Sidewalk cafes lined many of the boulevards in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter.  Les Deux Magots occupied an enviable position at 6 place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, directly across from l’Abbaye Saint-Germain-des-Prés, number 2 on the map below.

Les Deux Magots afforded patrons a clear view of the Abbaye, and the intersection of the Boulevard Saint-Germain, Rue de Rennes and Rue Bonaparte provided an endless parade of Parisiens going about their daily business.

The Café de Flore also occupied a corner location at 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain and the Rue Saint-Benoît.

The August 22, 1951 issue of LIFE magazine featured an extended article on the expatriate experience taking place in Paris.

(© LIFE MAGAZINE, All  rights reserved) 

The genesis of many of the small magazines and journals that emerged in Paris in the late 1940s and early 1950s occurred over late night discussions in these cafes as friends formulated plans to launch their own literary voices in print. 

The Hudson Review, Volume 4, Number 2, 1951, examined the Paris small magazine phenomenon in an article written by Thomas Barbour entitled, Little Magazines in Paris.  In the opening paragraphs below he confirms that POINTS 8 was published, and that the ninth edition was in the process of being printed. 

(© The Hudson Review, All rights reserved)


Commentary © James A. Harrod, COPYRIGHT PROTECTED; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED