Adam Biles: Inside the Mind of Shakespeare & Company’s Literary Director in 2025

Adam Biles is an English writer and interviewer whose work spans fiction, live literary programming, and one of the most respected author-interview podcasts in the world. As Literary Director at Shakespeare & Company in Paris, he helps shape conversations that travel far beyond the Left Bank. If you want a clear, up-to-date guide to Biles’ books, his role at the legendary bookstore, and where to listen to his standout interviews, this is it.

Who Is Adam Biles?

Adam Biles is widely recognized for two interconnected pillars of his career. He is a novelist whose work examines contemporary life with warmth and precision. He is also the Literary Director at Shakespeare & Company in Paris, where he curates events and conversations with leading writers from around the globe. His official author page confirms his standing as a published writer and a central figure in today’s literary scene[1].

A reflective literary portrait evoking an author at work in a European city

Snapshot in 2025

Primary roles: novelist, interviewer, and Literary Director at Shakespeare & Company[1][3]
Known for: author events, a high-profile interview series, and editorial work connected with the Shakespeare & Company ecosystem[2][4][5]
Where to start: his debut novel and the Shakespeare & Company interview collection make a strong one-two introduction[1][4]
How to follow: check the Shakespeare & Company podcast feed for new author conversations and the bookstore’s programming calendar for live events[2][5]

Why Adam Biles Matters Right Now

Independent bookstores continue to reinvent how readers discover and discuss books. Shakespeare & Company is a cornerstone of that movement, and Biles’ programming and interviewing help connect great writing to a broader public. His approach favors clear, thoughtful conversations with authors across genres and languages, which makes the work accessible even if you are new to a writer’s backlist. He also contributes as an editor, helping package those conversations for readers who prefer curated collections[4].

Career Timeline and Roles

Early Profile and Writing

According to his official author page, Adam Biles emerged as a novelist whose work is noted for craft and care with character and setting. His first novel, highlighted on that page, introduced his voice to a broad audience and established the themes that recur in his later roles as interviewer and curator[1].

Shakespeare & Company Leadership

As Literary Director at Shakespeare & Company, Biles guides the bookstore’s creative and public programming. Event listings and author appearances underline how central his curation has become to the shop’s 21st-century presence[3]. This role connects the on-the-ground intimacy of a Paris reading with a global listener base who tune in to hear long-form interviews[2][5].

Interviewer and Editor

Biles conducts and oversees in-depth conversations with novelists, poets, translators, and thinkers, many of which appear on the Shakespeare & Company podcast and in anthology form. The Google Books listing for The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews provides bibliographic detail for a landmark collection, aligning his interviewing with a carefully edited print counterpart[4].

Books by Adam Biles

Readers often discover Biles through his fiction, then deepen their connection through his event programming and interviews. Here is a concise guide to his books and related editorial work.

Debut Novel: A Starting Point

Biles’ author page highlights his debut novel and positions it as a cornerstone of his literary identity[1]. While readers should consult the publisher and bookseller listings for full blurbs and endorsements, the novel’s critical reception helped introduce Biles’ voice to international readers. It also offers useful context for understanding his interviewing style, which often privileges empathy, detail, and narrative momentum.

The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews

A curated volume of conversations offers another entry point. The Google Books page for The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews outlines the scope and format, presenting the project as an editorial triumph that captures years of cultural dialogue[4]. If you want a single, portable doorway into the world Biles helps shape, this collection is it.

Inside Shakespeare & Company: Programming, Community, and Reach

Shakespeare & Company has long been synonymous with literary experimentation and discovery. In the 2020s, the shop continues to build that identity by pairing intimate live events with global digital distribution. Biles’ leadership supports a program that is eclectic but coherent, inviting the widest possible audience while keeping the shop’s core commitments to literature and community front and center[3].

What Makes the Program Stand Out

Depth rather than speed. Conversations aim to clarify and illuminate, not react to headlines.
Range of voices. International authors, translators, and poets help expand the literary map.
Continuity. The series builds a living archive, which then feeds into edited volumes for readers who prefer print curation[4].

The Shakespeare & Company Podcast

If you only know one thing about Adam Biles’ current work, make it the podcast. The feed gives you access to full-length conversations that humanize authors and clarify why their books matter. Episodes on Acast and Apple Podcasts illustrate the range and tone of the series[2][5].

How to Listen

Stream via Acast, where you can browse individual episode pages and descriptions[2].
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts for new releases and curated archives[5].

What to Expect

Context before craft. Many episodes set the scene, then dive into how and why a book was written.
Respect for translation. The show frequently highlights translators and cross-cultural dialogue.
Practical inspiration. Authors often discuss process, offering takeaways for readers and writers alike.

Event Spotlight: Adam Biles and Sylvia Whitman in Conversation

City Lights hosted an event with Adam Biles and Sylvia Whitman, underscoring how the Shakespeare & Company community resonates with audiences beyond Paris[3]. Event pages like this show the bookstore’s growing collaborations with other literary centers and their shared mission to keep long-form literary conversations vibrant.

Description

The event showcased the ideas and people driving Shakespeare & Company’s programming, with Biles appearing alongside Sylvia Whitman. Listings like these provide a window into live conversations for readers who cannot attend in person[3].

Date and Time

See the City Lights event page for the official schedule and details for this conversation and related programs[3].

Register or Watch

City Lights typically provides registration or access information on the event page, including updates for livestreams or archived recordings when available[3].

Share and Discover More

Use the bookstore’s event listings to discover upcoming programs, and share links with friends who are passionate about independent book culture[3]. You can also explore the podcast archives to continue the conversation from home[5].

Publisher and Host Info

City Lights and Shakespeare & Company are both iconic institutions that amplify literary conversations. The City Lights event listing credits the participants and helps document the ongoing collaboration between major independent bookstores[3].

Themes and Style in Adam Biles’ Work

As a novelist, Biles tends to focus on human-scale dramas that reveal larger social truths. As an interviewer, he favors clear questions, patient follow-ups, and a tone that makes even complex subjects feel approachable. This mixture of craft and care helps authors speak more deeply about their work while giving listeners and readers a strong on-ramp to new books.

Recurring Signatures

Curiosity and patience. His conversations often allow room for an idea to unfold.
Respect for the reader. Questions invite clarity rather than explanations that presume expertise.
Cultural bridges. The programming often spotlights translation and international voices, reflecting the bookstore’s global readership[2][5].

Getting Started: A Reading and Listening Guide

Use this simple path if you are new to Adam Biles.

Read the debut novel highlighted on his author page to understand his narrative sensibility[1].
Open The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews to see how his conversations translate into a focused, curated reading experience[4].
Subscribe to the podcast on Acast or Apple Podcasts to keep up with new interviews and discover backlist gems[2][5].

Quick Picks and Why They Work

Debut novel: gives you Biles’ literary voice and themes in their most distilled form[1].
Interview collection: curates years of author conversations into a single, easy-to-dip-into volume[4].
Podcast feed: adds currency and range, helping you meet new authors and ideas each month[2][5].

Where to Find Books and Interviews

The most reliable sources are official pages and major bookseller or podcast platforms. Biles’ Amazon author page lists his books and related details, while the Google Books page for the interview collection offers a bibliographic snapshot[1][4]. For interviews, Acast and Apple Podcasts provide dependable access and episode descriptions[2][5].

Buy Links and Bibliographic Information

Author page and book listings on Amazon carry summaries, formats, and release details[1].
Google Books offers catalog information, search features, and snapshot previews for the interview collection[4].
Podcast pages on Acast and Apple Podcasts include show notes, episode descriptions, and subscription options[2][5].

How Adam Biles Builds Community

Biles’ work connects individual readers to a larger literary culture. The events he leads and the interviews he conducts often become a reader’s entry point into writers they have not yet tried. Independent booksellers have long provided this service in person. The Shakespeare & Company model shows how a historic shop can also extend that mission digitally, which allows these conversations to travel worldwide[2][5].

What Readers Gain

Discovery through trust. The programming stands on deep reading and careful selection.
Confidence in curation. Interviews and events reduce the signal-to-noise problem of finding your next book.
Continuity across formats. You can encounter an author in a live event, continue the dialogue in a podcast, and then read an edited interview in print[3][4].

For Writers and Translators

If you are a writer or translator, listening to Biles’ interviews can be especially helpful. Guests discuss process, revision, and the real-work aspects of bookmaking that many creative people want to understand. Paying attention to how questions are framed can also sharpen your own approach to talking about your work in public.

Practical Takeaways

Prepare to talk about your process in plain language.
Use specific scenes or passages to anchor abstract themes.
Highlight the translation journey when applicable, from rights to collaboration to voice.

Common Misconceptions

Search interest sometimes blends Adam Biles with unrelated public figures who share the same last name. To avoid confusion, remember that this profile focuses on Adam Biles the writer and Literary Director associated with Shakespeare & Company in Paris. If you are looking for athletic profiles or entertainment news, you are in a different category.

Curious about other culture and biography deep-dives on our site? Explore these reader favorites:

How We Built This Guide

We drew on official author pages, event listings, and podcast archives to ensure accuracy and utility. Author listings confirm bibliographic details and help verify career milestones[1][4]. Event pages document appearances and collaborative programming that extend the bookstore’s voice beyond Paris[3]. Podcast platforms provide episode descriptions, guest rosters, and dates for ongoing releases[2][5].

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Adam Biles?

Adam Biles is an English writer and the Literary Director at Shakespeare & Company in Paris. He is known for his fiction and for hosting and curating in-depth literary interviews connected to the bookstore’s events and podcast[1][3][5].

What is Adam Biles best known for in 2025?

He is best known for two things. First, his work as a novelist. Second, his public-facing role at Shakespeare & Company, where he leads conversations with authors and helps shape the bookstore’s live and recorded programming[1][3][5].

What are the best books to start with?

Begin with the debut novel highlighted on his Amazon author page to understand his voice and themes, then move to The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews, which packages standout conversations from the program into a curated volume[1][4].

Does Adam Biles host a podcast?

Yes. He is closely associated with the Shakespeare & Company podcast, where he interviews authors, translators, and thinkers. You can listen via Acast and Apple Podcasts[2][5].

Where can I find upcoming events featuring Adam Biles?

Check major independent bookstore listings and Shakespeare & Company’s channels. The City Lights event page with Adam Biles and Sylvia Whitman is one example of how these programs travel and collaborate across venues[3].

Is Adam Biles also an editor?

He has editorial credits related to the Shakespeare & Company interview collection, which presents curated conversations in book form. The Google Books entry provides bibliographic details for that volume[4].

Are the interviews available in print and audio?

Yes. Many conversations are accessible as podcast episodes on Acast and Apple Podcasts, and a curated selection appears in The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews[2][4][5].

How does his role influence today’s literary culture?

By pairing live events with global distribution through podcasts and books, Biles helps independent literary culture reach new readers while maintaining the depth and care that make in-person conversations so special[2][3][4][5].

Is Adam Biles related to Simone Biles?

No relationship is indicated. This profile covers Adam Biles, the writer and Literary Director associated with Shakespeare & Company in Paris. Simone Biles is an American gymnast in a completely different field.

How can I support the work highlighted here?

Buy the books, subscribe to the podcast, and attend events when possible. Sharing links to episodes and event pages also helps grow the audience for independent literary culture[2][3][5].

References

[1] Amazon Author Page for Adam Biles (URL: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00A2JZ9KK/about) – “Confirms Adam Biles as a published writer and provides details on his books and author bio.”
[2] Acast: Shakespeare & Company Podcast Episode Page (URL: https://shows.acast.com/sandco/episodes/small-girl-big-ideas-getting-to-know-mafalda-with-samanta-sc) – “Demonstrates the active interview series associated with Shakespeare & Company and Adam Biles.”
[3] City Lights Event: Adam Biles & Sylvia Whitman (URL: https://citylights.com/events/adam-biles-sylvia-whitman-in-conversation-with-peter-maravelis/) – “Documents Biles’ public literary programming beyond Paris and his role in bookstore collaborations.”
[4] Google Books: The Shakespeare and Company Book of Interviews (URL: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Shakespeare_and_Company_Book_of_Inte.html?id=mwW3EAAAQBAJ) – “Provides bibliographic information for the edited collection of interviews connected to Shakespeare & Company.”
[5] Apple Podcasts: Shakespeare & Company Episode Listing (URL: https://podcasts.apple.com/hu/podcast/writing-the-unspeakable-neige-sinno-on-abuse-memory/id1040121937?i=1000711679132) – “Confirms availability and scope of the interview series on a major podcast platform.”