But then Helene saw an ad from an antiquarian bookstore Marks and Co located at 84, Charing Cross Road London, England. Helene sent off a letter inquiring if they had three books she had been trying to find. The manager, Frank Doel, wrote back letting her know that he would be sending Helene two of the books she requested. The Leigh Hunt essays would be harder to find but he would do his best to locate that book as well.
And so began a twenty year correspondence (1949 - 1969) between Helene Hanff, Frank Doel and the staff at Marks and Co. Their letters are collected in the book 84 Charing Cross Road published in 1970 which has gone on to be a much loved classic. Most of the letters in the book are from Helene and here is part of a letter dated March 25, 1950 she wrote to Frank:
"I require a book of love poems with spring coming on. No Keats or Shelley, send me poets who can make love without slobbering - Wyatt or Jonson or somebody, use your own judgement. Just a nice book preferably small enough to stick in a slacks pocket and take to Central Park"
In the years after World War II Helene discovered that foods and products were still being rationed in England and so as a thank you for the books they had been sending her, Helene began to send gift packages that the Marks and Co staff really appreciated.
At the heart of 84 Charing Cross Road is Helene's friendship with Frank and the Marks and Co staff and also her love for English literature. Helene Hanff didn't care for fiction but she had a deep knowledge of English poetry and essayists and it's a pleasure to read her interesting and opinionated views about books and authors.
Frank and his staff were always hoping Helene would come to England to visit and she wanted to go but as a struggling freelance writer it was not affordable. She finally did make it to England but by that time Frank had passed away and the bookstore had closed down. But the book 84 Charing Cross Road has become a classic to treasure and reread. Also the movie starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins is wonderful. I have seen it more than once and it's available online.
I remember that I was very surprised at how hard it was for Helene to find used copies of old books, but that was part of the charm of the book. Her descriptions of the books and which editions and sometimes being disappointed with what she received.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. It was funny but I cried a lot too as I read it. I bought a copy of one of her other books in 2023 but right now I don't even know where I put it. I look forward to reading it.
She does have other books that I am curious about. I know that there are booktubers who make it a point to read 84 Charing Cross Road each January to set the tone for their reading year.
DeleteI was really impressed too by Helene's depth of knowledge regarding the old English poets, essayist etc who have long been forgotten but Helene remembers.
I meant to say that I enjoyed the film also. So nice to see Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins in those roles.
ReplyDeleteThe film was so good and Anne Bancroft did such a fine job portraying Helene Hanff. Anthony Hopkins was great too.
DeleteLike you, I was fascinated to read how hard it was to get hold of books you wanted to read back then. But then I realised how hard it was for me, in the 1960s, to get hold of science fiction books in Penzance in Cornwall, so I stopped being so surprised. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in NYC and the great thing was that even before Amazon you could usually find the book you wanted. But it could be expensive and that was Helene 's dilemma. Marks and Co in comparison reasonably priced. It's nice to own books but the quality of the paperback covers have gone downhill in my opinion. I'm a fan of the pulp covers.
DeleteI loved this book, and Helene's and Frank's friendship, and all their letters. The movie's really good, too. :D
ReplyDeleteThe movie was great too and Frank and Helene perfectly cast. I must read Helene's book about finally visiting London.
DeleteNice review! I've enjoyed the movie multiple times over the decades. It's a fun one with a lively Anne Bancroft as Helene. I wonder what Helene's other books are about and I'm also a bit bummed that Helene didn't care for fiction. Imagine if she had?! What would she have said. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan. Helene does have a few other books out including one I want to read about finally visiting London. Helene didn't read fiction but she had a wide knowledge of great British essayists, diaries and poetry going back hundreds of years. That said, Frank sent her a copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and she loved it. Ann Bancroft wonderful as Helene.
ReplyDeleteI remember the movie and feeling bad the main characters never met in person.
ReplyDeleteHi Harvee, it was sad and the staff at Marks and Co were inviting Helene to stay at their homes when she arrived so she could save money on hotels. But the plane fare and other expenses were still too much for her. She did finally get there though and wrote a book about it.
DeleteYour review brought back lots of pleasant memories for me. That is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time, and I've read it several times. Despite how many times I've read it, it never fails to move me...it just punches all the right buttons. I love the relationship that developed and am still intrigued by such a vivid look at the world of books in the immediate years following WWII. Great review.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam. It's one of those books and the movie too that makes me feel good when things are tough. I would imagine many feel that way about 84 Charing Cross Road. Helene's love for and deep knowledge of English literature is so much fun to read. Nowadays we have the kindle but after the war it must of been an adventure to go rare book hunting and a real treat when the reader got hold of a nice copy of the book they wanted.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this book (maybe 30 years ago), but I remember feeling woefully inadequate. I had never heard of, much less read, most of the books Helene and her bookseller talked about. It is a love story about reading, and for that, I did enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThere are better collections of letters out there and so I agree it's about Helene's love of books and how well read she is that grabbed me.
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