Friday 12 March 2010

84 Charing Cross Road (Hanff) 487

I read 84 Charing Cross Road as a teenager, and have revisited it recently by watching the wonderful film adaption starring Antony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft and Judi Dench. This is the perfect bibliophile's book - it is Helene's story of her correspondence with a British bookseller as she tries to procure obscure literary books that she is interested in that are unavailable in New York where she lives.

My Mum is a big fan of Helene Hanff, and I read a lot of her books as a child. I am currently trying to track down the sequel to this novel, The duchess of Bloomsbury street, which tells the tale of Helene visiting London for the first time. Such a shame that her other books have not been published by Virago.

It was published by Virago as one of their 30th anniversary hardbacks. It may well have been published in a paperback edition, but I can't track down a picture. Anyone know?

3.5*

12 comments:

  1. It has been published as a paperback; the cover has a photograph of the shop on front and a sepia tone.

    I have the hardback copy above and that has The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street in it ... have you not read it? I thought you had and text me about it last week (am I losing my mind?)

    I think 84 Charing Cross is wonderfully charming and heartwarming; I first read my 30th anniversary edition when I first moved to London in '08.

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  2. This is one of the few instances in which I am equally pleased and satisfied with a film as I am with the book that inspired it; I think they're both wonderful in this case.

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  3. I absolutely love this book...really need to see the film.

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  4. Loved the book and saw the film shortly afterwards but I was disappointed by it. I thought the film made it seem like there was an unrequited romantic love between the two main characters because of Hopkins long wistful looks whenever he read a letter from Helene. I did not get that impression at all from the book. It was purely a friendship that had grown from the letters and the love of books. Of course it was sad that they never had a chance to meet but that's also probably what made their story beautiful.

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  5. Isn't that cover design the same endpapers for Persephone's edition of Saplings?

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  6. I love Helen Hanff's books and would love to revisit them someday. 84 Charing Cross Road is my favorite!

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  7. I have the same copy of the book, but am still to read it.

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  8. The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is in the back of 84 Charing Cross Road (the anniversary virago hardback edition). I was surprised to find it there myself when I read it!

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  9. I have this edition, too and it's a great read. Many years ago I read other autobiographical books by Hanff about her life in America and her friends living in the same apartment block. Can't even remember what they were called but I enjoyed them very much. All seem to be out of print, now.

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  10. Claire - I do now have the first edition of The duchess, but definitely want the hardback too for my collection.

    BIP - I found the film quite satisfying too. Good old Judi Dench and Antony Hopkins - you cant go wrong.

    JoAnn - I think you'd enjoy the film.

    Mrs B - I'm sorry you didn't like the film. Think it worked for me as so long since I'd read the book.

    Danielle - I want to read more of Hanff - I read Apple of my eye but none of the others.

    Another cookie - definitely worth coming onto at some day.

    HJE - I really want the hardback copy...

    Vintage - yes, she wrote a number of autobiographical books, must get my hands on some more.

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  11. She wrote a really wonderful book called Q's Legacy, about her journey educating herself using Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch's books as a kind of coach. It's marvelous. I don't know if it's in print in the UK, but it's easily available here.

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  12. Kate - that sounds intriguing!

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