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84, Charing Cross Road cover art

84, Charing Cross Road

Written by: Helene Hanff
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat, John Franklyn-Robbins
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Publisher's Summary

When Helene Hanff makes an innocent inquiry about the possibility of purchasing hard-to-find books through Marks and Co., Booksellers, she begins a 20-year love affair with Frank Doel, the proper English bookseller who answers her letter and sends along her first order in the fall of 1949.

They are two very unlikely correspondents: she a cranky Jewish New Yorker who writes TV scripts and lives in a messy apartment on East 95th Street; he a determinedly courteous middle-class Englishman who sends her beautifully bound and often obscure antiquarian books from the shop he manages on Charing Cross Road in London.

The letters, written between 1949 and 1969, capture the period and pay tribute to the special kind of reader who treasures a well-worn classic.

©1970 Helen Hanff (P)1993 Recorded Books, LLC

What listeners say about 84, Charing Cross Road

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    5 out of 5 stars

A book of love amongst lovers of books

This story brings a nostalgic recollection of the past for people who know how life was like in the 1940’s and 1950’s. In the materially rich world we currently live in, it may no longer be possible to experience that level of thoughtful kindness, tender melancholy, joyful long distance friendships, and the longing for a good book ... all the spiritually enriching things that helped the good people in those days to endure the hardships of postwar shortages of everything, including daily sustenance (Safe to say most young people today have never experienced rations, just imagine how they’d whine and complain.) Life was still beautiful, people lived more nobly and kindly towards each other. And books had meant even more to book lovers. This is a classic story. Powerfully emotional and extremely well told. You will feel a whole lot richer in your heart after hearing it.

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4 people found this helpful

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ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!

I have watched this movie several times and now I have the audiobook to listen to again and again. The narration is SUPERB and the story is wonderful -- the only downside is it is too short... I wanted to it to go on and on.

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1 person found this helpful

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Loved it!

The story was so moving. A must listen for anyone who loves and enjoys books.

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1 person found this helpful

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Love this stoty

Great story of the greatness of letter writing in this day and age .great personalities and their connections

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1 person found this helpful

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Lovely uplifting read.

Simply enchanting and a reminder to seize each moment in life. As well it shows the power of generosity.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Charming and a little sassy all at once.

I really enjoyed this story of friendships across the ocean. The characters are so likeable and you grow to want to know how they are doing. Very relaxing read!

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Not what I expected but pleasantly surprised

I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. A collection of letters generally doesn't excite me but these letters let you fall in love with the characters as well as any novel would. A charming real life relationship but not true love affair.

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  • Kat
  • 2021-04-26

Charming Classic

I read this decades ago and enjoyed it enough to listen to it again in this recorded version. I was surprised to find it even more enjoyable. I think having the different voices helped bring it to life and the readers were all perfect. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it.

What a delightful listen. Did not think I would enjoy a book of correspondence so much, so glad I purchased. So well performed, such a nice story. Have to give it 5 stars, couldn't find much fault, and can't critique personal letters!

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Wonderful story

I know you will love this book i have listened to it twice. I felt like I was part of the story.

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