What do you think?
Rate this book
禺蹖丕亘丕賳 趩乇蹖賳诏 讴乇丕爻 卮賲丕乇賴鈥屰� 鄹鄞
賰鬲丕亘 芦禺蹖丕亘丕賳 趩乇蹖賳诏 讴乇丕爻貙 卮賲丕乇賴鈥屰� 鄹鄞禄 丿乇 爻丕賱 郾酃鄯郯 丿乇 賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿 賵 亘賴 爻乇毓鬲 鬲賵噩賴 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 丿賵爻鬲丕賳 乇丕 丿乇 爻乇丕爻乇 噩賴丕賳 亘賴 禺賵丿 噩賱亘 讴乇丿. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 讴賵趩讴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й� 亘賴 噩丕 賲丕賳丿賴鈥屫й� 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丿乇 胤賵賱 爻丕賱 賴丕蹖 郾酃鄞酃 鬲丕 郾酃鄱酃 亘蹖賳 賴賱蹖賳 賴丕賳賮 賵 賮乇丕賳讴 丿賵卅賱貙 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賮乇賵卮賳丿诏丕賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬佖辟堌篡� 賲丕乇讴爻 賵 卮乇讴丕亍 丿乇 賱賳丿賳 賳诏丕卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 賴賱蹖賳 賴丕賳賮 毓丕卮賯 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 賵 賯丿蹖賲蹖 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 丕爻鬲 賵 丕睾賱亘 丿乇 倬蹖丿丕 讴乇丿賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 賲賵乇丿 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屫ж� 丿乇 卮賴乇 賲丿乇賳 賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴 丿趩丕乇 賲卮讴賱 賲蹖鈥屫促堌�. 丿乇 爻丕賱 郾酃鄞酃 丿乇 賲噩賱賴鈥屫й� 亘賴 丌诏賴蹖 鬲亘賱蹖睾丕鬲蹖 蹖讴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬佖辟堌篡� 丿乇 賱賳丿賳 亘賴 賳丕賲 賲丕乇讴爻 賵 卮乇讴丕亍 亘乇賲蹖鈥屫堌必� 讴賴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 賯丿蹖賲蹖 賵 賳丕蹖丕亘 丿爻鬲 丿賵賲 賲蹖鈥屬佖辟堌簇�. 賳丕賲賴鈥屫й� 亘乇丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬佖辟堌篡� 賲蹖鈥屬佖必池� 賵 賮賴乇爻鬲 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 賲賵乇丿 賳蹖丕夭卮 乇丕 賴賲乇丕賴 賳丕賲賴 賲蹖鈥屬佖必池�. 亘賴 夭賵丿蹖 鬲毓丿丕丿蹖 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丿乇禺賵丕爻鬲蹖鈥屫ж� 賴賲乇丕賴 亘丕 賳丕賲賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 賮乇丕賳讴 丿賵卅賱 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 讴丕乇讴賳丕賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬佖辟堌篡� 亘賴 丿爻鬲卮 賲蹖鈥屫必池�. 賴賱蹖賳 亘丕 爻賮丕乇卮 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖卮鬲乇 鬲亘丿蹖賱 亘賴 賲卮鬲乇蹖 丿丕卅賲蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬佖辟堌篡� 賲丕乇讴爻 賵 卮乇讴丕亍 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 丕蹖賳 丕乇鬲亘丕胤 賵 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏� 亘賴 賲丿鬲 亘蹖爻鬲 爻丕賱 丕丿丕賲賴 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 賵 賲賳噩乇 亘賴 丿賵爻鬲蹖 亘蹖鈥屬嗀港屫� 丿賵胤乇賮賴鈥屫й� 亘蹖賳 丕賵 賵 賮乇丕賳讴 丿賵卅賱 賵 禺丕賳賵丕丿賴鈥屫ж� 賵 爻丕蹖乇 讴丕乇讴賳丕賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬佖辟堌篡� 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 夭賳丿诏蹖 丕蹖賳 丕賮乇丕丿 乇丕 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖卮賴 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 賵 丌賳鈥屬囏� 乇丕 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 噩丕賵丿丕賳 賵 賲丨亘賵亘 讴鬲丕亘貙 賳賲丕蹖卮鈥屬嗀з呝� 賵 爻蹖賳賲丕 賵 鬲賱賵蹖夭蹖賵賳 鬲亘丿蹖賱 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�. 丿乇 丕蹖賳 賳丕賲賴鈥屬囏й� 噩匕丕亘 賵 禺賵丕賳丿賳蹖 丕睾賱亘 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 毓卮賯 亘賴 讴鬲丕亘貙 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賵 賴賲蹖賳鈥屫焚堌� 賴賲 賵囟毓蹖鬲 賵禺蹖賲 丕賯鬲氐丕丿蹖 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳 亘毓丿 丕夭 噩賳诏 噩賴丕賳蹖 丿賵賲貙 夭賳丿诏蹖 禺氐賵氐蹖 丕蹖賳 丕賮乇丕丿 賵 丨鬲蹖 丿爻鬲賵乇 倬禺鬲 睾匕丕 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌з� 蹖丕賮鬲. 胤賳夭 賯賵蹖 賵 氐乇丕丨鬲 賱賴噩賴鈥屰� 賴丕賳賮 丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 蹖讴 胤乇賮 賵 賲亘丕丿蹖 丌丿丕亘 亘賵丿賳 丿賵卅賱 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 丕夭 胤乇賮 丿蹖诏乇 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 亘賴 丕孬乇蹖 噩匕丕亘 賵 禺賵丕賳丿賳蹖 鬲亘丿蹖賱 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲. 丿乇 爻丕賱 郾酃鄹鄯 賴丕賱蹖賵賵丿 亘賴 丕賯鬲亘丕爻 丕夭 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賮蹖賱賲蹖 亘丕 亘丕夭蹖 丌賳鬲賵賳蹖 賴丕倬讴蹖賳夭 丿乇 賳賯卮 賮乇丕賳讴 丿賵卅賱 賵 丌賳賴 亘賳讴乇丕賮鬲 丿乇 賳賯卮 賴賱蹖賳 爻丕禺鬲. 賴賱蹖賳 賴丕賳賮 丿乇 爻丕賱 郾酃酃鄯 丿乇 爻賳 鄹郾 爻丕賱诏蹖 丿乇 賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴 丿乇诏匕卮鬲貨
禺賵賳丿賳 丕賷賳 賰鬲丕亘 乇賵 賮賯胤 亘賴 丕賵賳丕賷賶 賰賴 毓丕卮賯 賰鬲丕亘 賵 丕丿亘賷丕鬲 丕賳诏賱賷爻賶 賴爻鬲賳丿 鬲賵氐賷賴 賲蹖鈥屬冑嗁娰呚�
禺賵賳丿賳 丕賷賳 賰鬲丕亘 乇賵 賮賯胤 亘賴 丕賵賳丕賷賶 賰賴 毓丕卮賯 賰鬲丕亘 賵 丕丿亘賷丕鬲 丕賳诏賱賷爻賶 賴爻鬲賳丿 鬲賵氐賷賴 賲蹖鈥屬冑嗁娰呚�
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
1,216 people are currently reading
100k people want to read
About the author
Helene Hanff
27听books663听followersHelene Hanff (April 15, 1916鈥揂pril 9, 1997) was an American writer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is best known as the author of the book 84 Charing Cross Road, which became the basis for a play, teleplay, and film of the same name.
Her career, which saw her move from writing unproduced plays to helping create some of the earliest television dramas to becoming a kind of professional New Yorker, goes far beyond the charm of that one book. She called her 1961 memoir Underfoot in Show Business, and it chronicled the struggle of an ambitious young playwright to make it in the world of New York theatre in the 1940s and 1950s. She worked in publicists' offices and spent summers on the "straw hat" circuit along the East Coast of the United States, writing plays that were admired by some of Broadway's leading producers but which somehow never saw the light of day.
She wrote and edited scripts for a variety of early television dramas produced out of New York, all the while continuing to try and move from being what she called "one of the 999 out of 1,000 who don't become Noel Coward." When the bulk of television production moved to California, her work slowly dried up, and she turned to writing for magazines and, eventually, to the books that made her reputation.
First published in 1970, the epistolary work 84 Charing Cross Road chronicles her 20 years of correspondence with Frank Doel, the chief buyer for Marks & Co., a London bookshop, on which she depended for the obscure classics and British literature titles around which her passion for self-education revolved. She became intimately involved in the lives of the shop's staff, sending them food parcels during England's post-war shortages and sharing with them details of her life in Manhattan.
Due to financial difficulties and an aversion to travel, she put off visiting her English friends until too late; Doel died in December 1968 from peritonitis from a burst appendix, and the bookshop eventually closed. Hanff did finally visit Charing Cross Road and the empty but still standing shop in the summer of 1971, a trip recorded in her 1973 book The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street.
In the 1987 film of 84 Charing Cross Road, Hanff was played by Anne Bancroft, while Anthony Hopkins took the part of Frank Doel. Anne Jackson had earlier played Hanff in a 1975 adaptation of the book for British television. Ellen Burstyn recreated the role on Broadway in 1982 at the Nederlander Theater in New York City.
She later put her obsession with British scholar Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch to use in a book called Q's Legacy. Other books include Apple of My Eye, an idiosyncratic guide to New York City, and A Letter from New York (1992), which reprinted talks she gave on the BBC's Woman's Hour between 1978 and 1985.
Hanff was never shy about her fondness for cigarettes and martinis, but nevertheless lived to be 80, dying of diabetes in 1997 in New York City. The apartment building where she lived at 305 E. 72nd Street has been named "Charing Cross House" in her honor. A bronze plaque next to the front door commemorates her residence and authorship of the book.
Her career, which saw her move from writing unproduced plays to helping create some of the earliest television dramas to becoming a kind of professional New Yorker, goes far beyond the charm of that one book. She called her 1961 memoir Underfoot in Show Business, and it chronicled the struggle of an ambitious young playwright to make it in the world of New York theatre in the 1940s and 1950s. She worked in publicists' offices and spent summers on the "straw hat" circuit along the East Coast of the United States, writing plays that were admired by some of Broadway's leading producers but which somehow never saw the light of day.
She wrote and edited scripts for a variety of early television dramas produced out of New York, all the while continuing to try and move from being what she called "one of the 999 out of 1,000 who don't become Noel Coward." When the bulk of television production moved to California, her work slowly dried up, and she turned to writing for magazines and, eventually, to the books that made her reputation.
First published in 1970, the epistolary work 84 Charing Cross Road chronicles her 20 years of correspondence with Frank Doel, the chief buyer for Marks & Co., a London bookshop, on which she depended for the obscure classics and British literature titles around which her passion for self-education revolved. She became intimately involved in the lives of the shop's staff, sending them food parcels during England's post-war shortages and sharing with them details of her life in Manhattan.
Due to financial difficulties and an aversion to travel, she put off visiting her English friends until too late; Doel died in December 1968 from peritonitis from a burst appendix, and the bookshop eventually closed. Hanff did finally visit Charing Cross Road and the empty but still standing shop in the summer of 1971, a trip recorded in her 1973 book The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street.
In the 1987 film of 84 Charing Cross Road, Hanff was played by Anne Bancroft, while Anthony Hopkins took the part of Frank Doel. Anne Jackson had earlier played Hanff in a 1975 adaptation of the book for British television. Ellen Burstyn recreated the role on Broadway in 1982 at the Nederlander Theater in New York City.
She later put her obsession with British scholar Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch to use in a book called Q's Legacy. Other books include Apple of My Eye, an idiosyncratic guide to New York City, and A Letter from New York (1992), which reprinted talks she gave on the BBC's Woman's Hour between 1978 and 1985.
Hanff was never shy about her fondness for cigarettes and martinis, but nevertheless lived to be 80, dying of diabetes in 1997 in New York City. The apartment building where she lived at 305 E. 72nd Street has been named "Charing Cross House" in her honor. A bronze plaque next to the front door commemorates her residence and authorship of the book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,790 reviews
February 16, 2011
"If you happen to pass by 84 Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me? I owe it so much."
This was my second reading of the book, and I'm adding a star to my original rating. I laughed a lot harder this time, and even got a little choked up near the end. I don't recall this much chortling, cackling, guffawing and snorting on my first time through. The contrast between Helene Hanff's brash American informality and Frank Doel's staid British professionalism is delightful. There's a certain charm in his politeness, while at the same time one wonders how long it will take for him to loosen up. His first letter to Helene begins "Dear Madam", to which she replies:
"I hope 'madam' doesn't mean over there what it does here."
Her humor and generosity did slowly erode his reserve, but it took years. As she put it:
"I write them the most outrageous letters from a safe 3,000 miles away."
Outrageous they are, and charmingly witty.
I remember when e-mail first started to take hold in the early 1990s. I was working for a professor who mentioned to me that it was ahistorical. We would henceforth have no permanent record of most of our written communication. His comments stayed in my mind while I happily made the switch from snail mail to electronic. Re-reading this little treasury of collected letters made me think perhaps we've lost more than just an outdated form of contact.
This was my second reading of the book, and I'm adding a star to my original rating. I laughed a lot harder this time, and even got a little choked up near the end. I don't recall this much chortling, cackling, guffawing and snorting on my first time through. The contrast between Helene Hanff's brash American informality and Frank Doel's staid British professionalism is delightful. There's a certain charm in his politeness, while at the same time one wonders how long it will take for him to loosen up. His first letter to Helene begins "Dear Madam", to which she replies:
"I hope 'madam' doesn't mean over there what it does here."
Her humor and generosity did slowly erode his reserve, but it took years. As she put it:
"I write them the most outrageous letters from a safe 3,000 miles away."
Outrageous they are, and charmingly witty.
I remember when e-mail first started to take hold in the early 1990s. I was working for a professor who mentioned to me that it was ahistorical. We would henceforth have no permanent record of most of our written communication. His comments stayed in my mind while I happily made the switch from snail mail to electronic. Re-reading this little treasury of collected letters made me think perhaps we've lost more than just an outdated form of contact.
February 12, 2024
When I was last in London, I dropped by 84, Charring Cross Road. Guess what it is now?
McDonald's! Put that on as one of life's major disappointments!
84, Charing Cross Road is a book which contains selected correspondence between a New York book lover in New York City (Helene Hanff) and a used bookseller in London (Frank Doel). The correspondence starts in 1949 and lasts for 20 years.
This book started off strongly as the reader is a voyeur into the lives of Helene Hanff and Frank Doel. The love and enthusiasm that Helene Hanff oozes for literature is almost palpable and highly contagious. She also tries to help her favorite British bookstore. However, Helene refers to so many pieces of obscure literature. Many of the books I have never even heard of (although I do know William Blake and Jane Austen unfortunately). It would have been more poignant if it was referring to modern pieces of literature or at least more well-known works. Thinking back on some of my literary discussions, I found them to be more entertaining and endearing than this book.
This book did transport me back in time (alright well I wasn鈥檛 born in 1949 or even 1969), but I do remember a time when people actually took the time to sit down and write letters. They put time and thought into it, and it meant the world to hold that letter in your hand. It was a special event to receive a letter from someone. Now, we have email where you get adverts from a company after you purchased one bottle of nail polish. People give you a hug while checking their Smartphones. Once upon a time, there was a time when someone sat down and focused on correspondence without 26 email notifications, 385 Twitter notifications, and 16 text messages. Would Helene have been able to craft such a relationship today? Maybe she could chat with a virtual assistant.
Overall, this book is worth a read once, but I鈥檝e encountered livelier bookish discussions on GoodReads.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
McDonald's! Put that on as one of life's major disappointments!
84, Charing Cross Road is a book which contains selected correspondence between a New York book lover in New York City (Helene Hanff) and a used bookseller in London (Frank Doel). The correspondence starts in 1949 and lasts for 20 years.
This book started off strongly as the reader is a voyeur into the lives of Helene Hanff and Frank Doel. The love and enthusiasm that Helene Hanff oozes for literature is almost palpable and highly contagious. She also tries to help her favorite British bookstore. However, Helene refers to so many pieces of obscure literature. Many of the books I have never even heard of (although I do know William Blake and Jane Austen unfortunately). It would have been more poignant if it was referring to modern pieces of literature or at least more well-known works. Thinking back on some of my literary discussions, I found them to be more entertaining and endearing than this book.
This book did transport me back in time (alright well I wasn鈥檛 born in 1949 or even 1969), but I do remember a time when people actually took the time to sit down and write letters. They put time and thought into it, and it meant the world to hold that letter in your hand. It was a special event to receive a letter from someone. Now, we have email where you get adverts from a company after you purchased one bottle of nail polish. People give you a hug while checking their Smartphones. Once upon a time, there was a time when someone sat down and focused on correspondence without 26 email notifications, 385 Twitter notifications, and 16 text messages. Would Helene have been able to craft such a relationship today? Maybe she could chat with a virtual assistant.
Overall, this book is worth a read once, but I鈥檝e encountered livelier bookish discussions on GoodReads.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
October 16, 2017
As a child, I loved writing to pen pals. Anywhere I went that offered a chance to sign up to be a pen pal, I did with earnest. None of the pen pals ended up amounting to much, but it was thrilling to receive letters from them in the mail. I come from a line of pen pal writers as my mother wrote to an English girl her age for her entire childhood and teenaged years. It is not surprising then, that I one of the first books I reviewed on goodreads was by , where Brooks details her own experiences with pen pals, one that eventually lead her to move to the United States and a career in writing. It comes of less of a surprise that I would be lead to , a short book of correspondence by former television writer . A proclaimed Anglophile who wrote to employees of the Marks and Company Book Shop in London over a twenty year period, Hanff published her letters in book form as a gift to future readers and letter writers.
Helene Hanff is enamored by out of print, hard to find British literature. The only location close to her where she is able to obtain any just to look at is at the main branch of the New York City Public Library. Yet, that library is 50 blocks from her home and most of the time she is unable to bring the books she finds back to her apartment. The books she can read are new and do not have a history behind them. By chance, Hanff's upstairs neighbors are British, and they give her the name of Marks and Co. Starting in 1949, Hanff begins writing to Marks' employees requesting new or slightly used second hand copies of all things British, everything from Chaucer to Austen and all rare books in between. While Hanff has got to pay for the air mail and shipping fees, she is happy to do so as it opens a new world of books to her. What started as an enquiry becomes a twenty year correspondence with employees at the shop.
The main pen pal Hanff wrote to was an employee named Frank Doel. In time, she also wrote to his wife and neighbor as well as other employees at Marks and Company. At first they referred to each other by names of ma'am and sir, but gradually they grew to use familiar names Helene and Frank. Engaging in intelligent conversations about books and about their lives, Hanff became emotionally invested in the lives of the Marks and Company family. Each year she would send the staff gifts of hard to find rationed items as meats, eggs, sugar, and nylon stockings. For this, they were forever grateful, going out of their way to send Hanff any book she requested, even an extremely rare copy of the Complete Works of John Donne. While money did not allow her to travel, Hanff had an open invitation to visit London and stay as a guest of any of the shop employees. What had started as a simple letter morphed into a lifelong friendship.
The correspondence that Helene Hanff engaged in seemed as a precursor to goodreads as she discussed books with otherwise strangers on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Finding like minded readers from all over the world is one of the things I enjoy the most about goodreads, so I was drawn to Hanff and her quest to obtain British literature. Even though she was unable to visit London, Hanff's sincere writing left me with a smile as I envisioned her thrill of opening the letters and packages that emerged from a simple correspondence. With the majority of correspondence now done electronically, letter writing has become a lost art. Hanff's letters to Doel took me back to a simpler time, and that their relationship centered on books was only an added bonus.
4+ stars
Helene Hanff is enamored by out of print, hard to find British literature. The only location close to her where she is able to obtain any just to look at is at the main branch of the New York City Public Library. Yet, that library is 50 blocks from her home and most of the time she is unable to bring the books she finds back to her apartment. The books she can read are new and do not have a history behind them. By chance, Hanff's upstairs neighbors are British, and they give her the name of Marks and Co. Starting in 1949, Hanff begins writing to Marks' employees requesting new or slightly used second hand copies of all things British, everything from Chaucer to Austen and all rare books in between. While Hanff has got to pay for the air mail and shipping fees, she is happy to do so as it opens a new world of books to her. What started as an enquiry becomes a twenty year correspondence with employees at the shop.
The main pen pal Hanff wrote to was an employee named Frank Doel. In time, she also wrote to his wife and neighbor as well as other employees at Marks and Company. At first they referred to each other by names of ma'am and sir, but gradually they grew to use familiar names Helene and Frank. Engaging in intelligent conversations about books and about their lives, Hanff became emotionally invested in the lives of the Marks and Company family. Each year she would send the staff gifts of hard to find rationed items as meats, eggs, sugar, and nylon stockings. For this, they were forever grateful, going out of their way to send Hanff any book she requested, even an extremely rare copy of the Complete Works of John Donne. While money did not allow her to travel, Hanff had an open invitation to visit London and stay as a guest of any of the shop employees. What had started as a simple letter morphed into a lifelong friendship.
The correspondence that Helene Hanff engaged in seemed as a precursor to goodreads as she discussed books with otherwise strangers on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Finding like minded readers from all over the world is one of the things I enjoy the most about goodreads, so I was drawn to Hanff and her quest to obtain British literature. Even though she was unable to visit London, Hanff's sincere writing left me with a smile as I envisioned her thrill of opening the letters and packages that emerged from a simple correspondence. With the majority of correspondence now done electronically, letter writing has become a lost art. Hanff's letters to Doel took me back to a simpler time, and that their relationship centered on books was only an added bonus.
4+ stars
November 11, 2021
After hearing about this book for years, I finally stumbled upon a $2 ex-libris copy earlier this week at a used book sale. And without pausing I bought it. How appropriate!
It consists of the correspondence, from the late 1940s until the late 1960s, between New York writer and bibliophile Helene Hanff and Frank Doel, an employee at Marks & Co. Booksellers at the eponymous address in London.
Hanff was a voracious, eclectic reader who couldn鈥檛 find good American editions of the books she wanted to read. Responding to an advertisement in a periodical, she wrote to Marks & Co., and began her two decades-long epistolary relationship with Doel.
Her chatty, witty and often teasing letters requesting books and Frank鈥檚 more conservative, straightlaced missives form the backbone of the work. As their long-distance, customer-bookseller relationship evolves, Hanff occasionally writes to other store employees, as well as Doel鈥檚 wife, the couple鈥檚 daughters and the family鈥檚 elderly neighbour.
What gradually emerges is a gentle and moving look at two kindred spirits united by their love of the printed word. Hanff鈥檚 descriptions of the physical books are so vivid you can practically smell and feel the sturdy covers and the thick, creamy pages. The book also touches on their differing cultures, Hanff鈥檚 writing characterized by frank forthrightness, Doel鈥檚, although no less friendly, by a certain civility and politeness.
Their correspondence isn鈥檛 just about books, although there are some amusing, illuminating passages about Chaucer, Samuel Pepys, Jane Austen, John Donne and Laurence Sterne. Early on, Hanff also sends care packages of food and stockings to the bookstore, much-needed in a time of post-World War II rationing.
And there are subtle glimpses into history and the changing nature of society: bookstore employees emigrate to other countries to try their luck; the Doels save up money to buy their first used car; Queen Elizabeth II is crowned; Beatlemania descends on London.
But what I love most of all is the portrait that emerges of Hanff herself. A strong and independent single woman who would rather send cash in the mail than fuss with getting a money order, she starts out living in a tiny, cramped apartment and works her way up the publishing and radio drama worlds, drawing on much of her reading of literature (thanks to the packages from 84, Charing Cross Road) to create her plays.
What I also admire is how uncluttered this book is. There were other letters, but Hanff trusts the reader to do the work to connect the dots. By reading a 鈥渞eply鈥� we can intuit what鈥檚 being replied to. There are no baggy, self-important, italicized passages about what鈥檚 in the letters themselves. And the graceful ending is stunning in its understatement.
One more thought: Hanff and Doel鈥檚 comments about books and literature remind me of the 欧宝娱乐 community I鈥檝e found here. I likely will never meet (IRL as they say) the people whose reviews and updates I like and comment on, but that doesn鈥檛 mean our interactions aren鈥檛 profound, meaningful and lasting.
This is a book, for and about book lovers, to cherish.
It consists of the correspondence, from the late 1940s until the late 1960s, between New York writer and bibliophile Helene Hanff and Frank Doel, an employee at Marks & Co. Booksellers at the eponymous address in London.
Hanff was a voracious, eclectic reader who couldn鈥檛 find good American editions of the books she wanted to read. Responding to an advertisement in a periodical, she wrote to Marks & Co., and began her two decades-long epistolary relationship with Doel.
Her chatty, witty and often teasing letters requesting books and Frank鈥檚 more conservative, straightlaced missives form the backbone of the work. As their long-distance, customer-bookseller relationship evolves, Hanff occasionally writes to other store employees, as well as Doel鈥檚 wife, the couple鈥檚 daughters and the family鈥檚 elderly neighbour.
What gradually emerges is a gentle and moving look at two kindred spirits united by their love of the printed word. Hanff鈥檚 descriptions of the physical books are so vivid you can practically smell and feel the sturdy covers and the thick, creamy pages. The book also touches on their differing cultures, Hanff鈥檚 writing characterized by frank forthrightness, Doel鈥檚, although no less friendly, by a certain civility and politeness.
Their correspondence isn鈥檛 just about books, although there are some amusing, illuminating passages about Chaucer, Samuel Pepys, Jane Austen, John Donne and Laurence Sterne. Early on, Hanff also sends care packages of food and stockings to the bookstore, much-needed in a time of post-World War II rationing.
And there are subtle glimpses into history and the changing nature of society: bookstore employees emigrate to other countries to try their luck; the Doels save up money to buy their first used car; Queen Elizabeth II is crowned; Beatlemania descends on London.
But what I love most of all is the portrait that emerges of Hanff herself. A strong and independent single woman who would rather send cash in the mail than fuss with getting a money order, she starts out living in a tiny, cramped apartment and works her way up the publishing and radio drama worlds, drawing on much of her reading of literature (thanks to the packages from 84, Charing Cross Road) to create her plays.
What I also admire is how uncluttered this book is. There were other letters, but Hanff trusts the reader to do the work to connect the dots. By reading a 鈥渞eply鈥� we can intuit what鈥檚 being replied to. There are no baggy, self-important, italicized passages about what鈥檚 in the letters themselves. And the graceful ending is stunning in its understatement.
One more thought: Hanff and Doel鈥檚 comments about books and literature remind me of the 欧宝娱乐 community I鈥檝e found here. I likely will never meet (IRL as they say) the people whose reviews and updates I like and comment on, but that doesn鈥檛 mean our interactions aren鈥檛 profound, meaningful and lasting.
This is a book, for and about book lovers, to cherish.
June 6, 2023
A love letter to letters and books
I do love second-hand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest. The day Hazlitt came he opened to 'I hate to read new books,' and I hollered 'Comrade!' to whoever owned it before me.
is a sheer delight for lovers of bookshops and of the art of letter writing, brimming with charm, wit and nostalgia 鈥� and evidently, with book talk.
I adore reading letters 鈥� so much that as a child I dreamt of becoming a postie (such a shame that, just like one cannot read the books while working in the library, a postie isn鈥檛 supposed to read those letters). An epistolary novel like Jane Austen鈥檚 , the correspondence of Flaubert, Kafka鈥檚 , or this鈥� a selection of the transatlantic correspondence between Helene Hanff, a script writer in New York and the employees of Marks & Co (mostly with book buyer Frank Doel), an antiquarian bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road, London over the course of 20 years (1949 to 1969) - whether they come in the monophonic, dialogic or polyphonic type, compilations of letters spur my curiosity and interest.
This is one of the singular books that for a change not made me dream of visiting Paris once more but going to London instead. Or maybe just knowing it鈥檚 there is enough?
But I don鈥檛 know, maybe it鈥檚 just as well I never got there. I dreamed about it for so many years. I used to go to English movies just to look at the streets. I remember years ago a guy I knew told me that people going to England find exactly what they go looking for. I said I鈥檇 go looking for the England of English Literature, and he nodded and said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 there.鈥�
The animated business correspondence initiated by Helene Hanff in her quest for old and rare books over time widens into more congenial exchanges, involving the families of the employees, thanking her for the food parcels (with meat and egg powder) Hanff sends to the bookshop on festive occasions like Christmas to supplement rations (food rationing in Britain went on until 1954), also giving a fascinating glimpse into the everyday concerns of that time.
Just read it to bask in the warmth of its gentleness and generosity and treat yourself to a dash of Hanff鈥檚 exuberant book love and punchy sense of humour.
Thank you again for the beautiful book. I shall try very hard not to get gin and ashes all over it, it's really much too fine for the likes of me.
Thank you so much Paul, for bringing this lovely and affecting book to my attention.
I do love second-hand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest. The day Hazlitt came he opened to 'I hate to read new books,' and I hollered 'Comrade!' to whoever owned it before me.
is a sheer delight for lovers of bookshops and of the art of letter writing, brimming with charm, wit and nostalgia 鈥� and evidently, with book talk.
I adore reading letters 鈥� so much that as a child I dreamt of becoming a postie (such a shame that, just like one cannot read the books while working in the library, a postie isn鈥檛 supposed to read those letters). An epistolary novel like Jane Austen鈥檚 , the correspondence of Flaubert, Kafka鈥檚 , or this鈥� a selection of the transatlantic correspondence between Helene Hanff, a script writer in New York and the employees of Marks & Co (mostly with book buyer Frank Doel), an antiquarian bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road, London over the course of 20 years (1949 to 1969) - whether they come in the monophonic, dialogic or polyphonic type, compilations of letters spur my curiosity and interest.
This is one of the singular books that for a change not made me dream of visiting Paris once more but going to London instead. Or maybe just knowing it鈥檚 there is enough?
But I don鈥檛 know, maybe it鈥檚 just as well I never got there. I dreamed about it for so many years. I used to go to English movies just to look at the streets. I remember years ago a guy I knew told me that people going to England find exactly what they go looking for. I said I鈥檇 go looking for the England of English Literature, and he nodded and said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 there.鈥�
The animated business correspondence initiated by Helene Hanff in her quest for old and rare books over time widens into more congenial exchanges, involving the families of the employees, thanking her for the food parcels (with meat and egg powder) Hanff sends to the bookshop on festive occasions like Christmas to supplement rations (food rationing in Britain went on until 1954), also giving a fascinating glimpse into the everyday concerns of that time.
Just read it to bask in the warmth of its gentleness and generosity and treat yourself to a dash of Hanff鈥檚 exuberant book love and punchy sense of humour.
Thank you again for the beautiful book. I shall try very hard not to get gin and ashes all over it, it's really much too fine for the likes of me.
Thank you so much Paul, for bringing this lovely and affecting book to my attention.
January 23, 2022
to hear my thoughts on Helene Hanff, this book, and all her other books over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
First read in November 2019. Reread on New Year's Day 2021 and loved it even more than the first time I read it! 馃槶鉂�
First read in November 2019. Reread on New Year's Day 2021 and loved it even more than the first time I read it! 馃槶鉂�
August 21, 2022
賮賱鬲丨賷丕 丕賱毓賱丕賯丕鬲 丕賱爻胤丨賷丞 丕賱賮 賲乇丞
賮賱賷毓賷卮 丕賱睾乇賷亘 丕賱匕賷 賷爻亘乇 丕睾賵乇丕賰 賲賳 賳馗乇丞
丕賱賲噩丿 賱賱亘毓賷丿 丕賱匕賷 賷賯乇兀 丕爻乇丕乇賰 賲賳 亘賷賳 丨乇賵賮 鬲禺胤賴丕 兀氐丕亘毓賰
賮賱賷丿賷賲 丕賱賱賴 毓賱賷賳丕 賵賳爻 丕賱睾乇亘丕亍
賰賲 賲乇丞 丕爻鬲賲鬲毓鬲 亘鬲賱賯賶 禺胤丕亘 亘禺胤 丕賱賷丿責
毓亘賻乇 丕賱亘丨丕乇 賱賷賮丕噩卅賰 亘丨乇賵賮 丨賲賱鬲 賲賳 乇賵丨 氐丕丨亘賴丕賻 丕賱賰孬賷乇
丕賳丕 賰賳鬲 賲賳 丕賱賯丿丕賲賷 丕賱賲丨馗賵馗賷賳 亘鬲賱賯賶 賲卅丕鬲 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賲賳 睾乇亘丕亍!听賵 丕氐丿賯丕亍 亘賱 丕毓鬲丿鬲 毓賱賶 賲毓乇賮丞 鬲丕乇賷禺 毓丕卅賱鬲賷: 亘賯乇丕亍丞 廿乇孬 禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賲賳 乇丨賱賵丕..賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 兀賷賯賳鬲 丕賳 賱賰賱 賲賳丕 卮禺氐賷鬲賷賳貨 賵 丕賳賳丕 賳丨鬲賮馗 亘丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱毓匕亘丞
賱賱賵乇賯貨 賱賱毓丕亘乇賷賳貨 賱賱睾乇亘丕亍
賴賷賱賷賳 賰丕鬲亘丞 孬賱丕孬賷賳賷丞 兀賲乇賷賰賷丞 賵 賮乇丕賳賰 氐丕卅丿 賰鬲亘 亘乇賷胤丕賳賶 丕乇亘毓賷賳賷貨听
賻亘丿丕鬲 亘賷賳賴賲丕 爻賱爻賱丞 賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 毓亘乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 毓丕賲 佟侃伽侃 鬲胤賱亘 賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 賴賷賱賷賳
鬲賵賮賷乇 賰鬲亘 亘胤亘毓丕鬲 賵 丕氐丿乇丕鬲 賲毓賷賳丞 賲賳 賲賰鬲亘丞 賱賳丿賳賷丞 賱亘賷毓 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賵 丕賱賳丕丿乇丞..賮乇丕賳賰 賴賵 丕賱賵乇丕賯 丕賱匕賷 賷賳胤賱賯 毓亘乇 乇亘賵毓 廿賳噩賱鬲乇丕 賱卮乇丕亍 賲賰鬲亘丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲賵賾賮賷賳貨 賱賷毓賲賾乇 亘賴丕 乇賮賵賮 賲賰鬲亘丞 卮賷乇賷賳睾 賰乇賵爻
賷丕 丕賱賱賴 賰賲 鬲賮鬲丨 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 亘賵丕亘丕鬲 丕賱賱胤賮 賵 丕賱鬲賮賴賲 賮賷 *
賳賮賵爻賳丕.. 賳丨賳 賲賳 賳爻賲毓 賵 賳乇賶 賵 賳卮毓乇 亘丕賱丕禺乇 賯亘賱 賳胤賯賴 亘丨乇賮
爻乇毓丕賳 賲丕 鬲賳胤賱賯 胤賱亘丕鬲 賴賷賱賷賳 丕賱孬賯丕賮賷丞 亘兀爻賱賵亘 毓賮賵賷 賲乇丨 爻丕禺乇 賷賯丕亘賱賴 賮乇丕賳賰 亘鬲丨賮馗 亘乇賷胤丕賳賶 貨 賱賰賳 賱丕賳 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賰丕賳鬲 賮賷 兀賵囟丕毓 鬲賯卮賮賷丞 賲夭乇賷丞 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞貨 亘丿兀鬲 賴賷賱賷賳 鬲鬲胤賵毓 亘廿乇爻丕賱 胤乇賵丿 賲賳 賯胤毓听 丕賱賱丨賲 賵 亘賷囟 胤丕夭噩 賵 賲噩賮賮 賵 賲毓賱亘丕鬲 賱賰賱 賲賵馗賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞
賷丕 丕賱賱賴 賰賲 鬲賵丨丿 丕賱丨乇賵賮 亘賷賳听 賯賱賵亘賳丕貙*
賰賲 鬲噩賲毓 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 亘賷賳 丕賱賮乇賯丕亍
爻乇毓丕賳 賲丕 賰爻亘鬲 賯賱賵亘 丕賱賰賱 亘胤乇賵丿賴丕 丕賱睾匕丕卅賷丞 丕賱賲鬲毓丕胤賮丞听 丕賱鬲賷 鬲亘乇乇賴丕 亘兀賳賴丕 鬲賰賮乇 毓賳 兀賴賲丕賱 兀賲乇賷賰丕 賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕
賵兀毓鬲匕乇 賲賳賰賲 卮禺氐賷丕賸 毓賳 禺胤丕賷丕 亘賱丿賷"
(賵丨賷賳 兀毓賵丿 廿賱賶 丕賱賵胤賳 爻賷賰賵賳 毓賱賶 亘賱丿賷 丨鬲賲丕賸 丕賱丕毓鬲匕丕乇 毓賳 禺胤丕賷丕賷)
賵 賴賰匕丕 賳鬲兀賲賱 賳爻禺丞 禺丕氐丞 噩丿丕 賲賳: 賯氐丞 賲丿賷賳鬲賷賳
丕丿亘 丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 賷賰賵賳 丿賵賲丕 賲夭賷噩丕 賲賳 丕賱爻賷乇丞 丕賱匕丕鬲賷丞/丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞.. 賵 賷賳爻丕亘 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱亘賱丿賷賳 亘毓賮賵賷丞 毓亘乇 禺亘乇賷丕鬲 氐睾賷乇丞
鬲鬲毓丿丿 丕賱賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 亘賷賳 賴賷賱賷賳 賵 賰賱 毓丕賲賱賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞 亘賱睾丞 匕賰賷丞 賵 乇丕賯賷丞
賵 賷鬲囟丨 丕賮鬲鬲賳丕賴丕 丕賱卮丿賷丿 亘賱賳丿賳貨
賮賳乇丕賯亘 鬲鬲賵賷噩 丕賱賲賱賰丞 廿賱賷夭丕亘賷孬 丕賱丨丕賱賷丞 毓丕賲佟侃佶佗 賵 丕賳賮乇丕噩 丕賱丕夭賲丞 丕賱睾匕丕卅賷丞 亘毓丿賴丕.. 賵 賷鬲毓丕賯亘 毓賱賶 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱乇丐爻丕亍 賵 鬲賮賯丿 賴賷賱賷賳 毓賲賱賴丕听 賵 鬲賮賵夭 亘睾賷乇賴 賵 鬲賲乇囟 夭賵噩丞 賮乇丕賳賰 賵 賷鬲賵丕賱賷 賲丕 賷亘毓丿賴賲 賵 賷賯乇亘賴賲 賵听 鬲馗賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 賴賷 賲丕 賷噩賲毓賴賲 丿賵賲丕
賰賲 鬲購卮亘毓 丕賱丕睾賱賮丞 毓賷賵賳賳丕
賰賲 賳兀鬲賳爻 亘丕賱賰賱丕賲 丕賱賲賮鬲賵賳 :亘丨賵丕賮 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賲匕賴亘丞 賵 丕賱鬲噩賱賷丿 丕賱賲匕賴賱 賵 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲賳丕孬乇丞 毓賱賶 賴賵丕賲卮 賰鬲亘 丕賲鬲賱賰賴丕 賯亘賱賰 賯丕乇卅 賵 丕孬賳賷賳
賰賷賮 賮乇胤 賮賷賴丕責 賴賱 賲丕鬲責 賴賱 賰賮乇 亘噩丿賵賷 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞責
賵 賲孬賱 賰賱 丕賱毓賱丕賯丕鬲 鬲亘丿兀 丕賱賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 賯賵賷丞 / 賲孬賷乇丞 賵 賷賳爻丕亘 丕賱賳氐賮 丕賱兀賵賱 賲賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱胤賷賮丕 賵 丨賷賵賷丕貨 賵 賰 丨丕賱 丕賱丿賳賷丕貨 賷賮賴賲 丕賱胤乇賮賷賳 亘毓囟賴賲丕 噩賷丿丕 賵 鬲氐亘丨 丕賱賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 賲鬲亘丕毓丿丞 賵 賯氐賷乇丞 賵 丕賯賱 廿孬丕乇丞.. 賵 賴賵 賰鬲丕亘 賱賷爻 賱賱噩賲賷毓 丕亘丿丕賸 亘賱 賴賵 丨丕賱丞 丕賲丕 丕賳 鬲賯毓 賮賷 睾乇丕賲賴丕 丕賵 鬲乇賮囟賴丕 賰賱賷丕賸
賰丕賳 丕賴賱 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞 賲鬲卮賵賯賷賳 丿賵賲丕 賱夭賷丕乇丞 賴賷賱賷賳 賵 賷賰乇賲賵賳 丕氐丿賯丕卅賴丕.. 亘賷賳賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 賴賷 丨乇賷氐丞 毓賱賶 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕馗 亘睾賲賵囟 丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 丨鬲賷 賮丕鬲 丕賱兀賵丕賳 胤亘毓丕
賲丕 賱賲 賷鬲賲 匕賰乇賴 賮賷 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賴賷 丕賱賲兀爻賷 丕賱鬲賷 賲乇鬲 亘丕賱胤乇賮賷賳听 賮丕爻乇丞 賮乇丕賳賰 鬲兀夭賲鬲 賱賮鬲乇丞 亘爻亘亘 毓賱丕賯鬲賴賲 亘賲賳 丕鬲囟丨 丕賳賴賲 噩賵丕爻賷爻 乇賵爻
賵 賴賷賱賷賳 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲 鬲鬲夭賵噩 胤賵丕賱 毓賲乇賴丕 賲乇鬲 亘兀賷丕賲 氐毓亘丞 賲丕丿賷丕 丨鬲賶 丕爻鬲賯乇鬲 丕禺賷乇丕 毓賱賶 毓賲賱 孬丕亘鬲 亘丕賱氐丨丕賮丞 賵 丕禺賷乇丕 賰賲匕賷毓丞 亘丕賱廿匕丕毓丞 丕賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丞 賵 鬲賲 廿賳鬲丕噩 賲毓馗賲 賲爻乇丨賷丕鬲賴丕 鬲賱賮夭賷賵賳賷丕 賵 賳丕賱鬲 卮賴乇丞 賲鬲兀禺乇丞
賵 賯丿 匕賰乇鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賱賰鬲丕亘賳丕
听 The Duchess of Bloomsbury Str
賵 賱賰賳賴丕 賲賳丨鬲 賮乇丕賳賰 亘賱賵賲 卮賴乇丞 禺丕賱丿丞 亘賲乇孬賷鬲賴丕 丕賱賮乇賷丿丞 賱賴 毓丕賲 佟侃侑佟 毓賳丿賲丕 賳卮乇鬲 賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲賴丕 丕賱乇丕賯賷丞 賲毓 丕賱賵乇丕賯听 丕賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷 丕賱兀賰孬乇 卮賴乇丞貨 賵 丕賱匕賷 禺賱丿 匕賰乇丕賴 兀賳鬲賵賳賷 賴賵亘賰賳夭 亘丕丿丕丐賴 丕賱毓匕亘 賱卮禺氐賷鬲賴 賮賷 賮賷賱賲 賯丿賲 賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丌賱鬲賮爻賷乇丕鬲 賱賲丕 睾賲囟 毓賱賷賳丕 賮賷 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲貨 賵 賯丿 丨賲賱 丕爻賲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵 丕賳鬲噩鬲賴 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 毓丕賲 佟侃侉侑 賵 丨囟乇鬲賴 丕賱兀賲賷乇丞 丿賷丕賳丕 賵 丕賱賲賱賰丞 丕賱丕賲
丕賱丕賴賲 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 丕賳鬲馗乇鬲賴丕 亘卮賵賯 鬲賲賳丨 賲賳 賴賲 賲孬賱賷 賲賳 毓卮丕賯 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賵 丕賱賰鬲亘 賵 賱賳丿賳 賲賮丕噩兀丞 賱賳 鬲鬲賰乇乇 丨賱丕賵鬲賴丕 賰孬賷乇丕 毓賳 丕孬賳賷賳 丕丨鬲賮馗丕 亘丕賱賲爻丕賮丞 丕賱丌賲賳丞 亘賷賳賴賲丕 賱毓卮乇賷賳 毓丕賲
賮賱賷毓賷卮 丕賱睾乇賷亘 丕賱匕賷 賷爻亘乇 丕睾賵乇丕賰 賲賳 賳馗乇丞
丕賱賲噩丿 賱賱亘毓賷丿 丕賱匕賷 賷賯乇兀 丕爻乇丕乇賰 賲賳 亘賷賳 丨乇賵賮 鬲禺胤賴丕 兀氐丕亘毓賰
賮賱賷丿賷賲 丕賱賱賴 毓賱賷賳丕 賵賳爻 丕賱睾乇亘丕亍
賰賲 賲乇丞 丕爻鬲賲鬲毓鬲 亘鬲賱賯賶 禺胤丕亘 亘禺胤 丕賱賷丿責
毓亘賻乇 丕賱亘丨丕乇 賱賷賮丕噩卅賰 亘丨乇賵賮 丨賲賱鬲 賲賳 乇賵丨 氐丕丨亘賴丕賻 丕賱賰孬賷乇
丕賳丕 賰賳鬲 賲賳 丕賱賯丿丕賲賷 丕賱賲丨馗賵馗賷賳 亘鬲賱賯賶 賲卅丕鬲 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賲賳 睾乇亘丕亍!听賵 丕氐丿賯丕亍 亘賱 丕毓鬲丿鬲 毓賱賶 賲毓乇賮丞 鬲丕乇賷禺 毓丕卅賱鬲賷: 亘賯乇丕亍丞 廿乇孬 禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賲賳 乇丨賱賵丕..賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 兀賷賯賳鬲 丕賳 賱賰賱 賲賳丕 卮禺氐賷鬲賷賳貨 賵 丕賳賳丕 賳丨鬲賮馗 亘丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱毓匕亘丞
賱賱賵乇賯貨 賱賱毓丕亘乇賷賳貨 賱賱睾乇亘丕亍
賴賷賱賷賳 賰丕鬲亘丞 孬賱丕孬賷賳賷丞 兀賲乇賷賰賷丞 賵 賮乇丕賳賰 氐丕卅丿 賰鬲亘 亘乇賷胤丕賳賶 丕乇亘毓賷賳賷貨听
賻亘丿丕鬲 亘賷賳賴賲丕 爻賱爻賱丞 賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 毓亘乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤 毓丕賲 佟侃伽侃 鬲胤賱亘 賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 賴賷賱賷賳
鬲賵賮賷乇 賰鬲亘 亘胤亘毓丕鬲 賵 丕氐丿乇丕鬲 賲毓賷賳丞 賲賳 賲賰鬲亘丞 賱賳丿賳賷丞 賱亘賷毓 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞 賵 丕賱賳丕丿乇丞..賮乇丕賳賰 賴賵 丕賱賵乇丕賯 丕賱匕賷 賷賳胤賱賯 毓亘乇 乇亘賵毓 廿賳噩賱鬲乇丕 賱卮乇丕亍 賲賰鬲亘丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲賵賾賮賷賳貨 賱賷毓賲賾乇 亘賴丕 乇賮賵賮 賲賰鬲亘丞 卮賷乇賷賳睾 賰乇賵爻
賷丕 丕賱賱賴 賰賲 鬲賮鬲丨 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 亘賵丕亘丕鬲 丕賱賱胤賮 賵 丕賱鬲賮賴賲 賮賷 *
賳賮賵爻賳丕.. 賳丨賳 賲賳 賳爻賲毓 賵 賳乇賶 賵 賳卮毓乇 亘丕賱丕禺乇 賯亘賱 賳胤賯賴 亘丨乇賮
爻乇毓丕賳 賲丕 鬲賳胤賱賯 胤賱亘丕鬲 賴賷賱賷賳 丕賱孬賯丕賮賷丞 亘兀爻賱賵亘 毓賮賵賷 賲乇丨 爻丕禺乇 賷賯丕亘賱賴 賮乇丕賳賰 亘鬲丨賮馗 亘乇賷胤丕賳賶 貨 賱賰賳 賱丕賳 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賰丕賳鬲 賮賷 兀賵囟丕毓 鬲賯卮賮賷丞 賲夭乇賷丞 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞貨 亘丿兀鬲 賴賷賱賷賳 鬲鬲胤賵毓 亘廿乇爻丕賱 胤乇賵丿 賲賳 賯胤毓听 丕賱賱丨賲 賵 亘賷囟 胤丕夭噩 賵 賲噩賮賮 賵 賲毓賱亘丕鬲 賱賰賱 賲賵馗賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞
賷丕 丕賱賱賴 賰賲 鬲賵丨丿 丕賱丨乇賵賮 亘賷賳听 賯賱賵亘賳丕貙*
賰賲 鬲噩賲毓 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 亘賷賳 丕賱賮乇賯丕亍
爻乇毓丕賳 賲丕 賰爻亘鬲 賯賱賵亘 丕賱賰賱 亘胤乇賵丿賴丕 丕賱睾匕丕卅賷丞 丕賱賲鬲毓丕胤賮丞听 丕賱鬲賷 鬲亘乇乇賴丕 亘兀賳賴丕 鬲賰賮乇 毓賳 兀賴賲丕賱 兀賲乇賷賰丕 賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕
賵兀毓鬲匕乇 賲賳賰賲 卮禺氐賷丕賸 毓賳 禺胤丕賷丕 亘賱丿賷"
(賵丨賷賳 兀毓賵丿 廿賱賶 丕賱賵胤賳 爻賷賰賵賳 毓賱賶 亘賱丿賷 丨鬲賲丕賸 丕賱丕毓鬲匕丕乇 毓賳 禺胤丕賷丕賷)
賵 賴賰匕丕 賳鬲兀賲賱 賳爻禺丞 禺丕氐丞 噩丿丕 賲賳: 賯氐丞 賲丿賷賳鬲賷賳
丕丿亘 丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 賷賰賵賳 丿賵賲丕 賲夭賷噩丕 賲賳 丕賱爻賷乇丞 丕賱匕丕鬲賷丞/丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞.. 賵 賷賳爻丕亘 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱亘賱丿賷賳 亘毓賮賵賷丞 毓亘乇 禺亘乇賷丕鬲 氐睾賷乇丞
鬲鬲毓丿丿 丕賱賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 亘賷賳 賴賷賱賷賳 賵 賰賱 毓丕賲賱賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞 亘賱睾丞 匕賰賷丞 賵 乇丕賯賷丞
賵 賷鬲囟丨 丕賮鬲鬲賳丕賴丕 丕賱卮丿賷丿 亘賱賳丿賳貨
賮賳乇丕賯亘 鬲鬲賵賷噩 丕賱賲賱賰丞 廿賱賷夭丕亘賷孬 丕賱丨丕賱賷丞 毓丕賲佟侃佶佗 賵 丕賳賮乇丕噩 丕賱丕夭賲丞 丕賱睾匕丕卅賷丞 亘毓丿賴丕.. 賵 賷鬲毓丕賯亘 毓賱賶 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱乇丐爻丕亍 賵 鬲賮賯丿 賴賷賱賷賳 毓賲賱賴丕听 賵 鬲賮賵夭 亘睾賷乇賴 賵 鬲賲乇囟 夭賵噩丞 賮乇丕賳賰 賵 賷鬲賵丕賱賷 賲丕 賷亘毓丿賴賲 賵 賷賯乇亘賴賲 賵听 鬲馗賱 丕賱賰鬲亘 賴賷 賲丕 賷噩賲毓賴賲 丿賵賲丕
賰賲 鬲購卮亘毓 丕賱丕睾賱賮丞 毓賷賵賳賳丕
賰賲 賳兀鬲賳爻 亘丕賱賰賱丕賲 丕賱賲賮鬲賵賳 :亘丨賵丕賮 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賲匕賴亘丞 賵 丕賱鬲噩賱賷丿 丕賱賲匕賴賱 賵 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲賳丕孬乇丞 毓賱賶 賴賵丕賲卮 賰鬲亘 丕賲鬲賱賰賴丕 賯亘賱賰 賯丕乇卅 賵 丕孬賳賷賳
賰賷賮 賮乇胤 賮賷賴丕責 賴賱 賲丕鬲責 賴賱 賰賮乇 亘噩丿賵賷 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞責
賵 賲孬賱 賰賱 丕賱毓賱丕賯丕鬲 鬲亘丿兀 丕賱賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 賯賵賷丞 / 賲孬賷乇丞 賵 賷賳爻丕亘 丕賱賳氐賮 丕賱兀賵賱 賲賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱胤賷賮丕 賵 丨賷賵賷丕貨 賵 賰 丨丕賱 丕賱丿賳賷丕貨 賷賮賴賲 丕賱胤乇賮賷賳 亘毓囟賴賲丕 噩賷丿丕 賵 鬲氐亘丨 丕賱賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲 賲鬲亘丕毓丿丞 賵 賯氐賷乇丞 賵 丕賯賱 廿孬丕乇丞.. 賵 賴賵 賰鬲丕亘 賱賷爻 賱賱噩賲賷毓 丕亘丿丕賸 亘賱 賴賵 丨丕賱丞 丕賲丕 丕賳 鬲賯毓 賮賷 睾乇丕賲賴丕 丕賵 鬲乇賮囟賴丕 賰賱賷丕賸
賰丕賳 丕賴賱 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞 賲鬲卮賵賯賷賳 丿賵賲丕 賱夭賷丕乇丞 賴賷賱賷賳 賵 賷賰乇賲賵賳 丕氐丿賯丕卅賴丕.. 亘賷賳賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 賴賷 丨乇賷氐丞 毓賱賶 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕馗 亘睾賲賵囟 丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 丨鬲賷 賮丕鬲 丕賱兀賵丕賳 胤亘毓丕
賲丕 賱賲 賷鬲賲 匕賰乇賴 賮賷 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賴賷 丕賱賲兀爻賷 丕賱鬲賷 賲乇鬲 亘丕賱胤乇賮賷賳听 賮丕爻乇丞 賮乇丕賳賰 鬲兀夭賲鬲 賱賮鬲乇丞 亘爻亘亘 毓賱丕賯鬲賴賲 亘賲賳 丕鬲囟丨 丕賳賴賲 噩賵丕爻賷爻 乇賵爻
賵 賴賷賱賷賳 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲 鬲鬲夭賵噩 胤賵丕賱 毓賲乇賴丕 賲乇鬲 亘兀賷丕賲 氐毓亘丞 賲丕丿賷丕 丨鬲賶 丕爻鬲賯乇鬲 丕禺賷乇丕 毓賱賶 毓賲賱 孬丕亘鬲 亘丕賱氐丨丕賮丞 賵 丕禺賷乇丕 賰賲匕賷毓丞 亘丕賱廿匕丕毓丞 丕賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丞 賵 鬲賲 廿賳鬲丕噩 賲毓馗賲 賲爻乇丨賷丕鬲賴丕 鬲賱賮夭賷賵賳賷丕 賵 賳丕賱鬲 卮賴乇丞 賲鬲兀禺乇丞
賵 賯丿 匕賰乇鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賱賰鬲丕亘賳丕
听 The Duchess of Bloomsbury Str
賵 賱賰賳賴丕 賲賳丨鬲 賮乇丕賳賰 亘賱賵賲 卮賴乇丞 禺丕賱丿丞 亘賲乇孬賷鬲賴丕 丕賱賮乇賷丿丞 賱賴 毓丕賲 佟侃侑佟 毓賳丿賲丕 賳卮乇鬲 賲乇丕爻賱丕鬲賴丕 丕賱乇丕賯賷丞 賲毓 丕賱賵乇丕賯听 丕賱亘乇賷胤丕賳賷 丕賱兀賰孬乇 卮賴乇丞貨 賵 丕賱匕賷 禺賱丿 匕賰乇丕賴 兀賳鬲賵賳賷 賴賵亘賰賳夭 亘丕丿丕丐賴 丕賱毓匕亘 賱卮禺氐賷鬲賴 賮賷 賮賷賱賲 賯丿賲 賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丌賱鬲賮爻賷乇丕鬲 賱賲丕 睾賲囟 毓賱賷賳丕 賮賷 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲貨 賵 賯丿 丨賲賱 丕爻賲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵 丕賳鬲噩鬲賴 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 毓丕賲 佟侃侉侑 賵 丨囟乇鬲賴 丕賱兀賲賷乇丞 丿賷丕賳丕 賵 丕賱賲賱賰丞 丕賱丕賲
丕賱丕賴賲 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 丕賳鬲馗乇鬲賴丕 亘卮賵賯 鬲賲賳丨 賲賳 賴賲 賲孬賱賷 賲賳 毓卮丕賯 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賵 丕賱賰鬲亘 賵 賱賳丿賳 賲賮丕噩兀丞 賱賳 鬲鬲賰乇乇 丨賱丕賵鬲賴丕 賰孬賷乇丕 毓賳 丕孬賳賷賳 丕丨鬲賮馗丕 亘丕賱賲爻丕賮丞 丕賱丌賲賳丞 亘賷賳賴賲丕 賱毓卮乇賷賳 毓丕賲
June 21, 2022
It鈥檚 about time I finally cracked this charming little book open. I鈥檝e had it sitting on the nightstand for nearly a decade. A tribute to bookstores, booklovers, and England, this epistolary novel delivered exactly what I expected it to! If 欧宝娱乐 hadn鈥檛 already confirmed what I suspected, namely that I鈥檓 not the only soul in the world with a book reading and book collecting obsession, then Helene Hanff鈥檚 experience would have offered the proof I needed. Her letters written from a small apartment in New York City to Frank, a used bookshop dealer in London, were a pleasure to read.
鈥溾€橸ou and your Olde English books!鈥� You see how it is, Frankie, you鈥檙e the only soul alive who understands me.鈥�
Likely, you won鈥檛 be surprised to learn that secondhand bookstores are one of my most treasured places on earth to visit. Immediately after checking into a hotel in whatever town or city I鈥檝e landed, I will set the suitcase down, connect to the WiFi, and search the internet for restaurants and local used bookshops. I don鈥檛 usually show up with a plan in mind, but instead spend hours scouring the shelves for special finds. I love thinking about all the other readers that have previously held these books in their hands. Did they like the book but not well enough to keep it at home on that favorites shelf? Did he or she pass away years before and not have a book-loving friend or relative to hand the books down to? Or maybe this fellow bookworm simply ran out of space or packed up, moved, and decided to share a beloved book with some stranger in the future that will connect to him or her by some invisible thread.
鈥淚 love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages some one long gone has called my attention to.鈥�
I鈥檓 pleased to finally say I can move this book from the nightstand to the 鈥渒eepers鈥� shelf. I鈥檓 just a bit sorry that it ended all too soon. I could have kept reading about Helene and Frank for days yet. This little gem also serves as a reminder to not put off until tomorrow what you鈥檇 love to do today. Time is shorter than we imagine, and the people we wish to meet and the places we yearn to visit are waiting for us. The time is now!
鈥淧lease write and tell me about London, I live for the day when I step off the boat-train and feel its dirty sidewalks under my feet. I want to walk up Berkeley Square and down Wimpole Street and stand in St. Paul鈥檚 where John Donne preached and sit on the step Elizabeth sat on when she refused to enter the Tower, and like that. A newspaper man I know, who was stationed in London during the war says tourists go to England with preconceived notions, so they always find exactly what they are looking for. I told him I鈥檇 go looking for the England of English literature, and he said 鈥楾hen it鈥檚 there.鈥欌€�
鈥溾€橸ou and your Olde English books!鈥� You see how it is, Frankie, you鈥檙e the only soul alive who understands me.鈥�
Likely, you won鈥檛 be surprised to learn that secondhand bookstores are one of my most treasured places on earth to visit. Immediately after checking into a hotel in whatever town or city I鈥檝e landed, I will set the suitcase down, connect to the WiFi, and search the internet for restaurants and local used bookshops. I don鈥檛 usually show up with a plan in mind, but instead spend hours scouring the shelves for special finds. I love thinking about all the other readers that have previously held these books in their hands. Did they like the book but not well enough to keep it at home on that favorites shelf? Did he or she pass away years before and not have a book-loving friend or relative to hand the books down to? Or maybe this fellow bookworm simply ran out of space or packed up, moved, and decided to share a beloved book with some stranger in the future that will connect to him or her by some invisible thread.
鈥淚 love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages some one long gone has called my attention to.鈥�
I鈥檓 pleased to finally say I can move this book from the nightstand to the 鈥渒eepers鈥� shelf. I鈥檓 just a bit sorry that it ended all too soon. I could have kept reading about Helene and Frank for days yet. This little gem also serves as a reminder to not put off until tomorrow what you鈥檇 love to do today. Time is shorter than we imagine, and the people we wish to meet and the places we yearn to visit are waiting for us. The time is now!
鈥淧lease write and tell me about London, I live for the day when I step off the boat-train and feel its dirty sidewalks under my feet. I want to walk up Berkeley Square and down Wimpole Street and stand in St. Paul鈥檚 where John Donne preached and sit on the step Elizabeth sat on when she refused to enter the Tower, and like that. A newspaper man I know, who was stationed in London during the war says tourists go to England with preconceived notions, so they always find exactly what they are looking for. I told him I鈥檇 go looking for the England of English literature, and he said 鈥楾hen it鈥檚 there.鈥欌€�
September 24, 2021
I often jump straight to the down and dirty of a book, but please allow me to shake things up by presenting the lithe and lovely.
- 84, Charing Cross Road is an absolutely delightful epistolary memoir made up of letters exchanged between NYC-based author Helene Hanff and an antiquarian bookseller in London.
- It was published in 1970 and contains twenty years of correspondence that began in 1949 - a time when London was still dealing with post-war rationing and, to state the obvious, the internet did not exist. If you wanted to find a rare book or first edition of a favorite, you had to hunt for it! Oh, the joy of finally locating a coveted treasure by reaching out by letter to a store across the world rather than just through the click of a mouse.
- There are no villains in this book. None at all. It鈥檚 just chock full of wonderful, bookish people being wonderful to other bookish people.
- 84, Charing Cross Road has languished on my To Read shelf since I joined 欧宝娱乐 back in 2014. Now that I鈥檝e finally gotten to it, the lump in my throat and the smile on my face have moved it straight to the top of my All Time Favorites.
84 stars for this loveliest of lovely reads.
Blog:
- 84, Charing Cross Road is an absolutely delightful epistolary memoir made up of letters exchanged between NYC-based author Helene Hanff and an antiquarian bookseller in London.
- It was published in 1970 and contains twenty years of correspondence that began in 1949 - a time when London was still dealing with post-war rationing and, to state the obvious, the internet did not exist. If you wanted to find a rare book or first edition of a favorite, you had to hunt for it! Oh, the joy of finally locating a coveted treasure by reaching out by letter to a store across the world rather than just through the click of a mouse.
- There are no villains in this book. None at all. It鈥檚 just chock full of wonderful, bookish people being wonderful to other bookish people.
- 84, Charing Cross Road has languished on my To Read shelf since I joined 欧宝娱乐 back in 2014. Now that I鈥檝e finally gotten to it, the lump in my throat and the smile on my face have moved it straight to the top of my All Time Favorites.
84 stars for this loveliest of lovely reads.
Blog:
August 24, 2022
I鈥檝e wanted to read this little book since I first read its name and the synopsis. It is a story of a friendship, a sweet little collection of letters between an American script writer and the employees of a London secondhand bookstore. Since I first set foot on London soil in 2005, I鈥檝e been visiting the second hand bookstores (one in particular) from Charing Cross Road almost every year. I have to admit that I felt a bit of nostalgia while reading.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society opened my appetite for epistolary novels (I loved, loved, that one) and I thought this will be quite similar. And it was, up to a point.
Both are set in the aftermath of the 2nd World War which was an interesting background in both books. I did not know that everything was rationalized in Britain for quite a few years after the War. In 86 Charing Cross Road there is a lot of talk about that and the presents the American writer sends to London. It was emotional at the beginning but it became boring and repetitive.
One of the main differences between the two books is that one is a fictional love story the other is a collection of a real correspondence so there was not much space of imagination. Still, I have to thank this little book for getting me out of a deep reading slump.
Another reason I do not give more stars, is that the books mentioned in the letters are totally unknown to me. They are mainly memoirs, poems and non-fiction classics that I鈥檝e
never read. The only titles I knew were Pride and Prejudice and the Canterbury Tales.
All in all, it was worth the read as it takes less than two hours and it made me feel good
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society opened my appetite for epistolary novels (I loved, loved, that one) and I thought this will be quite similar. And it was, up to a point.
Both are set in the aftermath of the 2nd World War which was an interesting background in both books. I did not know that everything was rationalized in Britain for quite a few years after the War. In 86 Charing Cross Road there is a lot of talk about that and the presents the American writer sends to London. It was emotional at the beginning but it became boring and repetitive.
One of the main differences between the two books is that one is a fictional love story the other is a collection of a real correspondence so there was not much space of imagination. Still, I have to thank this little book for getting me out of a deep reading slump.
Another reason I do not give more stars, is that the books mentioned in the letters are totally unknown to me. They are mainly memoirs, poems and non-fiction classics that I鈥檝e
never read. The only titles I knew were Pride and Prejudice and the Canterbury Tales.
All in all, it was worth the read as it takes less than two hours and it made me feel good
April 2, 2025
賮賷 賳賯胤丞 賲丕 賷賵噩丿 賲乇賰夭 丕賱毓丕賱賲 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賳丕
賮賷 賳賯胤丞 賲丕 賷鬲毓丕賳賯 禺胤 胤賵賱 賵禺胤 毓乇囟
賮賷 賳賯胤丞 賲丕 鬲囟丕賲 毓賱丕賲丞 丕賱兀賮賯賷 賵毓賱丕賲丞 丕賱乇兀爻賷
賴賳丕賰 毓賳丿 賲賰鬲亘丞
賰卮噩乇丞 鬲卮乇賾亘鬲 毓噩賷賳丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賲賳 毓賯賵賱 丕賱賲亘丿毓賷賳
鬲胤乇丨 兀賵乇丕賯賴丕 賮賷 爻賲丕亍 亘賱丕 丨丿賵丿
賷賱鬲賯胤賴丕 亘乇賷賯 爻丕胤毓 賲賳 鬲賵賴噩 卮毓賱丞 爻丕乇丨丞 賮賷 丨賱賲 氐丕賮
賷噩鬲賲毓 丕賱賳丕爻 賵丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 賮賷 丿丕卅乇丞 賱賲 鬲睾賱賯 賲丨賷胤賴丕 亘毓丿
賷賱鬲賯賷 毓亘乇 丕賱兀夭賲賳丞 賵丕賱賱睾丕鬲
賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱匕賷賳 賷卮丕乇賰賵賳賳丕 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲乇丕氐丞 賮賷 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲
賲孬賱 賲乇丕賰亘 乇丕爻賷丞 賮賷 賲賷賳丕亍
丨賲賵賱鬲賴丕 乇丕爻禺丞 賲賮毓賲丞 亘賲賵丿丞 鬲丿賮賾賯鬲 賲賳 賲賳丕亘毓 丕賱兀賮卅丿丞
兀賳丕賲賱賳丕 鬲賱丕賲爻鬲
毓賷賵賳賳丕 丕丨鬲囟賳鬲
賳賮賵爻賳丕 丕賴鬲夭鬲
賰賳丕 賳匕賴亘 賲毓丕 賱爻賵乇 丕賱兀夭亘賰賷丞
賮賷 丨噩賲 丕賱賰賮 賵賱賮 亘賱丕丿丕 匕丕賰 丕賱賰鬲丕亘
賲孬賱 賯氐氐 丕賱丨亘 丨賷賳賲丕 鬲賱鬲賯賷 睾賱丕賮賴
毓賳賵丕賳赖
丕爻賲 賲丐賱賮賴
鬲丿乇賰 兀賳 丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 賱賳 鬲賯賮 毓賳丿 匕丕賰 丕賱丨丿
乇亘賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱賰鬲亘 鬲毓賵賷囟丕 毓賳 兀丨亘丞 賱賲 賳賮鬲丨 賱賴賲 毓賯賵賱賳丕
乇亘賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 賵爻賷賱丞 賱賱鬲賵丕氐賱 賲毓 兀氐丿賯丕亍 賳毓賱賲 兀賳 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 丕賱賲胤亘賵毓丞 爻鬲賳胤亘毓 賮賷 賲禺賷賱鬲賴賲
賰賲丕 丕賳胤亘毓鬲 賮賷 匕丕賰乇鬲賳丕
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 卮噩賷丞 氐丿賷賯丞
鬲噩毓賱賳丕 賳賮賰乇 賮賷 馗丕賴乇丞 丕賱鬲乇丕爻賱
丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐亘丨 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賮賷賴丕 亘丿賷賱丕 賱氐賮丨丕鬲 乇賵丨賷丞 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 亘賲丿丕丿 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱
賮賷 賲賰鬲亘鬲賳丕 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 胤乇賷賯賴丕 爻賵丕賳丕
賵乇亘賲丕 卮禺氐 丌禺乇 賷賯乇兀 賲丕 賱丕 賳賰鬲亘賴
乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賰鬲亘 賳賮爻賴丕 賲賳 丿丕禺賱賴丕
鬲禺乇噩 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 賰兀爻賲丕賰 丨賷丞 鬲賳鬲賮囟 亘賲賷丕賴賴丕 丕賱賲賱賵賾賳丞
賵鬲馗賱 賮賷 丨賵囟賴丕 丕賱賲鬲賾爻毓 丕賱匕賷 鬲賱鬲氐賯 亘賴 兀卮賵丕賯賳丕 賵賱丕 鬲賰丕丿 鬲睾丕丿乇賴 賵廿賳 兀睾賱賯賳丕 丕賱賳氐
鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱兀丿亘貙 兀爻胤賵丕賳丕鬲 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶貙 賲卮丕賰賱 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞貙 賲賱丕賲爻 丕賱兀睾賱賮丞貙 賳鬲丕卅噩 丕賱丕賳鬲禺丕亘丕鬲貙 兀乇賯丕賲 丕賱毓賲賱丞貙 兀賳賵丕毓 丕賱胤毓丕賲
鬲賴賳卅丕鬲 丕賱兀毓賷丕丿 賵丕賱兀賲賳賷丕鬲 丕賱胤賷亘丞 賵丕賱乇賵丨 丕賱賲乇丨丞
賵鬲丨乇賾乇 丕賱賳賮爻 賲賳 丕賱鬲噩丕乇丞 廿賱賶 丕賱鬲賵丕氐賱 丕賱乇賵丨賷 丕賱禺丕賱氐
丕賱賱賯丕亍 賮賷 丕賱毓賵丕氐賲 毓亘乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤丕鬲
賲賳 賳賷賵賷賵賰 丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐賳毓 賴賵賷鬲賴丕 亘賷賳 賯丕乇鬲賷賳
廿賱賶 賱賳丿賳 丕賱囟丕賲丞 廿亘丿丕毓賴丕 賮賷 丕賱兀乇賮賮 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丞 丕賱毓鬲賷賯丞
乇睾亘鬲賳丕 賮賷 丕賱鬲噩賱賷 賴賳丕賰 賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲賵亘 亘丿乇噩丞 兀賵囟丨
賲賳 氐賵鬲賳丕 丕賱囟丕卅毓 賮賷 夭丨丕賲 丕賱賲卮丕賮賴丞
乇賵丕賷丞 鬲鬲賲賳賶 兀賳 鬲賰鬲亘賴丕
賱兀賳賴丕 賰鬲亘鬲 賲爻丕丨丞 禺囟乇丕亍 賲賳 賳賮爻賰
賵鬲鬲賲賳賶 兀賳 鬲噩丿 賲賳 賷丨鬲賮馗 亘乇爻丕卅賱
乇亘賲丕 賱賲 鬲賰鬲亘賴丕 兀亘丿丕
賱賰賳賴丕 丕賳胤賱賯鬲 賰賳賴乇 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 丕賱賲氐亘
毓賲賱 噩賲賷賱 賷亘丿兀 亘胤賱亘 丕賱賰鬲亘
賵賷氐賱 廿賱賶 廿亘丿丕毓 噩丿賷丿
賮賷 丕賱爻乇丿 賵丕賱丨賷丕丞 賲毓丕
丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 夭賴乇丞 丕賱毓賲乇 賰賲丕 賰鬲亘 鬲賵賮賷賯 丕賱丨賰賷賲
賲丿丕丿賴丕 毓胤賵乇 賮賷 乇賷丕囟 丕賱匕丕賰乇丞
賰賱 賳賯胤丞 賮賷 匕丕賰 丕賱賲丿丕丿 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲毓賷丿 廿賳鬲丕噩 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱卮毓賵乇賷 丕賱丨賷賵賷 丕賱氐丕丿賯
賮賷 鬲噩乇亘丞 噩賲丕賱賷丞 噩丿賷丿丞 鬲丐賰丿 賳馗乇賷丞 丕賱丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕鬲
丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐賱 丕賱賲噩乇丞 丕賱兀丿亘賷丞 丕賱賮賰乇賷丞
亘丕賱賲毓丕丿賱丕鬲 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丞
賮鬲賮鬲丨 兀亘賵丕亘 賲丿賳 丕賱禺賷丕賱
毓賱賶 兀胤賱丕賱 賳馗賳 兀賳賴丕 丕賳丿乇爻鬲
賵賴賷 賳丕卅賲丞 賮賷 噩賷賵賱賵噩賷丕 丕賱賲鬲丨賮 丕賱賳賮爻賷 丕賱噩賲毓賷 丕賱賰亘賷乇
丕賱匕賷 賷賲鬲氐 兀囟賵丕亍 丕賱賱丨馗丕鬲 丕賱賲毓乇賮賷丞
賱賷賱賵賳賴丕 亘丿乇噩丕鬲 丕賱丨賱賲
丕賱賲賲鬲丿丞 賮賷 丕賱爻賱賲 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷 賱廿賷賯丕毓 丕賱兀夭賲賳丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲 賳乇賴丕
賮賷 賳賯胤丞 賲丕 賷鬲毓丕賳賯 禺胤 胤賵賱 賵禺胤 毓乇囟
賮賷 賳賯胤丞 賲丕 鬲囟丕賲 毓賱丕賲丞 丕賱兀賮賯賷 賵毓賱丕賲丞 丕賱乇兀爻賷
賴賳丕賰 毓賳丿 賲賰鬲亘丞
賰卮噩乇丞 鬲卮乇賾亘鬲 毓噩賷賳丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賲賳 毓賯賵賱 丕賱賲亘丿毓賷賳
鬲胤乇丨 兀賵乇丕賯賴丕 賮賷 爻賲丕亍 亘賱丕 丨丿賵丿
賷賱鬲賯胤賴丕 亘乇賷賯 爻丕胤毓 賲賳 鬲賵賴噩 卮毓賱丞 爻丕乇丨丞 賮賷 丨賱賲 氐丕賮
賷噩鬲賲毓 丕賱賳丕爻 賵丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 賮賷 丿丕卅乇丞 賱賲 鬲睾賱賯 賲丨賷胤賴丕 亘毓丿
賷賱鬲賯賷 毓亘乇 丕賱兀夭賲賳丞 賵丕賱賱睾丕鬲
賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱匕賷賳 賷卮丕乇賰賵賳賳丕 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲乇丕氐丞 賮賷 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲
賲孬賱 賲乇丕賰亘 乇丕爻賷丞 賮賷 賲賷賳丕亍
丨賲賵賱鬲賴丕 乇丕爻禺丞 賲賮毓賲丞 亘賲賵丿丞 鬲丿賮賾賯鬲 賲賳 賲賳丕亘毓 丕賱兀賮卅丿丞
兀賳丕賲賱賳丕 鬲賱丕賲爻鬲
毓賷賵賳賳丕 丕丨鬲囟賳鬲
賳賮賵爻賳丕 丕賴鬲夭鬲
賰賳丕 賳匕賴亘 賲毓丕 賱爻賵乇 丕賱兀夭亘賰賷丞
賮賷 丨噩賲 丕賱賰賮 賵賱賮 亘賱丕丿丕 匕丕賰 丕賱賰鬲丕亘
賲孬賱 賯氐氐 丕賱丨亘 丨賷賳賲丕 鬲賱鬲賯賷 睾賱丕賮賴
毓賳賵丕賳赖
丕爻賲 賲丐賱賮賴
鬲丿乇賰 兀賳 丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 賱賳 鬲賯賮 毓賳丿 匕丕賰 丕賱丨丿
乇亘賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱賰鬲亘 鬲毓賵賷囟丕 毓賳 兀丨亘丞 賱賲 賳賮鬲丨 賱賴賲 毓賯賵賱賳丕
乇亘賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 賵爻賷賱丞 賱賱鬲賵丕氐賱 賲毓 兀氐丿賯丕亍 賳毓賱賲 兀賳 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 丕賱賲胤亘賵毓丞 爻鬲賳胤亘毓 賮賷 賲禺賷賱鬲賴賲
賰賲丕 丕賳胤亘毓鬲 賮賷 匕丕賰乇鬲賳丕
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 卮噩賷丞 氐丿賷賯丞
鬲噩毓賱賳丕 賳賮賰乇 賮賷 馗丕賴乇丞 丕賱鬲乇丕爻賱
丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐亘丨 丕賱禺胤丕亘丕鬲 賮賷賴丕 亘丿賷賱丕 賱氐賮丨丕鬲 乇賵丨賷丞 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 亘賲丿丕丿 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱
賮賷 賲賰鬲亘鬲賳丕 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 胤乇賷賯賴丕 爻賵丕賳丕
賵乇亘賲丕 卮禺氐 丌禺乇 賷賯乇兀 賲丕 賱丕 賳賰鬲亘賴
乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賰鬲亘 賳賮爻賴丕 賲賳 丿丕禺賱賴丕
鬲禺乇噩 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 賰兀爻賲丕賰 丨賷丞 鬲賳鬲賮囟 亘賲賷丕賴賴丕 丕賱賲賱賵賾賳丞
賵鬲馗賱 賮賷 丨賵囟賴丕 丕賱賲鬲賾爻毓 丕賱匕賷 鬲賱鬲氐賯 亘賴 兀卮賵丕賯賳丕 賵賱丕 鬲賰丕丿 鬲睾丕丿乇賴 賵廿賳 兀睾賱賯賳丕 丕賱賳氐
鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱兀丿亘貙 兀爻胤賵丕賳丕鬲 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶貙 賲卮丕賰賱 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞貙 賲賱丕賲爻 丕賱兀睾賱賮丞貙 賳鬲丕卅噩 丕賱丕賳鬲禺丕亘丕鬲貙 兀乇賯丕賲 丕賱毓賲賱丞貙 兀賳賵丕毓 丕賱胤毓丕賲
鬲賴賳卅丕鬲 丕賱兀毓賷丕丿 賵丕賱兀賲賳賷丕鬲 丕賱胤賷亘丞 賵丕賱乇賵丨 丕賱賲乇丨丞
賵鬲丨乇賾乇 丕賱賳賮爻 賲賳 丕賱鬲噩丕乇丞 廿賱賶 丕賱鬲賵丕氐賱 丕賱乇賵丨賷 丕賱禺丕賱氐
丕賱賱賯丕亍 賮賷 丕賱毓賵丕氐賲 毓亘乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤丕鬲
賲賳 賳賷賵賷賵賰 丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐賳毓 賴賵賷鬲賴丕 亘賷賳 賯丕乇鬲賷賳
廿賱賶 賱賳丿賳 丕賱囟丕賲丞 廿亘丿丕毓賴丕 賮賷 丕賱兀乇賮賮 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丞 丕賱毓鬲賷賯丞
乇睾亘鬲賳丕 賮賷 丕賱鬲噩賱賷 賴賳丕賰 賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲賵亘 亘丿乇噩丞 兀賵囟丨
賲賳 氐賵鬲賳丕 丕賱囟丕卅毓 賮賷 夭丨丕賲 丕賱賲卮丕賮賴丞
乇賵丕賷丞 鬲鬲賲賳賶 兀賳 鬲賰鬲亘賴丕
賱兀賳賴丕 賰鬲亘鬲 賲爻丕丨丞 禺囟乇丕亍 賲賳 賳賮爻賰
賵鬲鬲賲賳賶 兀賳 鬲噩丿 賲賳 賷丨鬲賮馗 亘乇爻丕卅賱
乇亘賲丕 賱賲 鬲賰鬲亘賴丕 兀亘丿丕
賱賰賳賴丕 丕賳胤賱賯鬲 賰賳賴乇 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 丕賱賲氐亘
毓賲賱 噩賲賷賱 賷亘丿兀 亘胤賱亘 丕賱賰鬲亘
賵賷氐賱 廿賱賶 廿亘丿丕毓 噩丿賷丿
賮賷 丕賱爻乇丿 賵丕賱丨賷丕丞 賲毓丕
丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 夭賴乇丞 丕賱毓賲乇 賰賲丕 賰鬲亘 鬲賵賮賷賯 丕賱丨賰賷賲
賲丿丕丿賴丕 毓胤賵乇 賮賷 乇賷丕囟 丕賱匕丕賰乇丞
賰賱 賳賯胤丞 賮賷 匕丕賰 丕賱賲丿丕丿 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲毓賷丿 廿賳鬲丕噩 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱卮毓賵乇賷 丕賱丨賷賵賷 丕賱氐丕丿賯
賮賷 鬲噩乇亘丞 噩賲丕賱賷丞 噩丿賷丿丞 鬲丐賰丿 賳馗乇賷丞 丕賱丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕鬲
丕賱鬲賷 鬲氐賱 丕賱賲噩乇丞 丕賱兀丿亘賷丞 丕賱賮賰乇賷丞
亘丕賱賲毓丕丿賱丕鬲 丕賱乇賷丕囟賷丞
賮鬲賮鬲丨 兀亘賵丕亘 賲丿賳 丕賱禺賷丕賱
毓賱賶 兀胤賱丕賱 賳馗賳 兀賳賴丕 丕賳丿乇爻鬲
賵賴賷 賳丕卅賲丞 賮賷 噩賷賵賱賵噩賷丕 丕賱賲鬲丨賮 丕賱賳賮爻賷 丕賱噩賲毓賷 丕賱賰亘賷乇
丕賱匕賷 賷賲鬲氐 兀囟賵丕亍 丕賱賱丨馗丕鬲 丕賱賲毓乇賮賷丞
賱賷賱賵賳賴丕 亘丿乇噩丕鬲 丕賱丨賱賲
丕賱賲賲鬲丿丞 賮賷 丕賱爻賱賲 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷 賱廿賷賯丕毓 丕賱兀夭賲賳丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲 賳乇賴丕
November 17, 2017
Letters, literature, friendships, kindness and humor fill the pages of this small volume. It's a gift from Helene Hanff to anyone who loves books. Not much more I can say except that all book lovers should read it .
Long distance friendships and books - a lot like 欧宝娱乐 .
April 18, 2020
賴賱 賷賲賰賳 賱兀卮禺丕氐貙 賱賲 賷賱鬲賯賵丕 兀亘丿賸丕貙 兀賳 鬲鬲賰賵賳 亘賷賳賴賲 氐丿丕賯丞 乇丕爻禺丞 賵丨賲賷賲賷丞責
賳毓賲貙 亘丕賱鬲兀賰賷丿貙 丨賷賳 賷賰賵賳 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賲卮鬲乇賰 賴賵 "丕賱賰鬲亘"
亘毓囟 丕賱賰鬲亘 賵購噩丿鬲 賱賲賳丨賳丕 卮毓賵乇賸丕 亘兀賳賳丕 兀賮囟賱貙 亘兀賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞 鬲丨賲賱 賮賷 胤賷丕鬲賴丕 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕鬲 丕賱爻毓賷丿丞貙 賵兀賳賴 賲丕 夭丕賱 賴賳丕賰 禺賷乇 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賵爻賰賾丕賳賴. 賵賴匕丕 賰鬲丕亘 賲賳 賴匕賴 丕賱賰鬲亘.
毓賱賶 賲丿丕乇 毓卮乇賷賳 毓丕賲賸丕 乇丕爻賱鬲 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱兀賲乇賷賰賷丞 "賴賷賱賷賳 賴丕賳賮" "賮乇丕賳賰 丿賵賷賱"貙 兀丨丿 丕賱毓丕賲賱賷賳 賮賷 賲賰鬲亘丞 "賲丕乇賰爻 賵卮乇賰丕賴 賱亘賷毓 丕賱賰鬲亘" 賮賷 賱賳丿賳貙 鬲胤賱亘 賲賳賴 鬲賵賮賷乇 亘毓囟 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇賷丿賴丕貙 毓卮乇賵賳 毓丕賲賸丕 賵丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 鬲毓亘乇 丕賱賲丨賷胤貙 賲賳 賳賷賵賷賵乇賰 廿賱賶 賱賳丿賳 賵賲賳 賱賳丿賳 廿賱賶 賳賷賵賷賵乇賰貙 賵鬲丿乇賷噩賸丕 鬲鬲賵胤丿 丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳賴賲丕貙 賵鬲鬲爻毓 丿丕卅乇丞 丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 賱鬲卮賲賱 丌禺乇賷賳 賲賳 丕賱毓丕賲賱賷賳 賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞 賵兀賴丕賱賷賴賲.
"賴賷賱賷賳" 卮禺氐 賱胤賷賮貙 禺賮賷賮丞 丕賱馗賱貙 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷購噩賲毓 毓賱賶 賴匕丕 賰賱 丕賱毓丕賲賱賷賳 賮賷 丕賱賲賰鬲亘丞貨 鬲乇爻賱 廿賱賷賴賲 丕賱賴丿丕賷丕 賮賷 丕賱賲賳丕爻亘丕鬲貙 鬲毓乇賮 兀爻賲丕亍 兀胤賮丕賱賴賲貙 賵賴賲 亘丕賱賲孬賱 賷亘丕丿賱賵賳賴丕 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 丕賱胤賷亘丞 賵丕賱賴丿丕賷丕.
賱賰賳 "賴賷賱賷賳" 賲鬲胤賱亘丕鬲賴丕 氐毓亘丞貙 鬲胤賱亘 丕賱賰鬲亘 亘胤亘毓丕鬲 賲毓賷賳丞貙 亘卮賰賱 賲毓賷賳貙 亘鬲睾賱賷賮 賲毓賷賳貙 賵賴賵 賲丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 "賮乇丕賳賰 丿賵賷賱" 鬲賵賮賷乇賴 賮賷 賲毓馗賲 丕賱兀丨賷丕賳貙 賵丨賷賳 賷賮卮賱 鬲賲丕夭丨賴 爻丕禺乇丞賸 賲賳 賰爻賱賴 賵鬲賯丕毓爻賴貙 賵賷鬲賯亘賾賱 賴賵 賴匕丕 丕賱賲夭丕丨 亘氐丿乇 乇丨亘 賵賷毓丿賴丕 兀賳 賷丨丕賵賱 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賶.
亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱兀賵囟丕毓 賮賷 兀賵乇賵亘丕 爻賷卅丞 賱賱睾丕賷丞貙 禺乇噩鬲 丕賱丿賵賱 丕賱毓馗賲賶 賲賳 丨乇亘 丕爻鬲賳夭賮鬲 丕賱賲賵丕乇丿 賵丕賱亘卮乇貙 賵毓賱賶 賲賳 亘賯賶 丨賷賸丕 兀賳 賷賳丕囟賱 丨鬲賶 賷賯賮 毓賱賶 賯丿賲賷賴. 賮賷 禺賱賮賷丞 丕賱乇爻丕卅賱 丕賱賱胤賷賮丞 賳鬲毓乇賾賮 毓賱賶 賲丕 賷丨丿孬 賮賷 賱賳丿賳貙 賳丿乇丞 亘毓囟 丕賱亘囟丕卅毓 賵丕賱兀胤毓賲丞貙 丕賱丨氐丞 丕賱兀爻亘賵毓賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賵夭毓賴丕 丕賱丨賰賵賲賷丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賵丕胤賳賷賳貙 鬲賳氐賷亘 丕賱賲賱賰丞 丕賱噩丿賷丿丞 賵睾賷乇賴丕 賲賳 丕賱兀賲賵乇.
賱賵 賰丕賳 賮賷 賰賱 賲丿賷賳丞 賲賰鬲亘丞 "賲丕乇賰爻 賵卮乇賰丕賴" 賱兀丨亘 丕賱噩賲賷毓 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賰賲丕 兀丨亘賾鬲賴丕 "賴賷賱賷賳 賴丕賳賮"貙 賱賰賳貙 賵賱爻賵亍 丕賱丨馗貙 賴賳丕賰 "賲丕乇賰爻 賵卮乇賰丕賴" 賵丨賷丿丞貙 賵賴賳丕賰 "賴賷賱賷賳 賴丕賳賮" 賵丕丨丿丞.
April 26, 2022
I've always adored this movie so I decided to listen to the short audio. It was such a delight!
A book that was originally published in 1970 about a twenty year letter correspondence (1949-1969) that turned into a sweet friendship.
Helene Hanff lives in New York City and is a writer and lover of old, out of print books. She contacts Marks & Co. an antique bookshop in London about a book she is looking for. The head buyer, Frank Doel responds and sends her the book. They begin to correspond and Helene orders more books and they also begin to talk about their lives. As the years go by Frank's wife also writes to Helene as well as some other staff members from Marks & Co. There are some sweet and cheeky exchanges.
A treasure of a story when long ago letter writing existed and two perfect strangers bonded and formed a beautiful friendship 馃拰
A book that was originally published in 1970 about a twenty year letter correspondence (1949-1969) that turned into a sweet friendship.
Helene Hanff lives in New York City and is a writer and lover of old, out of print books. She contacts Marks & Co. an antique bookshop in London about a book she is looking for. The head buyer, Frank Doel responds and sends her the book. They begin to correspond and Helene orders more books and they also begin to talk about their lives. As the years go by Frank's wife also writes to Helene as well as some other staff members from Marks & Co. There are some sweet and cheeky exchanges.
A treasure of a story when long ago letter writing existed and two perfect strangers bonded and formed a beautiful friendship 馃拰
March 26, 2022
Interestingly, I have just read two books in a row for my 1970s reading project that were published in the 1970s, but took place at an earlier time. It feels, to me, a little bit like cheating, but they were popular books in the 70s, regardless, so here I am, reviewing another one (accidentally).
And, fittingly, this non-fiction story, compiled like an epistolary novel, reminded me of a memory I have from the early-mid 1980s, so let me misbehave, for a moment, and cheat on my beloved 70s with another decade.
This book reminded me of a period of time in my life when I was babysitting, every Saturday night, for a gorgeous college professor and her husband (old what's-his-name). I was a young teen, and, after the kids would go to bed, I'd pull a book down from their fabulous home library, put on some soft porn from HBO in the background (this house is the setting for another review of mine: Wise Blood ) and then creep into their kitchen for my one weekly indulgence: an Entenmann's chocolate doughnut.
Back at my own house, my mother was a combination of Twiggy mixed with Jane Fonda and we had fat-free bodies and a sugar-free household for all of the 1970s and 1980s. (And then therapy for the next 20 years).
So. . . around 10pm every Saturday night for about two years, I would defy our household rules (because I wasn't home, duh), and I would take one perfectly formed chocolate doughnut and hold it out before me like the Holy Grail, then place it reverently on one perfectly formed white napkin and appreciate the yin/yang duality of my life before tearing into that treat in the den like a barnyard animal.
The sugar and fat would rush my senses while inappropriate scenes from movies like 鈥淧orky's鈥� played on in the background and I would discover my next precious read.
Remembering those Saturday nights fills me with nostalgia. I had no idea I was having that much fun at the time, but I know it now.
Sometimes we don't know how special something is, until it's over. We hope, when we remember, that we have visuals, letters. We hope that someone else remembers, too.
And, fittingly, this non-fiction story, compiled like an epistolary novel, reminded me of a memory I have from the early-mid 1980s, so let me misbehave, for a moment, and cheat on my beloved 70s with another decade.
This book reminded me of a period of time in my life when I was babysitting, every Saturday night, for a gorgeous college professor and her husband (old what's-his-name). I was a young teen, and, after the kids would go to bed, I'd pull a book down from their fabulous home library, put on some soft porn from HBO in the background (this house is the setting for another review of mine: Wise Blood ) and then creep into their kitchen for my one weekly indulgence: an Entenmann's chocolate doughnut.
Back at my own house, my mother was a combination of Twiggy mixed with Jane Fonda and we had fat-free bodies and a sugar-free household for all of the 1970s and 1980s. (And then therapy for the next 20 years).
So. . . around 10pm every Saturday night for about two years, I would defy our household rules (because I wasn't home, duh), and I would take one perfectly formed chocolate doughnut and hold it out before me like the Holy Grail, then place it reverently on one perfectly formed white napkin and appreciate the yin/yang duality of my life before tearing into that treat in the den like a barnyard animal.
The sugar and fat would rush my senses while inappropriate scenes from movies like 鈥淧orky's鈥� played on in the background and I would discover my next precious read.
Remembering those Saturday nights fills me with nostalgia. I had no idea I was having that much fun at the time, but I know it now.
Sometimes we don't know how special something is, until it's over. We hope, when we remember, that we have visuals, letters. We hope that someone else remembers, too.
October 9, 2021
"84, Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff is an Epistolary Historical Non-Fiction treasure!
Letters exchanged between writer Helene Hanff and bookseller Frank Doel (rhymes with 'Noel' just in case you were curious!) She lived in New York City and was a lover of old out-of-print books. He lived and worked in London as an antiquarian at MARKS & CO. at 84, Charing Cross Road.
A book containing nothing other than letters that traveled back and forth across the pond started in 1949 and continued for 20 years. It began with a mutual love of old books, gradually blossoming into a true friendship between Helene and Frank. It also branched out to include the employees in the bookstore, Frank's wife, and, eventually, their children. Helene's acts of kindness through the post-war years, I believe to be the catalyst of this inclusion!
I read this book while on our 2021 Fall Getaway. I intentionally savored it, reading only a few pages a day. Some days I would backtrack and revisit previous pages before moving on. I wanted it to last the entire trip. I didn't want this glimpse of the past to end.
This book brought back memories of watching Mom receiving a letter from someone dear and how relationships were solidified and enriched by this type of correspondence. A letter was always the best way to nudge Mom for attention! I miss those days...
If it sounds like this short ninety-seven page read may interest you, I hope it stirs the same deep emotions in you that it stirred in me! I highly recommend.
Thanks to Knox County Library System for lending this treasure to me!
Published in 1970, Ms. Hanff dedicated this book to Frank Doel.
Letters exchanged between writer Helene Hanff and bookseller Frank Doel (rhymes with 'Noel' just in case you were curious!) She lived in New York City and was a lover of old out-of-print books. He lived and worked in London as an antiquarian at MARKS & CO. at 84, Charing Cross Road.
A book containing nothing other than letters that traveled back and forth across the pond started in 1949 and continued for 20 years. It began with a mutual love of old books, gradually blossoming into a true friendship between Helene and Frank. It also branched out to include the employees in the bookstore, Frank's wife, and, eventually, their children. Helene's acts of kindness through the post-war years, I believe to be the catalyst of this inclusion!
I read this book while on our 2021 Fall Getaway. I intentionally savored it, reading only a few pages a day. Some days I would backtrack and revisit previous pages before moving on. I wanted it to last the entire trip. I didn't want this glimpse of the past to end.
This book brought back memories of watching Mom receiving a letter from someone dear and how relationships were solidified and enriched by this type of correspondence. A letter was always the best way to nudge Mom for attention! I miss those days...
If it sounds like this short ninety-seven page read may interest you, I hope it stirs the same deep emotions in you that it stirred in me! I highly recommend.
Thanks to Knox County Library System for lending this treasure to me!
Published in 1970, Ms. Hanff dedicated this book to Frank Doel.
![Profile Image for 漏hrissie 鉂� [1st week on campus-somewhat run-down].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1610034740i%2F49071166._UX200_CR0%2C20%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 20, 2022
There is something about a letter correspondence between two book lovers that never gets old. My heart, wistfully content and overflowing upon reading 84, Charing Cross Road, testifies to this.
Texting and emailing these days - it is just different, isn't it? The corporate, capitalistic, hypertech world we live in has, in some respects, sucked aliveness out of the things it promises to enhance: networking and uninterrupted presence.
This is not to say that Hanff's letter assemblage necessarily makes for a nostalgic flashback to an obliterated past that tends towards a wishful recovery of it. But it does stir a very human longing for a simple bond of friendship sustained notwithstanding the 50s-60s perception of distance (New York / London).
A distance that is not merely geographical but also temperamental. Because Helene Hanff and Frank Doel could not be more different if they tried. Helen is a writer who has to constantly wait on commissioned work to make ends meet, in this not very different from Frank Doel, her chief correspondent and bookseller at Marks & Co. on Charing Cross Road. Quintessential quirkiness on the one hand, self-contained British reserve on the other, the two wonderfully maintain contact from year to year, usually initiated by some peculiar book request on Helene's part, or Frank's responses to her old requests. It is, therefore, their variously manifested life passion for rare books that nourishes communication between them. Except that, in time, they warm up to each others' ways, and come to delight in the correspondence, to some extent participating in each others' lives.
Helene's plan to visit England never quite materialises, but others from London (Frank's wife and colleagues amongst others) cannot resist getting in touch with her from time to time. Because Helene is also extremely generous and vibrant. Opinionated, no doubt, but so candid and likeable. And, of course, she likes to affectionately taunt Frank, who is not as uptight as one would be apt to think and reciprocates with care and attention.
I certainly kept wanting to read more of her whimsical letters, much like her correspondents. It did sadden me somewhat to think about their long intervals of silence, and yet each letter comes across as the rightful continuation to its former counterparts. The mark of true friendship.
4 stars. Highly recommended to all readers.
Texting and emailing these days - it is just different, isn't it? The corporate, capitalistic, hypertech world we live in has, in some respects, sucked aliveness out of the things it promises to enhance: networking and uninterrupted presence.
This is not to say that Hanff's letter assemblage necessarily makes for a nostalgic flashback to an obliterated past that tends towards a wishful recovery of it. But it does stir a very human longing for a simple bond of friendship sustained notwithstanding the 50s-60s perception of distance (New York / London).
A distance that is not merely geographical but also temperamental. Because Helene Hanff and Frank Doel could not be more different if they tried. Helen is a writer who has to constantly wait on commissioned work to make ends meet, in this not very different from Frank Doel, her chief correspondent and bookseller at Marks & Co. on Charing Cross Road. Quintessential quirkiness on the one hand, self-contained British reserve on the other, the two wonderfully maintain contact from year to year, usually initiated by some peculiar book request on Helene's part, or Frank's responses to her old requests. It is, therefore, their variously manifested life passion for rare books that nourishes communication between them. Except that, in time, they warm up to each others' ways, and come to delight in the correspondence, to some extent participating in each others' lives.
Helene's plan to visit England never quite materialises, but others from London (Frank's wife and colleagues amongst others) cannot resist getting in touch with her from time to time. Because Helene is also extremely generous and vibrant. Opinionated, no doubt, but so candid and likeable. And, of course, she likes to affectionately taunt Frank, who is not as uptight as one would be apt to think and reciprocates with care and attention.
I certainly kept wanting to read more of her whimsical letters, much like her correspondents. It did sadden me somewhat to think about their long intervals of silence, and yet each letter comes across as the rightful continuation to its former counterparts. The mark of true friendship.
4 stars. Highly recommended to all readers.
February 3, 2015
I lived in London from 2004 to 2008 and still have a house there. I continue to travel to London regularly from Dubai. I call these trips my "sanity check"; they transport me from my 'dream' world back to the 'real' world.
One of my favourite haunts in London is Charing Cross Road. It's been the home to booksellers selling second-hand and rare books for decades. Long before the American writer Helene Hanff immortalised the street in 84 Charing Cross Road, the area enjoyed a storied association with the city鈥檚 literary scene and its accompanying book trade. In its 1950s heyday, denizens of the nearby drinking dens of Soho, from to , would stagger from shop to shop, scanning the heaving shelves.
One of those shops was Marks & Co., the subject of this review, a well-known antiquarian bookseller located at Cambridge Circus - 84 Charing Cross Road, London. The shop was founded in the 1920s by Benjamin Marks and Mark Cohen. Cohen was persuaded to allow his name to be abbreviated in the company's name. The company built a good reputation for itself and had famous customers, including , , , royalty and public institutions such as universities and the British Museum.
- Marks & Co., 84 Charing Cross Road
Marks & Co. used to advertise its goods in various newspapers, magazines, journals etc. On Oct 5, 1949, a Miss Helene Hanff, from New York City, USA saw their ad in the Saturday Review of Literature. She wrote them a letter:
During the time of their exchange, Britain was experiencing food rationing. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased. Basic foodstuffs such as sugar, meat, fats, bacon and cheese were directly rationed by an allowance of coupons. Priority allowances of milk and eggs were given to those most in need - children, expectant mothers or invalids. Housewives had to register with particular retailers. As shortages increased, long queues became commonplace.
For many years, until the end of food rationing, Helene sent the employees of Marks & Co. food parcels. Hams, tinned food of varying kinds (including tongue), boxed eggs, chocolate, raisins and so on. These parcels used to be divied up among the employees and brought such great joy and happiness to them and their families. Nylons were a favourite of the Doel household; with Frank's wife and two daughters.
I delighted in reading this novel. I simply adored Helene. I could see a lot of myself in her. With her often acerbic comments, wit, generosity, kindness, and stubborness, she could be my identical twin! :) Even her reactions to receiving her beloved books were 'me to a tee'. I do wonder if I am a reincarnate of sorts.
- Me (taken Oct 2014) and Helene - a similarity, don't you think?
[As an aside, there is an enchanting exchange of letters between Helene Hanff and a fan that is refreshing to read, and demonstrates the type of woman that Helene was. ]
I treasured the following quotes from Helene:
In a letter dated April 11, 1969, Helene wrote a letter to her friend, Katherine. In it she said:
Marks & Co. have long gone, and 84 Charing Cross Road has been many things since; a wine shop, a restaurant, to name but a few. But there is a plaque at the very spot in memory of the store. There is also a plaque in the US, at Charing Cross House, 305 East 72nd Street, New York, where Helene Hanff once lived.
- Plaques in the UK and US
This afternoon I read the reviews of this book by GR friends. They were all wonderful and expressed how I felt about the letters between Helene and Frank. One friend's review though, Trevor's, was especially poignant and moved me to conclude this review with his thoughts:
If you needed to be reminded that love of literature is as good a foundation of love of the world as any other 'religion', that the people we write to can be closer and dearer to us than those we see day after day - then this really is a book written to remind you of just that.
- GR friend: Trevor
Amen to that.
One of my favourite haunts in London is Charing Cross Road. It's been the home to booksellers selling second-hand and rare books for decades. Long before the American writer Helene Hanff immortalised the street in 84 Charing Cross Road, the area enjoyed a storied association with the city鈥檚 literary scene and its accompanying book trade. In its 1950s heyday, denizens of the nearby drinking dens of Soho, from to , would stagger from shop to shop, scanning the heaving shelves.
One of those shops was Marks & Co., the subject of this review, a well-known antiquarian bookseller located at Cambridge Circus - 84 Charing Cross Road, London. The shop was founded in the 1920s by Benjamin Marks and Mark Cohen. Cohen was persuaded to allow his name to be abbreviated in the company's name. The company built a good reputation for itself and had famous customers, including , , , royalty and public institutions such as universities and the British Museum.
- Marks & Co., 84 Charing Cross Road
Marks & Co. used to advertise its goods in various newspapers, magazines, journals etc. On Oct 5, 1949, a Miss Helene Hanff, from New York City, USA saw their ad in the Saturday Review of Literature. She wrote them a letter:
"Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books. The phrase 'antiquarian book-sellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive. I am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books and all the things I want are impossible to get over here except in very expensive rare editions, or in Barnes & Noble's grimy, marked-up school-boy copies.Her letter was responded to by an employee of Marks & Co. with the initials FPD, who we later learn is Frank Doel, the chief buyer for Marks & Co.. And so the epistolary novel of 84 Charing Cross Road begins. For 20 years Helene maintains correspondence with Marks & Co., and particulalry with Frank.
I enclose a list of my most pressing problems. If you have clean secondhand copies of any of the books on the list, for no more than $5.00 each, will you consider this a purchase order and send them to me?"
During the time of their exchange, Britain was experiencing food rationing. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased. Basic foodstuffs such as sugar, meat, fats, bacon and cheese were directly rationed by an allowance of coupons. Priority allowances of milk and eggs were given to those most in need - children, expectant mothers or invalids. Housewives had to register with particular retailers. As shortages increased, long queues became commonplace.
For many years, until the end of food rationing, Helene sent the employees of Marks & Co. food parcels. Hams, tinned food of varying kinds (including tongue), boxed eggs, chocolate, raisins and so on. These parcels used to be divied up among the employees and brought such great joy and happiness to them and their families. Nylons were a favourite of the Doel household; with Frank's wife and two daughters.
I delighted in reading this novel. I simply adored Helene. I could see a lot of myself in her. With her often acerbic comments, wit, generosity, kindness, and stubborness, she could be my identical twin! :) Even her reactions to receiving her beloved books were 'me to a tee'. I do wonder if I am a reincarnate of sorts.
- Me (taken Oct 2014) and Helene - a similarity, don't you think?
[As an aside, there is an enchanting exchange of letters between Helene Hanff and a fan that is refreshing to read, and demonstrates the type of woman that Helene was. ]
I treasured the following quotes from Helene:
"I do love secondhand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest."Helene had never been out of the USA and lived for the day when she could visit London. Frank, his wife and others, tried many times to get her to visit them, but some crisis or another, generally financial, did not afford her that luxury.
"I love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages someone long gone has called my attention to."
"The Book-Lovers' Anthology stepped out of its wrappings, all gold-embossed leather and gold-tipped pages, easily the most beautiful book I own including the Newman first edition. It looks too new and pristine ever to have been read by anyone else, but it has been: it keeps falling open at the most delightful places as the ghost of its former owner points me to things I've never read before."
"I houseclean my books every spring and throw out those I'm never going to read again like I throw out clothes I'm never going to wear again. It shocks everybody. My friends are peculiar about books. They read all the best sellers, they get through them as fast as possible, I think they skip a lot. And they NEVER read anything a second time so they don't remember a word of it a year later. But they are profoundly shocked to see me drop a book in the wastebasket or give it away. The way they look at it, you buy a book, you read it, you put it on the shelf, you never open it again for the rest of your life but YOU DON'T THROW IT OUT! NOT IF IT HAS A HARD COVER ON IT! Why not? I personally can't think of anything less sancrosanct than a bad book or even a mediocre book."
In a letter dated April 11, 1969, Helene wrote a letter to her friend, Katherine. In it she said:
"If you happen to pass by 84 Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me! I owe it that much."I will do that for Helene, the next time I am in London, as I'm sure thousands before me have done so, and thousands of others will do in the future.
Marks & Co. have long gone, and 84 Charing Cross Road has been many things since; a wine shop, a restaurant, to name but a few. But there is a plaque at the very spot in memory of the store. There is also a plaque in the US, at Charing Cross House, 305 East 72nd Street, New York, where Helene Hanff once lived.
- Plaques in the UK and US
This afternoon I read the reviews of this book by GR friends. They were all wonderful and expressed how I felt about the letters between Helene and Frank. One friend's review though, Trevor's, was especially poignant and moved me to conclude this review with his thoughts:
If you needed to be reminded that love of literature is as good a foundation of love of the world as any other 'religion', that the people we write to can be closer and dearer to us than those we see day after day - then this really is a book written to remind you of just that.
- GR friend: Trevor
Amen to that.
November 26, 2024
My first re-read and oh my GOODNESS!!!
That ending鈥� and that beginning鈥� and that middle! This was an absolute joy to read!
These letters were exceptionally wonderful and made my bookish heart melt (and laugh)! Helene鈥檚 sassy humor made me genuinely laugh out loud while reading.
I felt such a kinship with her as we are both from New York and share a very similar love of English editions of books.
鈥淚 am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books and all the things I want are impossible to get over here except in very expensive rare editions, or in Barnes and Noble鈥檚 grimy, marked up school-boy copies.鈥�
鈥淏eing used to the dead-white paper and stiff cardboardy covers of American books, I never knew a book could be such a joy to touch.鈥�
鈥淚 love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages someone long gone has called my attention to.鈥�
鈥淛ust a nice book preferably small enough to stick in a slacks pocket and take to Central Park.鈥�
Although many years have passed since these words were written, I understand you Helene. I understand.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
First read: May 5th, 2021
猬囷笍
Wow! I was not expecting to be so saddened by the ending of this book... bittersweet!
馃摉馃挄
I've heard such wonderful things about this book, and I can now confirm all of them!
铀ワ笍
This is a book comprised of letters written by the author Helene Hanff (from New York City) to a bookstore on Charing Cross Road in England! It was an absolute delight!
Their correspondence was mainly about the specific books Helene wanted, and the difference books the shop could send her... because American books are simply not as beautifully made as British books are!
(Relatable)
Of course the friendships between these different pen pals grew, and she eventually had a wonderful group of friends in the book sellers she was writing to!
馃摉馃挄
How much sweeter can a story be?!?
That ending鈥� and that beginning鈥� and that middle! This was an absolute joy to read!
These letters were exceptionally wonderful and made my bookish heart melt (and laugh)! Helene鈥檚 sassy humor made me genuinely laugh out loud while reading.
I felt such a kinship with her as we are both from New York and share a very similar love of English editions of books.
鈥淚 am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books and all the things I want are impossible to get over here except in very expensive rare editions, or in Barnes and Noble鈥檚 grimy, marked up school-boy copies.鈥�
鈥淏eing used to the dead-white paper and stiff cardboardy covers of American books, I never knew a book could be such a joy to touch.鈥�
鈥淚 love inscriptions on flyleaves and notes in margins, I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned, and reading passages someone long gone has called my attention to.鈥�
鈥淛ust a nice book preferably small enough to stick in a slacks pocket and take to Central Park.鈥�
Although many years have passed since these words were written, I understand you Helene. I understand.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
First read: May 5th, 2021
猬囷笍
Wow! I was not expecting to be so saddened by the ending of this book... bittersweet!
馃摉馃挄
I've heard such wonderful things about this book, and I can now confirm all of them!
铀ワ笍
This is a book comprised of letters written by the author Helene Hanff (from New York City) to a bookstore on Charing Cross Road in England! It was an absolute delight!
Their correspondence was mainly about the specific books Helene wanted, and the difference books the shop could send her... because American books are simply not as beautifully made as British books are!
(Relatable)
Of course the friendships between these different pen pals grew, and she eventually had a wonderful group of friends in the book sellers she was writing to!
馃摉馃挄
How much sweeter can a story be?!?
November 29, 2017
An easy 5 stars!
I listened to this lovely short audiobook. It's completely charming. The voices are perfect. And in an odd way it reminded me of what I love about 欧宝娱乐. Strangers connecting over their mutual love of books. Slowly the book focused repartee morphs into a real sense of affinity and frienship.
A bit of warmth to ease the dark cold days of November. A nice relief from the miserable state of world politics.
I'm late to this party, but I highly recommend it -- especially the audio.
I listened to this lovely short audiobook. It's completely charming. The voices are perfect. And in an odd way it reminded me of what I love about 欧宝娱乐. Strangers connecting over their mutual love of books. Slowly the book focused repartee morphs into a real sense of affinity and frienship.
A bit of warmth to ease the dark cold days of November. A nice relief from the miserable state of world politics.
I'm late to this party, but I highly recommend it -- especially the audio.
March 14, 2015
Loved every single page of this wonderful little novel, told in letters. The lost art of letter writing, but amazing how much we can tell of the relationship between the author in New York and a bookstore in London. Requesting books to be sent to her she makes the acquaintance of Frank Dole, his wife, his neighbor and other employees of the bookstore. Starts out as a purely business relationship we can tell letter by letter as they become more friendly, discussing their families, friends, jobs and other events going on in the world at the time, particularly the rationing that was still in place in London after the war.
Made me want to go out and buy a brand new gorgeous stationary set and write my friends some letters. Wonderful, wonderful book.
Made me want to go out and buy a brand new gorgeous stationary set and write my friends some letters. Wonderful, wonderful book.
February 8, 2020
A beautiful, sincere and humorous correspondence between a writer in New York (Helen) looking for unique books all the time and having them shipped over from Europe and a bookstore manager in London over the years.... Fun, nostalgic read with a smile.
August 22, 2008
I love this book and love the film they made of it too. It is sloppy and sweet and warm and, you know, just right. It is the sort of book one could read in an hour or two over a pot of tea on a cold winter's afternoon and just enjoy. Pure delight.
If you needed to be reminded that love of literature is as good a foundation of love of the world as any other 'religion', that the people we write to can be closer and dearer to us than those we see day after day - then this really is a book written to remind you of just that.
If you needed to be reminded that love of literature is as good a foundation of love of the world as any other 'religion', that the people we write to can be closer and dearer to us than those we see day after day - then this really is a book written to remind you of just that.
December 25, 2020
March 16, 2020,
Dear HH,
America (and possibly the world) has gone mad. Rationing is a word that would get you a black eye if you mentioned it while waiting in today's mile-long line at the supermarket. You would think Armageddon is upon us from the carts and carts of groceries people are pushing to their cars, leaving the rest to scrape the broken eggs from the floor in aisle Nine, where that fight between two shoppers just took place. (The carnage would surely have been much greater if toilet paper was the prize.)
Where are you when we need you to set us all straight? I'm almost considering blackout windows just to keep the rest of humanity out of sight.
JS
Dear HH,
America (and possibly the world) has gone mad. Rationing is a word that would get you a black eye if you mentioned it while waiting in today's mile-long line at the supermarket. You would think Armageddon is upon us from the carts and carts of groceries people are pushing to their cars, leaving the rest to scrape the broken eggs from the floor in aisle Nine, where that fight between two shoppers just took place. (The carnage would surely have been much greater if toilet paper was the prize.)
Where are you when we need you to set us all straight? I'm almost considering blackout windows just to keep the rest of humanity out of sight.
JS
April 1, 2021
Dear Mila,
When you gave me the large and heavy cubic box as my Christmas gift, with the red ribbon on top, I could not believe my eyes. What on earth had crossed your mind to offer me such a striking gift? And my wonder expanded as I opened it and realized the reason for the size. It was fool of a variety of goodies.
There was on top another parcel, a light one this time, of a round shape. When I unwrapped it, I had in my hands a Klein blue hat, in the shape of a 1920s bell. The colour of my coat!! Then there were three sachets of an assortment of nuts. There was also a smaller box with a set of envelopes and hand-made paper 鈥� for writing letters. I also discovered two trays of selected cheeses. One of which is a Pecorino with truffle.
I don鈥檛 think I have ever, since I was a child received what I would call of Treasure of surprises. A great part of the fun is precisely the discovery of the goodies 鈥� the surprise.
But the astonishment continued. There were also a couple of jam jars. One of a well-known Deli brand and the other clearly homemade. A decorated cardboard box contained a nice bunch of grapes 鈥� timely, given that in Spain the tradition is to eat twelve grapes when the clock strikes twelve on New Year鈥檚 Eve. At the bottom of the box there was a lovely plate from the ceramic maker Vistalegre, with a design from the archives of the botanist Jos茅 de Celestino for the Royal Botanical gardens. It shows a green plant with green and red leaves 鈥� similar to the Christmas poinsettia.
And tucked in the corner of the box there was this book. One I have been wanting to read for ages. The edition is a lovely one. Hardback with thick paper and large print.
So, I began to read it immediately and have finished it in two sittings.
I hope I will not finish the Pecorino and the rest of the cheeses in two sittings too.
84, Charing Cross Road is a beautiful book about books, and friendship, and gifts, and surprises and goodies, and letter writing 鈥� and it came to me embedded in precisely all those things.
This has been an unforgettable and much appreciated gift 鈥� there has been so much thought.
And as I finish the book and began considering writing this, I received an email with another gift from someone else who clearly knows my love for books.
I am to receive during 2021 twelve books, again as a surprise, from a bookshop in London that reminds of the Marks & Co, based on a questionnaire that will reveal to them my reading preferences. My curiosity will be stirred for a whole year....
This has been a tough 2020, but this Christmas is offering me sweet feelings of friendship 鈥� as they can be expressed through books and surprises - and this is a welcome closing and hopefully will begin a better period.
October 13, 2024
My journey with this book began in 2017. My first review was on this date, August 17, 2017.
Less than 100 pages!
I first became aware of this book when our Library Book Discussion Group discussed "The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend" by Katarina Bivald.
Then author, Menna van Praag suggested it.
Well, I am so glad they did. What a delightful story of a 20-year correspondence between the author and a used Book dealer in London.
84 Charing Cross Road is the address of an old bookstore from the 1940s.
Imagine a writer, a book lover writing letters from America to London and asking them to send her favorite works of literature. Can you imagine having such a correspondence?
Her views and opinions of books 鈥� their writers, the print, and the books鈥� condition are such a treat to read!
This book is a simple collection of letters written over two decades. That鈥檚 it. There really isn鈥檛 anything more to this book 鈥� and yet, it is so much to love and appreciate!
Those 2 decades show the social, political and economic conditions of both countries while taking readers through the lives of the author and the people she interacted with during this correspondence.
We gain so much from the relationship between these letter writers. The love and bond they share make this book much more than a collection of letters. It becomes a collection of emotions, ideas, thoughts, and lives.
What I loved most is how wonderfully the sentiments flowed through the letters to the reader.
Google will tell you so much about what has happened beyond this book 鈥� how it has been made into a movie 鈥� how it has been adapted into theatre by different houses 鈥� and that the BBC Radio even turned it into a radio drama.
When I was done reading this book, I shared it with everybody I knew, and then I put it away as one of those rare books I wanted to keep. It is that special to me.
But鈥t begs to be read.
If you are looking for an easy, fun and joyful reading experience, I recommend this wonderful book!
Less than 100 pages!
I first became aware of this book when our Library Book Discussion Group discussed "The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend" by Katarina Bivald.
Then author, Menna van Praag suggested it.
Well, I am so glad they did. What a delightful story of a 20-year correspondence between the author and a used Book dealer in London.
84 Charing Cross Road is the address of an old bookstore from the 1940s.
Imagine a writer, a book lover writing letters from America to London and asking them to send her favorite works of literature. Can you imagine having such a correspondence?
Her views and opinions of books 鈥� their writers, the print, and the books鈥� condition are such a treat to read!
This book is a simple collection of letters written over two decades. That鈥檚 it. There really isn鈥檛 anything more to this book 鈥� and yet, it is so much to love and appreciate!
Those 2 decades show the social, political and economic conditions of both countries while taking readers through the lives of the author and the people she interacted with during this correspondence.
We gain so much from the relationship between these letter writers. The love and bond they share make this book much more than a collection of letters. It becomes a collection of emotions, ideas, thoughts, and lives.
What I loved most is how wonderfully the sentiments flowed through the letters to the reader.
Google will tell you so much about what has happened beyond this book 鈥� how it has been made into a movie 鈥� how it has been adapted into theatre by different houses 鈥� and that the BBC Radio even turned it into a radio drama.
When I was done reading this book, I shared it with everybody I knew, and then I put it away as one of those rare books I wanted to keep. It is that special to me.
But鈥t begs to be read.
If you are looking for an easy, fun and joyful reading experience, I recommend this wonderful book!
May 3, 2023
Puff. Siendo sincero, este libro me decepcion贸.
Lleg贸 a mis manos gracias a una din谩mica de 鈥渃ita a ciegas con libros鈥�, as铆 que no estaba seguro de que fuera de mi agrado, pero algunos de mis seguidores me motivaron a leerlo con comentarios que elevaron mis expectativas鈥�
Al ser epistolar y tener menos de 100 p谩ginas, se lee r谩pido. Pero aun con eso la lectura se volvi贸 tediosa en algunas partes porque no conectaba con lo que quer铆an contarme. Helene, una escritora de NYC le pide constantemente ejemplares a un librero de Londres. Y ya. Toda la lectura es ver los pedidos que se hacen, agradecerse, disculparse por no escribir, enviarse regalos mutuamente y una incesante invitaci贸n de los libreros a Helene para que los visite.
Claro, lo importante de esta novela es mostrarnos c贸mo la literatura puede unirnos, adem谩s de demostrar que aun en tiempos de adversidad (postguerra), existe la bondad y capacidad de desarrollar una amistad a larga distancia. En mi caso, eso no bast贸 para encontrarle el gusto a esta lectura, pues encontr茅 muchas de las cartas aburridas y exasperantes.
Faltando 15 p谩ginas para terminar, me preguntaba una y otra vez qu茅 es lo que llev贸 a tantas personas a darle una calificaci贸n tan alta. As铆 que mi suposici贸n, que result贸 acertada, fue que en el desenlace habr铆a alguna situaci贸n emotiva o fat铆dica. Esa fue la 煤nica parte que me hizo sentir algo, todas las dem谩s p谩ginas no.
Me parece que el libro "La sociedad literaria del pastel de piel de patata Guernsey" est谩 inspirado en este. Y en mi opini贸n, vale mucho m谩s la pena el primero.
Lleg贸 a mis manos gracias a una din谩mica de 鈥渃ita a ciegas con libros鈥�, as铆 que no estaba seguro de que fuera de mi agrado, pero algunos de mis seguidores me motivaron a leerlo con comentarios que elevaron mis expectativas鈥�
Al ser epistolar y tener menos de 100 p谩ginas, se lee r谩pido. Pero aun con eso la lectura se volvi贸 tediosa en algunas partes porque no conectaba con lo que quer铆an contarme. Helene, una escritora de NYC le pide constantemente ejemplares a un librero de Londres. Y ya. Toda la lectura es ver los pedidos que se hacen, agradecerse, disculparse por no escribir, enviarse regalos mutuamente y una incesante invitaci贸n de los libreros a Helene para que los visite.
Claro, lo importante de esta novela es mostrarnos c贸mo la literatura puede unirnos, adem谩s de demostrar que aun en tiempos de adversidad (postguerra), existe la bondad y capacidad de desarrollar una amistad a larga distancia. En mi caso, eso no bast贸 para encontrarle el gusto a esta lectura, pues encontr茅 muchas de las cartas aburridas y exasperantes.
Faltando 15 p谩ginas para terminar, me preguntaba una y otra vez qu茅 es lo que llev贸 a tantas personas a darle una calificaci贸n tan alta. As铆 que mi suposici贸n, que result贸 acertada, fue que en el desenlace habr铆a alguna situaci贸n emotiva o fat铆dica. Esa fue la 煤nica parte que me hizo sentir algo, todas las dem谩s p谩ginas no.
Me parece que el libro "La sociedad literaria del pastel de piel de patata Guernsey" est谩 inspirado en este. Y en mi opini贸n, vale mucho m谩s la pena el primero.
May 4, 2018
This book is a complete delight. It is not a love story or a romance, but a series of letters between two book lovers from the late 1940s to the late 1960s. Helene Hanff is a lively and outspoken New Yorker who is unable to get hold of decently bound books, especially older and slightly more obscure ones. She answers an ad and contacts Marks and Co at 84 Charing Cross Road. There Frank Doel, a very proper English bookseller responds and starts to find and send her books from the lists she sends. Hanff鈥檚 friendliness, outspokenness and sheer vivacity gradually breaks down Frank Doel鈥檚 reserve and a friendships develops. Hanff sends to London difficult to find items to London which was still in the throes of rationing (mainly foodstuffs, but also nylons for the female employees). Gradually we also hear the voices of some of the other employees, Frank鈥檚 wife Nora and their elderly next door neighbour. There is a warmth and humanity here and a solid friendship based on books; something which should warm all our hearts.
There is also, of course, the film starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. My edition has a preface by Anne Bancroft (her husband, Mel Brooks, bought the film rights for her, so she could play Hanff) and an introduction by Juliet Stevenson. What is most moving of course is that Hanff and Doel never met and the book came along after his death in the late 1960s and was an immediate hit. There has also been a play and a TV adaptation. There is a new adaptation of the play touring the UK at present starring Stephanie Powers and Clive Francis.
I really did love this, it鈥檚 a meeting of bookish minds, something done by letter, which we can now do much more easily on sites like this. Hanff keeps threatening to visit, but never makes it:
鈥淵ou better watch out, I鈥檓 coming over there in 鈥�53 if Ellery is renewed. I鈥檓 gonna climb up that Victorian book-ladder and disturb the dust on the top shelves and everybody鈥檚 decorum.鈥�
Hanff鈥檚 wit and irreverence are a constant delight:
鈥淚 have these guilts about never having read Chaucer but I was talked out of learning Early Anglo-Saxon / Middle English by a friend who had to take it for her Ph.D. They told her to write an essay in Early Anglo-Saxon on any-subject-of-her-own-choosing. 鈥淲hich is all very well,鈥� she said bitterly, 鈥渂ut the only essay subject you can find enough Early Anglo-Saxon words for is 鈥楬ow to Slaughter a Thousand Men in a Mead Hall鈥�.鈥�
A comment on the arrival of a new book:
鈥淭he day Hazlitt came he opened to 鈥淚 hate to read new books,鈥� and I hollered 鈥淐omrade!鈥� to whoever owned it before me.鈥�
And on buying books in general:
鈥淚t鈥檚 against my principles to buy a book I haven鈥檛 read, it鈥檚 like buying a dress you haven鈥檛 tried on.鈥�
One of my favourites!
There is also, of course, the film starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. My edition has a preface by Anne Bancroft (her husband, Mel Brooks, bought the film rights for her, so she could play Hanff) and an introduction by Juliet Stevenson. What is most moving of course is that Hanff and Doel never met and the book came along after his death in the late 1960s and was an immediate hit. There has also been a play and a TV adaptation. There is a new adaptation of the play touring the UK at present starring Stephanie Powers and Clive Francis.
I really did love this, it鈥檚 a meeting of bookish minds, something done by letter, which we can now do much more easily on sites like this. Hanff keeps threatening to visit, but never makes it:
鈥淵ou better watch out, I鈥檓 coming over there in 鈥�53 if Ellery is renewed. I鈥檓 gonna climb up that Victorian book-ladder and disturb the dust on the top shelves and everybody鈥檚 decorum.鈥�
Hanff鈥檚 wit and irreverence are a constant delight:
鈥淚 have these guilts about never having read Chaucer but I was talked out of learning Early Anglo-Saxon / Middle English by a friend who had to take it for her Ph.D. They told her to write an essay in Early Anglo-Saxon on any-subject-of-her-own-choosing. 鈥淲hich is all very well,鈥� she said bitterly, 鈥渂ut the only essay subject you can find enough Early Anglo-Saxon words for is 鈥楬ow to Slaughter a Thousand Men in a Mead Hall鈥�.鈥�
A comment on the arrival of a new book:
鈥淭he day Hazlitt came he opened to 鈥淚 hate to read new books,鈥� and I hollered 鈥淐omrade!鈥� to whoever owned it before me.鈥�
And on buying books in general:
鈥淚t鈥檚 against my principles to buy a book I haven鈥檛 read, it鈥檚 like buying a dress you haven鈥檛 tried on.鈥�
One of my favourites!
April 5, 2023
A charming and sometimes sassy epistolary novel spanning 20 years, Helen Hanff is corresponding with a used book dealer at Marks & Co.--84, Charing Cross Road in London. The relationship begins as merely a business transaction. Helen sends a list of books she would like to acquire. It is 1949 and London is still reeling from WW II. As their correspondence continues, the book dealer (Frank Doel) takes special care to send Helen the very best editions he can find. Helen is touched by the quality and in turn provides care packages for Frank and his family as well as the other employees. Letters are sent to Helen thanking her for blessing them with meat, eggs, nylons and other rare commodities. We get glimpses of life in London and the personal lives of the workers there as well as a sense of the type of work Helen is busy with here in NYC. She speaks often of wanting to visit London to find exactly what she would go looking for. Work and financial concerns keep getting in the way while Marks & Co. also goes through many changes. I loved reading this book and I want to thank my 欧宝娱乐 friend Regina for bringing it to my attention. This is a slice of life that transcends time.
Marks & Co. and Frank Doel have a cameo appearance in the latest title from Jennifer Robson: . 馃憫
Marks & Co. and Frank Doel have a cameo appearance in the latest title from Jennifer Robson: . 馃憫
January 21, 2023
Every now and then I see this book appear on my feed so after a while I decided to give it a go and shelved it. It's high time I read it!
In this non-fictional read, what started first as a search for old and out-of-print books during the postwar, it later become a long distance friendship between Helene and Frank. Throughout the exchange of letters, they built a 20 year-old long distance relationship, which reminds us human relationships can -at times- occur in odd and yet incredible ways.
This also shows us that when solid, a true friendship can endure good and bad times and last for a lifetime.
I particularly feel a little nostalgia for a time in which physical letters were quite a thing. I guess the Internet, technology and all can also survive the passing of time, but not as glamorously as such exchange once was.
And once again, the magic of book-reading made my imagination visualize everything from above.
Should you give it a go? Please do!
In this non-fictional read, what started first as a search for old and out-of-print books during the postwar, it later become a long distance friendship between Helene and Frank. Throughout the exchange of letters, they built a 20 year-old long distance relationship, which reminds us human relationships can -at times- occur in odd and yet incredible ways.
This also shows us that when solid, a true friendship can endure good and bad times and last for a lifetime.
I particularly feel a little nostalgia for a time in which physical letters were quite a thing. I guess the Internet, technology and all can also survive the passing of time, but not as glamorously as such exchange once was.
And once again, the magic of book-reading made my imagination visualize everything from above.
Should you give it a go? Please do!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,790 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.