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

Short listed for the Ackerley Prize for Autobiography

"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 changed since 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.