84, Charing Cross Road

Helene Hanff

In 1949 Helene Hanff wanted to get some books from England because the American editions were poor quality comparatively. So she contacted Marks & Co. Booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road in London. They advertised selling good quality used books. Helene had some specific requests of books she wanted. "FPD" responded, sending what they had and promising to watch for the others.

From that quiet beginning a wonderful long distance friendship began. 84, Charing Cross Road has a selection of letters between Helene and different employees, then family members from Marks & Co. Booksellers, especially Frank Doel. Rationing was in effect in England. So she took advantage of her American contacts and supplies. At Christmas she sent boxes of supplies like eggs and meat to them. The relationship grew from customer/supplier to friends.

This charming book chronicles the next 20 years as Helen makes her opinions known about her books. She wants good quality leather binding memoir and letter type books. She doesn't want fiction, although she ends up reading Pride and Prejudice and decides that occasionally fiction is worth reading. She keeps wanting to travel to London to meet these people but things keep happening in her life. She was a screen writer for television in the 1950's and eventually went on to write books as well.

My sister-in-law recommended this book to me. I have to chuckle because my sister-in-law works for Barnes and Noble. In her initial correspondence Helene says "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 schoolboy copies." I hope Barnes & Noble's quality has improved since 1949.

84, Charing Cross Road is a charming, quick, easy read. It gets frustrating sometimes because of the time gaps between letters - I want to know what happened in between! This book has been made into a stage play and a movie. Another bibliophile recommends it, so I probably should find the movie. Pick this up and enjoy yourself for a couple hours.

This book is out of print. Thank goodness for public libraries - you can probably borrow it there like I did. You could also check out the many used book vendors.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows