In January 1969, American writer Helene Hanff Hailian lives in New York. She loves English literature, but 20 years ago, when she was young, her income was limited and she could not buy books in large quantities. She had to read several classic works in her hand repeatedly to satisfy her curiosity. By chance, she came across an ad in a magazine for a second-hand bookstore in England with books she hadn't been able to find anywhere in New York. So she managed to get in touch with Frank, the owner of the bookstore, and kept a correspondence. Slowly, the buyer-seller relationship turned into a personal exchange, in which they expressed literary views in letters, commented on literary works, and later exchanged their living conditions. Frank's letter is restrained, while Heleni's letter is straightforward and humorous. Heleni is determined to meet Frank in London, but the financial constraints make it difficult for her to do so. She finally fulfilled her promise, but it was too late: the bookstore closed immediately after Frank's death and was facing an auction.
84 Charing Cross Road movie plot
2022-04-08 08:01
Extended Reading
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Helene Hanff: I love inscriptions on flyleafs and notes in margins. I like the comradely sense of turning pages someone else turned and reading passages someone long-gone has called my attention to.
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George Martin: How's the tea coming along?
Cecily Farr: It's almost ready
George Martin: What would we do without our cups of tea. Life would be insupportable, would it not?