At the heart of WICE's commitment to cultural enrichment and connection is its vibrant literary program, a curated series of activities designed to cater to the diverse literary tastes of our international membership.

From Page to Stage: Readings of Prize-Winning Plays offers a unique rendezvous for theater lovers. Meeting monthly, members immerse themselves in English-language plays from diverse cultural backgrounds. With plays typically in two acts and featuring 6-10 characters, the group works to ensure a gender balance among playwrights and a rich representation of British, Irish, American, and Scottish playwrights.

For those with a penchant for dissecting literary masterpieces, WICE offers several options:

  • Café Littéraire: Savoring French Literature in English gives members the opportunity to read and discuss French works in English translation that have won the prestigious Prix Goncourt, awarded for "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year," or the equally prestigious Prix Femina.
  • Bookers: Discovering the best in international literature.

Storyscapes: Where Art Meets Text offers a unique experience that seamlessly blends the worlds of literature and art. Participants first immerse themselves in a selected novel, then embark on a guided tour of renowned museums such as the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay, where they use works of art that resonate with the story's plot points, themes, characters, events, or settings to foster deeper connections and enriching discussions.

At its core, WICE's literary program is a celebration of the written word, fostering connections and discussions and enriching the cultural fabric of its community.

You can stay up to date on our literary program by subscribing to our newsletter, WICE Direct, following us on FaceBook, or simply checking this page from time to time.


UPCOMING EVENTS

    • 27 Mar 2025
    • 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    • A member's apartment in the Marais
    • 6
    Register

    A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's most delightful comedies.

    The story unfolds in the enchanted forest of Arden, inhabited by fairies just outside ancient Athens. The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements of four Athenian lovers whose passions are manipulated by the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck. Amidst their escapades, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the Duke's wedding, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and magical transformations. With its intricate plot twists, sparkling wit, and timeless themes of love, illusion, and the transformative power of the imagination, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" remains a beloved masterpiece of Shakespearean comedy, captivating audiences with its charm and whimsy for centuries.

    Roughly 12 characters.




    The general concept of WICE play readings is that people are given the script when they arrive, and then pull straws for roles. Attendees sit around a living room and simply read their parts with as much theatrical flourish as they care to give (but there are no expectations of real acting).

    The reading will take place at a member's apartment in the Marais. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

    Registration opens on 28 February 2025.





    • 28 Mar 2025
    • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    • 6 rue Saint Louis en Île, 75004
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    The registration limit for this event has been reached. Please put your name on the waitlist and you will be notified if a space opens up. Registration for the April Café Littéraire book discussion opens on Saturday, 29 March.

    Clara, a young hairdresser in a small town in Burgundy, lives a quiet and predictable life. Her days at Cindy Coiffure are filled with routine conversations, and her personal life feels similarly stagnant. One day, a customer leaves behind a copy of Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust. On a whim, Clara begins reading, unaware that this chance encounter with literature will change her outlook on life.

    As she immerses herself in Proust’s world, Clara starts to see her own life differently—her relationships, her job, and the possibilities that lie beyond her small-town existence. The novel explores the transformative power of literature, showing how a single book can ignite self-reflection and inspire change. With humor and warmth, Clara Reads Proust is a celebration of unexpected discoveries and the way stories can reshape our lives.


    Originally published in 2022 in French as Clara lit Proust, the book was translated into English by Polly Mackintosh and released in May 2024.

    The group will meet at the organizer's apartment on Île Saint Louis, and discuss the book in English. The  door code, telephone number, etc., will be sent in the reminder emails following registration.

    Registration for the March meeting opens on 28 February 2025.




    • 03 Apr 2025
    • 05 Jun 2025
    • 3 sessions
    • Le Nelson's Café, 16 rue de Coquillière, 75001 Paris
    Register

    Free for WICE members! Come with us on a captivating journey where literature and history intertwine to offer a uniquely vivid perspective on France's past. You’ll plunge into a vibrant tapestry of pivotal events, cultural shifts, and influential figures…while falling under the spell of some of France’s best historical novelists.  And then the discussion begins!

    Our meetings take place in French so you'll enhance your understanding of the past while simultaneously improving your French reading, comprehension, and speaking skills in a friendly convivial group.

    Group facilitator: Claudia Oudet, French teacher, editor, and translator, will offer linguistic help and literary/historical insights.

    We'll meet in person at Le Nelson's Café,

    16 rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris

    Métro : Lignes 1/4/7/11/14 RER A/B/D Châtelet Les Halles 
    Bus : 74 – 85 : Louvre – Etienne Marcel / Bourse du commerce


    Préparez-vous à discuter:

    "Les Rois maudits, tome 1: Le Roi de fer" est le premier volume de la série historique de Maurice Druon, qui retrace les événements du XIVe siècle en France. Ce tome se concentre sur le règne de Philippe IV le Bel, un monarque impitoyable qui, pour renforcer son pouvoir, ordonne l'arrestation et l'exécution des Templiers. Avant de mourir sur le bûcher, le grand maître Jacques de Molay lance une malédiction sur le roi et ses héritiers, prédisant leur chute imminente. Cette série est reconnue pour sa richesse historique et ses intrigues complexes, offrant une immersion profonde dans les luttes de pouvoir de l'époque médiévale.

    Come prepared to discuss:

    Les Rois maudits, tome 1: Le Roi de fer” is the first volume in Maurice Druon's historical series, retracing the events of 14th-century France. This volume focuses on the reign of Philip IV the Fair, a ruthless monarch who, to strengthen his power, ordered the arrest and execution of the Knights Templar. Before dying at the stake, Grand Master Jacques de Molay puts a curse on the king and his heirs, predicting their imminent downfall. The series is renowned for its rich history and complex plots, offering a deep immersion in the power struggles of the medieval era.







    • 25 Apr 2025
    • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    • To be announced
    • 9

    A book has not been chosen yet for the April meeting. It will, however,  be an award-winning book that was originally published in French and is available in English translation.

    The group discusses the book in English.

    The book group normally meets at the organizer's apartment. The directions, door code, telephone number, etc., are sent following registration.

    Registration for the April meeting opens on 28 March 2025.




    • 23 May 2025
    • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    • To be announced
    • 9

    A book has not been chosen yet for the May meeting. It will, however,  be an award-winning book that was originally published in French and is available in English translation.

    The group discusses the book in English.

    The book group normally meets at the organizer's apartment. The directions, door code, telephone number, etc., are sent following registration.

    Registration for the May meeting opens on 26 April 2025.




    • 27 Jun 2025
    • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    • To be announced
    • 9

    A book has not been chosen yet for the June meeting. It will, however,  be an award-winning book that was originally published in French and is available in English translation.

    The group discusses the book in English.

    The book group normally meets at the organizer's apartment. The directions, door code, telephone number, etc., are sent following registration.

    Registration for the June meeting opens on 23 May 2025.




Past events

28 Feb 2025 LF281 Café Littéraire Book Group: Fear and Trembling, by Amélie Nothomb
27 Feb 2025 LF271 Living Room Players: The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie
24 Jan 2025 LJ241 Café Littéraire Book Group - The Perfect Nanny ("Chanson Douce"), by Leila Slimani
20 Dec 2024 LD201 Café Littéraire: The Stranger, by Albert Camus
12 Dec 2024 LD121 Bookers: Women Talking, by Miriam Toews
22 Nov 2024 LN221 Café Littéraire: Bonjour Tristesse ("Hello Sadness"), by Françoise Sagan
21 Nov 2024 LN211 Bookers: A Bend in the River, by V.S. Naipaul
25 Oct 2024 LO251 Café Littéraire: Lady in White ("La Dame Blanche"), by Christian Bobbin
04 Oct 2024 LO041 Café Littéraire: HHhH, by Laurent Binet
05 Jul 2024 LL051 Café Littéraire: The Elegance of the Hedgehog (L'Élégance du hérisson), Muriel Barbary
13 Jun 2024 LJ1306 Bookers: The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray
17 May 2024 LY171 Café Littéraire: The Braid (La Tresse), by Laetitia Colombani
16 May 2024 LM1605 Bookers: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk
26 Apr 2024 LA261 Café Littéraire: The Lover (L'Amant), by Marguerite Duras
24 Apr 2024 BA101 French Lit for Fun
11 Apr 2024 LA1104 Bookers: Celestial Bodies, by Jokha Alharthi
05 Apr 2024 LA051 Play Reading: "The Pretentious Young Ladies", by Molière
29 Mar 2024 LM291 Café Littéraire Spring and Autumn Book Selection
14 Mar 2024 LM1403 Bookers: The Bone People, by Keri Hulme
01 Mar 2024 LM011 Play Reading: 12 Angry Men, by Reginald Rose
23 Feb 2024 LM221 Café Littéraire - L'Ordre du Jour (The Order of the Day), by Éric Vuillard
08 Feb 2024 LF0802 Bookers: The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, by Shehan Karunatilaka
02 Feb 2024 LF021 Play Reading: "The Importance of Being Earnest," by Oscar Wilde
26 Jan 2024 LJ261 Café Littéraire - Nos Richesses (Our Riches), by Kaouther Adimi
17 Jan 2024 BJ172 French Lit for Fun
11 Jan 2024 LJ1101 Bookers: Treacle Walker, by Alan Garner
05 Jan 2024 LJ051 Play Reading: "The Autumn Garden," by Lillian Hellman
15 Dec 2023 LD151 Café Littéraire: Personne (No One), by Gwenaëlle Aubry
14 Dec 2023 LD1412 Bookers: Treacle Walker, by Alan Garner
01 Dec 2023 LD011 Play Reading: Great Catherine, by George Bernard Shaw
24 Nov 2023 LN241 L'Anomalie (The Anomaly), by Hervé le Tellier
23 Nov 2023 LN2311 Bookers: Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan
27 Oct 2023 LO271 Mémoires d'une jeune fille rangée (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter), by Simone de Beauvoir
26 Oct 2023 LO2610 Bookers: Great Granny Webster, by Caroline Blackwood
11 Oct 2023 BO112 French Lit for Fun
09 Jun 2023 WU0901 Grey Bees (Les Abeilles grises) by Andrey Kurkov
12 May 2023 WY1201 Nos richesses (Our Riches / A Bookshop in Algiers) by Kaouther Adimi
29 Apr 2023 WA2201 The Craft of Writing - Spring Edition
24 Apr 2023 BA241 French Lit for Fun
10 Mar 2023 WM1002 Literary Louvre Walk
01 Mar 2023 WM011 Haiku: How to Enjoy, Write, and Publish Them
10 Feb 2023 WF101 - The Siege (La Faim), by Helen Dunmore
13 Jan 2023 WJ131 - The Catcher in the Rye (L'Attrape-cœurs) by J.D. Salinger.
09 Dec 2022 WD091 Bilingual Book Group "Small Things Like These" (Ce genre de petites choses), by Claire Keegan
18 Nov 2022 WN181 Bilingual Book Group "The Hummingbird" (Le Colibri/Il Colibri), by Sandro Veronesi
18 Oct 2022 WO111 Flash Fiction
14 Oct 2022 WO141 Bilingual Book Group "What's Left of Me Is Yours" (Ce qu'il me reste de toi), by Sephanie Scott (Meet the Author)
09 Sep 2022 WS91 Bilingual Book Group "The Promise" (La Promesse), by Damon Galgut
27 Jun 2022 WU274 PWW Creative Nonfiction Master Class: Creative Nonfiction Projects with Jeffrey Greene
27 Jun 2022 WU272 PWW Short Story Master Class: Writing and Publishing the Short Story
27 Jun 2022 WU273 PWW Poetry Master Class: Poetry: What Can Language Do?
10 Jun 2022 WU101: Summer Light, and Then Comes The Night (Lumière d'été, puis vient la nuit / Sumarljós og svo kemur nóttin) by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
13 May 2022 WM111 Bilingual Book Group: Il treno dei Bambini (Le Train des enfants/The Children's Train) by Viola Ardone
08 Apr 2022 WA081 Bilingual Book Group: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World (10 minutes et 38 secondes dans ce monde étrange) by Elif Shafak
11 Mar 2022 WM111 Bilingual Book Group: "Love After Love" - Ingrid Persaud (Meet the Author & Translator)
11 Feb 2022 WF111 Bilingual Book Group: Heart of Darkness (Au cœur des ténèbres) by Joseph Conrad
14 Jan 2022 WJ141 The Women of the Castle (Château de femmes) by Jessica Shattuck
10 Dec 2021 WD101 Here We Are (Le grand jeu) by Graham Swift
19 Nov 2021 WN051 Runaway (Fugitives) by Alice Munro (Group 2)
08 Oct 2021 W081 Bilingual Book Group : Frère d'âme (At Night All Blood is Black) by David Diop
20 Jan 2021 WICE Talks: Pancakes in the City of Light with Author Craig Carlson
01 Jul 2016 PWL012 Literary Dinner
30 Jun 2016 PWU302 Expert Panel
30 Jun 2016 PWU301 Literary Agent Consultation
28 Jun 2016 PWU281 WICE Paris Writers’ Workshop Literary Walk
27 Jun 2014 PWU271 Literary Agent Consultation
24 Jun 2014 PWU241 The Art of Novel Writing
24 Jun 2014 PWU242 The Art of Non-Fiction Writing
24 Jun 2014 PWU243 The Essentials of Screenplay Writing
24 Jun 2014 PWU244 The Art of Writing Novella and Short Story
27 Sep 2011 WS271 Seeing Paris through Literature