84 Charing Cross Road / The Petition

by Brian Clark, Helene Hanff, James Roose-Evans

84, Charing Cross Road is a charming record of bibliophilia, cultural difference, and imaginative sympathy. For 20 years, an outspoken New York writer and a rather more restrained London bookseller carried on an increasingly touching correspondence. In her first letter to Marks & Co., Helene Hanff encloses a wish list, but warns, "The phrase 'antiquarian booksellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive." Twenty days later, on October 25, 1949, a correspondent identified only as FPD let Hanff know that works by Hazlitt and Robert Louis Stevenson would be coming under separate cover. When they arrive, Hanff is ecstatic--but unsure she'll ever conquer "bilingual arithmetic." By early December 1949, Hanff is suddenly worried that the six-pound ham she's sent off to augment British rations will arrive in a kosher office. But only when FPD turns out to have an actual name, Frank Doel, does the real fun begin.

Two years later, Hanff is outraged that Marks & Co. has dared to send an abridged Pepys diary. "i enclose two limp singles, i will make do with this thing till you find me a real Pepys. THEN i will rip up this ersatz book, page by page, AND WRAP THINGS IN IT." Nonetheless, her postscript asks whether they want fresh or powdered eggs for Christmas. Soon they're sharing news of Frank's family and Hanff's career. No doubt their letters would have continued, but in 1969, the firm's secretary informed her that Frank Doel had died. In the collection's penultimate entry, Helene Hanff urges a tourist friend, "If you happen to pass by 84, Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me. I owe it so much."

Genres: Nonfiction

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Lionel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expresses the love of books that two people share. Very well written.

[Janeb7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare story that manages to be touching without being overly sentimental. I find that I sometimes tire of books that are composed entirely of journal entries/letters but this worked well. A quick read--you could finish in an hour or two--this is a bittersweet glimpse of an unlikely correspondence.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanff’s book 84, Charing Cross Road tells the true story—almost entirely through letters written from 1949 to 1969—of the personal relationship that grew between Hanff and the staff of a London book shop, Marks & Co., which sold gently used copies of the classics of English literature.

[Kathleen Meehan Lorenzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet. Enjoyed watching friendships develop over 20 years via letters. Makes me wish for the old days of letter-writing. Will also watch the movie.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while waiting at the hairdressers and finished it at home this morning. There used to be loads of these antiquarian book shops on Charing Cross but sadly there are less and less of them thanks to amazon and ebay. It casts your mind back to the those difficult post-war times in Britain during the rationing when this unlikely bond was forged from across the pond. Fascinating.

[Marine · Rating 1 out of 5]

J'adore le genre épistolaire mais j'ai été déçu avec ce livre. Les lettres ne sont pas assez personnelles et répétitives: une dame envoie des colis et demande des livres d'occasion. J'ai été très déçue. Il est très court et se lit très rapidement.

[Zooey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Hanff rememora sus recuerdos de una forma genial.
Dos personas que, aunque nunca se vieron, se conocian perfectamente.
Una amistad a traves del paso del tiempo envidiable.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the story of 84 Charing Cross Road as always. This was a new way to experience it.
This wasn't one of my favourite adaptations mostly because I didn't enjoy the exaggerated voice acting of the actress who played Helene. However I enjoyed the experience of listening to it as a radio show with all the sound effects created in the background.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet! Short enough to read in 45 minutes (for a slow reader). Thoroughly enjoyed Helen’s letters and the beautiful relationships she built across an ocean. 10/10 would recommend



Content Warning:
Profanity: very little (quite clean)
Chili Peppers: 0!
Trigger Warnings: fatal illness

[Reetta Saine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pisteliäs, hauska ja fiilistelevä kirjeromaani amerikkalaisen kirjailijan ja englantilaisen kirjakaupan henkilökunnan yhteydenpidosta. Keskeisintä ovat tietysti kirjat - painokset, sidonta, kansimateriaali, toimitettujen laitosten sisältö, kääntäjien arviointi - mutta mukaan mahtuu myös maailmansodan jälkeistä pula-aikaa sekä pieniä henkilökohtaisia viestejä.



Elokuvaan verrattuna enemmän särmää, vähemmän romanssia ja parempaa kieltä.