Patti Smith at a book-signing session at Ici Librairie in Paris

Six years after her last book, "L'année du singe," Patti Smith returns this spring with "The Bread of Angels". Due in bookstores worldwide from April 16, 2026, this new memoir by the American artist has been described as her most intimate yet.

Many still have in mind "Just Kids", her vast literary success published in 2010. This time, "The Bread of Angels" spans eight decades, including Patti Smith's humble childhood, weaving fragments of memory with the author's revelations. Patti Smith recalls her meeting with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and her discovery of New York's underground art scene. The book also revisits her meeting with guitarist Fred Smith, the great love of her life, mentioned at every one of her performances.

• To be read
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• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France, April 6–12, 2026.

As Patti Smith is set to take part in the Printemps de Bourges this spring, the towering American rock icon will first be signing autographs in several cities across France, including Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Paris. In the capital, this autograph session (free) is scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Ici Librairie, an independent bookstore located on the Grands Boulevards in the 2nd arrondissement.

But beware, to have Patti Smith's new book signed, you must strictly register for one of the two available slots, 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. Ici Librairie asks attendees with their ticket to respect the indicated time precisely, and notes that Patti Smith will sign "no freebies and will not take photos". Each person, however, may have two books signed at most.