84, Charing Cross Road
An enduring friendship.
A friendship that withstood the test
of time, began with a simple request.
”Dear Sirs”, an American author wrote
to a London antiquarian bookseller
enquiring about second-hand books
that were rare and worthy of note.
The letter that reached Frank Doel,
in 1949, was post-World War II,
a period in which Britain endured
austerity and shortage of food too.
With that missive a long lasting
and friendly association was secured.
The writer was from New York City
and went by the name of Helene Hanff.
Her letters to Frank were light and witty
and his, at first, were serious and formal.
But over twenty years of corresponding
the tone became warmer and cordial.
The entire staff of the shop joined in,
exchanging birthday gifts, good wishes
and presents on the festive season.
And as the time was passing so fast
she longed to visit London and friends
and say to them “We meet, at last!”.
But the decision was made by Fate.
Hanff postponed travelling to Britain
and did not come to Charing Cross Road
until the summer of 1971
but by that time she was too late
as Frank had died in 1968.
© Luigi Pagano 2019
of time, began with a simple request.
”Dear Sirs”, an American author wrote
to a London antiquarian bookseller
enquiring about second-hand books
that were rare and worthy of note.
The letter that reached Frank Doel,
in 1949, was post-World War II,
a period in which Britain endured
austerity and shortage of food too.
With that missive a long lasting
and friendly association was secured.
The writer was from New York City
and went by the name of Helene Hanff.
Her letters to Frank were light and witty
and his, at first, were serious and formal.
But over twenty years of corresponding
the tone became warmer and cordial.
The entire staff of the shop joined in,
exchanging birthday gifts, good wishes
and presents on the festive season.
And as the time was passing so fast
she longed to visit London and friends
and say to them “We meet, at last!”.
But the decision was made by Fate.
Hanff postponed travelling to Britain
and did not come to Charing Cross Road
until the summer of 1971
but by that time she was too late
as Frank had died in 1968.
© Luigi Pagano 2019
© ionicus 2023
Views: 1097
A touching tale, Luigi. You can tell’em.
Cheers, Gerald.
Thanks for looking in and commenting, Gerald. Much appreciated. It is an old story that ‘oldies’ like me might remember but perhaps not well known by a younger generation.
Best, Luigi.
I read the book and saw the play, Trevor. but never saw the film with Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft and Judi Dench. It may have been low-key but apparently well received by the critics.
I would have liked to see how Anne Bancroft played Helene Hanff . I remember her in the role of Mrs. Robinson in “The Graduate”.
I loved London where I lived and worked for many years.
Best, Luigi
The book. in most cases, is better than any adaptations, I find.