84 Charring Cross Road, London (A bookstore)

[Fran]

Well done DATo .... just spent a lovely hour 'browsing' the site, how I wish the shop was still there.
What an absolutely typical response that was from Helena. And Frank read 'thrillers' ... how absolutely extraordinary, now what I wonder would Helena have said to that!
Thank you so much for the link I now feel as if I've almost been among those dusty shelves.

[DATo]

Well done DATo .... just spent a lovely hour 'browsing' the site, how I wish the shop was still there.
What an absolutely typical response that was from Helena. And Frank read 'thrillers' ... how absolutely extraordinary, now what I wonder would Helena have said to that!
Thank you so much for the link I now feel as if I've almost been among those dusty shelves.

My pleasure Fran. Did you happen to read any of the comments on the site's guestbook? I perused the guestbook and found comments from all over the world including a surprisingly large number from China.

I think it was on another site that I learned that the bookstore was going to be torn down but a British politician forcefully argued that the building not only be saved but that a commemoration plaque be placed there. It appears he won his case. You may have seen a picture of the plaque on the website, which does now in fact exist and is attached to the former site of the store. And did you happen to note that in Pat Hynes (AKA Bill Humphries) blurb it stated that the last book sent out of the store as a sale before it closed was sent to Helene Hanff ?

This thing is staring to mushroom. I now have a professor of Physics wanting to read my copy ! *L*

[Fran]

Well done DATo .... just spent a lovely hour 'browsing' the site, how I wish the shop was still there.
What an absolutely typical response that was from Helena. And Frank read 'thrillers' ... how absolutely extraordinary, now what I wonder would Helena have said to that!
Thank you so much for the link I now feel as if I've almost been among those dusty shelves.

My pleasure Fran. Did you happen to read any of the comments on the site's guestbook? I perused the guestbook and found comments from all over the world including a surprisingly large number from China.

I think it was on another site that I learned that the bookstore was going to be torn down but a British politician forcefully argued that the building not only be saved but that a commemoration plaque be placed there. It appears he won his case. You may have seen a picture of the plaque on the website, which does now in fact exist and is attached to the former site of the store. And did you happen to note that in Pat Hynes (AKA Bill Humphries) blurb it stated that the last book sent out of the store as a sale before it closed was sent to Helene Hanff ?

This thing is staring to mushroom. I now have a professor of Physics wanting to read my copy ! *L*

Yea Michael Foot did well getting the building preserved & the plaque & yes I did read through some of the guestbook entries ... absolutely amazing the nationalities & locations & lovely to see so many studying the book in school. The last book going to Helena .... serendipity!
I think we can now say your promotion of the book has gone viral .... isn't that the expression those geeks us?

[DATo]

OK Fran, here's the latest in the 84 Charing Cross Road saga (as it applies to me). At lunch time today I am going to be picking up Q's Legacy which happens to be in our library. I suppose I am lifting the bar a notch but from all accounts received this book is an outstanding personal account of Hanff's dealing with the publishing of '84' and 'Duchess' as well as events involving the production of the movie and stage plays of '84'. I understand that she also tells of her visit to Arthur Quiller-Couch's (Q's) study. I will give you a report soon as I intend to begin reading this tonight and in all probability will have it done sometime this weekend. I'm told that it is "unputdownable" so maybe you will be getting your report tomorrow morning *L*

[Fran]

OK Fran, here's the latest in the 84 Charing Cross Road saga (as it applies to me). At lunch time today I am going to be picking up Q's Legacy which happens to be in our library. I suppose I am lifting the bar a notch but from all accounts received this book is an outstanding personal account of Hanff's dealing with the publishing of '84' and 'Duchess' as well as events involving the production of the movie and stage plays of '84'. I understand that she also tells of her visit to Arthur Quiller-Couch's (Q's) study. I will give you a report soon as I intend to begin reading this tonight and in all probability will have it done sometime this weekend. I'm told that it is "unputdownable" so maybe you will be getting your report tomorrow morning *L*

Just had a quick browse of the review piece Amazon provide & I think it will be a treat .... I'll await your review though before I order. I think we may be getting obsessed ... we might have to form a support group!

[DATo]

Fran (and anyone else still interested in this epic tome of a thread),

Just finished Q's Legacy and it is 177 pages of "Classic Hanff". This book continues, more or less, where Duchess left off and is written in much the same vein as Duchess, with the added bonus of early chapters devoted to Helene's childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. The second part of the book deals with a return trip to England for the production and presentation of '84' as a BBC television play and her experiences involving same as only Helene Hanff can describe them. A return to the U.S.A. and eye surgery - only Helene Hanff can turn the traumatic anxiety relating to the dangers of eye surgery, which she was experiencing, into a rollicking, comic tour de force.

The center of the book is a bit slow. Lots of invitations, dinners, interviews fans calling ect. but THEN ...

Another return to England and ...

1) A drive in the car with Eda and Leo Marks (son of Marks & Co.) which had me in stitches (wife = back seat driver, husband = stereotypical British man of imperturbable demeanor. Very similar to exchanges between Mr. & Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.). Hilarious !!!

2) A visit with a 15 year old fan from Harrow and his mother.

3) Visiting Q's home and sitting in his office chair

4) Stage production of '84' in the works in U.K. (this is later and in addition to the previous TV show) - The producers demand pictures of her apartment and ... THE ORIGINAL BOOKS which were sent to her by Marks & Co. to be used in the production, leading to an extraordinarily surprising and beautiful conclusion with regard to the books.

5) The triumphant stage production of '84' ... Helene escorted on stage for an "author curtain call" cannot see into the audience because of the brightness of the stage lights and the condition of her eyes. Later, back in the U.S.A. she receives photographs of her presentation on stage and from the photos determines that she had received a thunderous standing ovation and is reduced to tears on her living room carpet.

6) A Broadway production of '84' which fails dismally to Helene's great satisfaction and relief.

7) Final thoughts and lessons learned by Helene Hanff.

Recomendation : I admit that there are parts which are a bit slow but there is also much that soars with poignancy and humor. Personally, I'd buy it .

[Fran]

@DATo
You give me more than enough encouragement .... off to Amazon to place order now & with luck I might have it to read over Easter. Much appreciated

[DATo]

@DATo
You give me more than enough encouragement .... off to Amazon to place order now & with luck I might have it to read over Easter. Much appreciated

Please let me know what you think of it.

[primrose777]

At risk of being accused of not paying attention..... Who is Q, I have lost the plot you might say.

[DATo]

At risk of being accused of not paying attention..... Who is Q, I have lost the plot you might say.

No, it's a fair question. Arthur Quiller-Couch was a professor of literature at Cambridge University in England who the students nicknamed "Q". Helene "stumbled" over a book of his lectures in the public library when she was 17 and thus began the journey which would eventually lead to the writing of her own books. All of the books she was buying from Marks & Co. were books "Q" talked about in his lectures. It is all explained better in the letters of her first book, 84 Charing Cross Road.

And primrose, if you happen to see Fran tell her I mucked up #5 in my post above. It was not photographs but reviews, and she was not at home but still in London. In the last three weeks I have seen the movie several times and re-read the books 84, Duchess and now Q's Legacy and all of the details are beginning to swim together in what one may call a "Helene Hanff stew". A poor excuse I admit, but the only one I have. Many pardons (as Helene would say) frannie.


And just to tease Fran .... look up 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) - Anthony Hopkins recites Yeats (with lyrics) on You Tube. Here, you can use my hankie Fran *LOL*

And primrose, in my continuing effort to "whet your interest" look up the following on You Tube - 84 Charing Cross Road, Film (1987) ... it is such a BEAUTIFUL story !!!! The video contains some selections from the Bancroft/Hopkins movie. I say again .... you must read this book.

[primrose777]

Yes I must read this book.... and so I shall. I looked up the movie clips and now will have to find the movie also. Looks wonderful, Anthony Hopkins is a favourite of mine. I noticed Judi Dench is also in this movie, she is wonderful also.
Alas I was unable to find the link for Anthony Hopkins poetry reading, will have to take your word for that one

[Fran]

@DATo
look up 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) - Anthony Hopkins recites Yeats (with lyrics) on You Tube. Here, you can use my hankie Fran *LOL*

...... I had forgotten that bit of the movie ..... hankie no use big box of Kleenex needed!

Still awaiting the arrival of Q .... hope he make it before the weekend

[Garnie]

I am so happy to have congenial admirers of 84 Charing Cross Road to join me in appreciation of this witty, kind, tender, intellectual movie and book. In addition to the previous comments I would only add that Judi Dench (a youngster then) plays Frank's wife. I own this movie so that I can watch it again and again. This is one of my all time favorites.

[DATo]

I am so happy to have congenial admirers of 84 Charing Cross Road to join me in appreciation of this witty, kind, tender, intellectual movie and book. In addition to the previous comments I would only add that Judi Dench (a youngster then) plays Frank's wife. I own this movie so that I can watch it again and again. This is one of my all time favorites.

Hi Garnie !!! WELCOME !!!

You're right, it is a great book and movie. It is amazing how strongly people are attracted to this story. I think I'd classify it as one of those stories where fact is stranger than fiction. In Helene Hanff's case not only did she get it published (which was probably against all odds) but it struck a chord with people all over the world. I believe there are stories like this in every person's life but we never hear of them. Just consider for a moment that there is absolutely no extraneous dialogue in the book. It is comprised of only the dialogue contained in the letters.

I'm so glad you've joined our discussion! [:-)

[Fran]

@DATo
Q has arrived ... will report anon

@DATo
Welcome to 84 ... be sure to follow up the webside link DATo supplied