Left Bank Books

Left Bank Books has been a cornerstone of St. Louis's Central West End since 1969, making it one of the oldest continuously operating independent bookstores in the Midwest. The store's name evokes the literary Left Bank of Paris, and the store has always embodied that same spirit of intellectual daring and cultural engagement. The selection emphasizes literary fiction, poetry, philosophy, and progressive nonfiction, curated by a staff whose collective reading knowledge is formidable. The store's author events program has brought virtually every major American writer to St. Louis over the decades, and the community's loyalty has seen Left Bank through every challenge the book industry has thrown at it. The used books section offers quality secondhand finds, and the store's commitment to local and small-press authors makes it an essential stop for anyone interested in the literary pulse of the Mississippi River heartland.