84, Charing Cross Road
by Helene Hanff
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"Those who have read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a novel comprised of only letters between the characters, will see how much that best-seller owes 84, Charing Cross Road." -- Medium.com
A heartwarming love story about people who love books for readers who love books
This funny, poignant, classic love story unfolds through a series of letters between Helene Hanff, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a charming, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books. Discover the relationship that has touched the hearts of thousands of readers around the world, and was the basis for a film starring Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780140143508
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Helene Hanff
- Publisher
- Penguin Books
- Published Date
- October 1, 1990
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 112
- Physical Info
- 7.58 in L x 5.46 in W (0.2 lb)
This is the story of an American writer (the author of the book) who strikes up a friendship by mail with a bookseller in England. The entire book is a series of unedited and un-commented-on letters exchanged between Hanff and the Marks & Co. booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road. Her primary pen pal is a man named Frank Doel, with whom she shares a love of old books. [Perhaps this is the point where I should say that I flatly disagree, without reservation, with the previous reviewers who believe there was a potential romantic attachment between the two of them.] The correspondence runs from 1949 until 1969, during which time Helene and the people at 84 Charing Cross Road exchange Christmas gifts and news of their families, but never meet. At least in the early years of the correspondence, almost every year Ms. Hanff states her intention to come over to visit England, but something always comes up to prevent the trip. In 1969, one of Hanff's letters to Frank Doel is answered by another member of the firm, informing her that Frank Doel has died. This is a beautiful book, which can be read in 45 minutes. I suppose every reader will take his or her own lessons from the book, but here is mine: If there is something you really want to do in your life, then DO IT when the opportunity arises. Time is finite. If you keep saying, "Maybe next year," there will eventually come a time when there IS no next year. It is a painful tragedy that Helene Hanff never got to England to meet Frank Doer and the other people at Marks & Company, and that poignant sadness is what stayed with me after I had closed the book.
Lovely true story about book lovers, sellers in London and buyer in NYC, and the growth of friendship by letter among people who (sadly) never met.
Charming story, enjoyable read
Love this book
One of our all time favorites! If you are old enough to know about the aftermath of WWII in London, you will appreciate this delightful, short book. A real feel-good story. It was a nice movie as well with a few seemingly unnecessary changes.
