Overview

An evocative portrait of the underbelly of contemporary Paris as seen through the eyes of a young waiter scraping out a living in the City of Light. 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 beneath the surface of one of the most iconic cities in the world--and right into its glorious underbelly. He 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. Your colleagues--including thieves, narcissists, ex-soldiers, immigrants, wannabe actors, and drug dealers--are the closest thing to family that you've got. It's physically demanding, frequently humiliating and incredibly competitive. But it doesn't matter because you're in Paris, the center of the universe, and there's nowhere else you'd rather be in the world.

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9781639362837

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Reviews

A young Englishman's journey into the merciless world of Parisian restaurants is propulsive, harrowing, and expertly observed. I could practically smell the grease and feel his terror and--ironically--his hunger. I don't think I'll dine out in quite the same way again. --Pamela Druckerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bringing Up Bebe One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting and There Are No Grown Ups Advance praise for A Waiter in Paris: Chisholm is a wonderful observer of people, of poverty, and of the French. --Simon Kuper, author of The Barcelona Complex and Spies, Lies, and Exile

Edward Chisholm's book is vividly written and merciless in its detail. Paris and its pleasures always leave one wondering about the seamier side beneath the surface, and here it is. I'd advise readers to enjoy it somewhere warm and comfortable, and on no account to try it before a gastronomic weekend. --Edward Stourton, author, BBC broadcaster, journalist Throwing open the vibrant underbelly of the City of Light in all its depraved, degenerate, and dangerously addictive magnificence, Chisholm's account of his time spent as a Parisian waiter abounds in electrifying anecdote and jaw-dropping revelations. -- Waterstones Visceral and unbelievably compelling. --Emerald Fennell, actor, director, Oscar-winner A young Englishman's journey into the merciless world of Parisian restaurants is propulsive, harrowing, and expertly observed. I could practically smell the grease and feel his terror and--ironically--his hunger. I don't think I'll dine out in quite the same way again. --Pamela Druckerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bringing Up Bebe One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting and There Are No Grown Ups Advance praise for A Waiter in Paris: Chisholm is a wonderful observer of people, of poverty, and of the French. --Simon Kuper, author of The Barcelona Complex and Spies, Lies, and Exile

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. Chisholm renders the City of Light in vivid scenes of squalor and splendor, its romance and wretchedness mirroring that of the great piece of theater he starred in before eventually leaving the restaurant himself. Bittersweet and enchanting, this serves as a potent look at the gritty underbelly of a glittering world. --Publishers Weekly, starred review Edward Chisholm's book is vividly written and merciless in its detail. Paris and its pleasures always leave one wondering about the seamier side beneath the surface, and here it is. I'd advise readers to enjoy it somewhere warm and comfortable, and on no account to try it before a gastronomic weekend. --Edward Stourton, author, BBC broadcaster, journalist Throwing open the vibrant underbelly of the City of Light in all its depraved, degenerate, and dangerously addictive magnificence, Chisholm's account of his time spent as a Parisian waiter abounds in electrifying anecdote and jaw-dropping revelations. -- Waterstones Visceral and unbelievably compelling. --Emerald Fennell, actor, director, Oscar-winner A young Englishman's journey into the merciless world of Parisian restaurants is propulsive, harrowing, and expertly observed. I could practically smell the grease and feel his terror and--ironically--his hunger. I don't think I'll dine out in quite the same way again. --Pamela Druckerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bringing Up Bebe One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting and There Are No Grown Ups A Waiter In Paris is a searing account of what life is really like 'at the bottom of the food chain', and Chisholm's prose positively delights in describing the graffiti, sodden cardboard boxes and litter-strewn pavements. -- The Daily Mail Chisholm is a wonderful observer of people, of poverty, and of the French. --Simon Kuper, author of The Barcelona Complex and Spies, Lies, and Exile

Author Information

Edward Chisholm was born in England and moved to Paris after graduating from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. A resident in the City of Lights for seven years, Chisholm spent the first four of them working all manner of low-paid restaurant jobs, from waiting and bartending, while trying to build a career as a writer. Now Chisholm makes a living as a freelance writer. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Financial Times magazine. He lives in England.

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