Sylvia Beach was an American expatriate and a key figure in the literary scene of early 20th-century Paris. She is best known for founding the famous bookstore and lending library, Shakespeare and Company, in 1919. This establishment became a gathering place for writers, artists, and intellectuals, including notable figures like James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. Beach played a significant role in promoting modernist literature, particularly by publishing Joyce's groundbreaking novel, Ulysses, in 1922. Her contributions to the literary community helped shape the cultural landscape of Paris during the Lost Generation era, making her an influential figure in the history of literature.