifique and... insane shit going on behind the scenes. A Waiter in Paris charts Edward Chisholm's jaw-dropping experiences while serving tables in the French capital, a demi-monde of sadistic managers, thieves, fighting for tips and drug dealers. Seems like not much has changed since George Orwell worked the same beat.' - Evening Standard

A waiter's job is to deceive you. They want you to believe in a luxurious calm because on the other side of that door... is hell.

Edward Chisholm's spellbinding memoir of his time as a Parisian waiter takes you below the surface of one of the most iconic cities in the world and right into its glorious underbelly.

The waiter inhabits a world of inhuman hours, snatched sleep and dive bars; scraping by on coffee, bread and cigarettes, often under sadistic managers, with a wage so low you're fighting your colleagues for tips.

It's physically demanding, frequently humiliating and incredibly competitive. And with a cast of thieves, narcissists, ex-Legionnaires, paperless immigrants and drug dealers, it makes for a compelling and eye-opening read.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Ackerley prize.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm is a vivid and searing account of the author’s experiences working in Parisian restaurants. It offers a detailed and often startling look at the challenges and exploitation faced by workers in the industry. Reviewers have compared it to classics like Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London and praised its compelling and unflinching narrative. The memoir provides a stark contrast to the romanticised image of Paris, revealing the gritty reality behind the scenes.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781800960206

Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Monoray

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 336g

Pages: 384

Collections

Biography & Memoir Education & Reference Edward Chisholm New at Book Hero Non-Fiction Science & Nature Travel & Adventure

About the Author

Edward Chisholm was born in Dorset, England, and moved to Paris in 2012 after graduating from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

A resident there for seven years, Chisholm spent the first four of them working all manner of low-paid jobs, from waiting and bar work to museum security and market hand, while trying to build a career as a writer.

Now, Chisholm makes a living as a copywriter/pen for hire, with ambitions of writing novels. His work has appeared in The New York Times, the Guardian and the Financial Times magazine.