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

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 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.