84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

84, Charing Cross Road

by Helene Hanff

This book is the very simple story of the love affair between Miss Helene Hanff of New York and Messrs Marks and Co, sellers of rare and secondhand books, at 84 Charing Cross Road, London'. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Told in a series of letters in 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD and then in diary form in the second part THE DUCHESS OF BLOOMSBURY STREET, this true story has touched the hearts of thousands.

Reviewed by bumblingbookworm on

5 of 5 stars

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This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm

What a quaint and lovely read this was!  This is an epistolary novel, comprised entirely of letters, and it charts the beginnings of a beautiful friendship and connection between Frank and Helene.  It takes place over a 20 year span, beginning in 1949, and I flew through it in about 20 minutes.  I laughed, I cried, I've never had a book evoke so many emotions in so few pages!  

These letters weren't written with the intention of one day being published, but I'm so glad they were.  The personality of each letter writer shone through in their writing - Helene's frankness and humour, Frank's more reserved nature, and a few others I won't spoil.  I wish it wasn't so short - there are big gaps between some of the letters and I suspect some of them were lost over the years, but I just wanted more.  Utterly delightful and charming, I highly recommend it!

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  • 11 January, 2020: Reviewed