A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City

Description

SHORT LISTED FOR THE ACKERLEY PRIZE FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

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”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 waiters 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 a 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 changedsince 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.