84, Charing Cross Road (8 page)

He had been with the firm for over forty years and naturally it has come as a very great shock to Mr. Cohen, particularly coming so soon after the death of Mr. Marks.

Do you still wish us to try and obtain the Austens for you?

Yours faithfully,
p.p. MARKS & CO.
Joan Todd (Mrs.)
Secretary

(UNDATED. POSTMARKED JANUARY 29, 1969.
N
O ADDRESS ON LETTER.)

Dear Helene,

Thank you for your very kind letter, nothing about it at all offends me. I only wish that you had met Frank and known him personally, he was the most well-adjusted person with a marvelous sense of humour, and now I realize such a modest person, as I have had letters from all over to pay him tribute and so many people in the book trade say he was so knowledgeable and imparted his knowledge with kindness to all and sundry. If you wish it I could send them to you.

At times I don’t mind telling you I was very jealous of you, as Frank so enjoyed your letters and they or some were so like his sense of humour. Also I envied your writing ability. Frank and I were so very much opposites, he so kind and gentle and me with my Irish background always fighting for my rights. I miss him so, life was so interesting, he always explaining and trying to teach me something of books. My girls are wonderful and in this I am lucky. I suppose so many like me are all alone. Please excuse my scrawl.

With love,
Nora

I hope some day you will come and visit us, the girls would love to meet you.

April 11, 1969

Dear Katherine—

I take time out from housecleaning my bookshelves and sitting on the rug surrounded by books in every direction to scrawl you a Bon Voyage. I hope you and Brian have a ball in London. He said to me on the phone: “Would you go with us if you had the fare?” and I nearly wept.

But I don’t know, maybe it’s just as well I never got there. I dreamed about it for so many years. I used to go to English movies just to look at the streets. I remember years ago a guy I knew told me that people going to England find exactly what they go looking for. I said I’d go looking for the England of English literature, and he nodded and said: “It’s there.”

Maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t. Looking around the rug one thing’s for sure: it’s here.

The blessed man who sold me all my books died a few months ago. And Mr. Marks who owned the shop is dead. But Marks & Co. is still there. If you happen to pass by 84 Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me? I owe it so much.

Helene

Winton Avenue
London, N.11
October, 1969

Dear Helene,

This is correspondent No. 3 of the Doel family speaking! First, may I apologize for the long silence. Believe me, you were often in our thoughts, we just never seemed to get around to committing those thoughts to paper. And then today we got your second letter, and were so ashamed of ourselves that we’re writing immediately.

We’re pleased to hear about your book and very willingly give permission to publish the letters.

We are now in our lovely new home. But although we love the house, and are very happy we moved, we often think of how much my father would have enjoyed it.

It’s futile to have regrets. Although my father was never a wealthy or powerful man, he was a happy and contented one. And we’re happy that this was so.

We all lead busy lives—perhaps it’s better so. Mary works hard at the University library, and for relaxation goes on car rallies which last all night. I’m studying part time for a degree as well as teaching full time, and Mum—she never stops! So I’m afraid we’re very bad correspondents—though delighted, of course, to receive letters. Nevertheless, we will try to write when we can if you would like this, and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,
Sheila

Marks & Co. circa 1969

Frank Doel

Frank Doel & family. From left, wife Nora,
daughters Mary and Sheila, then Frank.
circa early 60’s

Helene Hanff outdoors

Helene in conversation

Helene at the typewriter

Helene circa 1990s

Helene—sample letter 30 Sept 1974; text below:

“Open House” will—with lotsa luck—be in the hands of the printers around Christmas (or Gene, my editor, and I, will both commit suicide) & will be out next September.

Meanwhile, I’m suddenly dying to read Q.L. Rouse. Think I tried him once but it was a history book.
Never
knew he was a disciple of Q! Will dig him out of the library.

Excuse haste & mess : I’m writing this at the hairdresser’s. How-doth-the-busy-bee.

Cheers—
HH

Reply to a young fan, Angela M. Garry; Oct 17 1989. Text below:

Well, my word, how lovely to hear from a baby-of-two-months who grew up to read not only “84” but all my other books, including “Underfoot” written ten years before you got here.

I shall be in awe of you when you get your Maths degree. (I flunked geometry.) Life is treating me very well, thank you—and I have to tell you that my middle name is Marjorie and I gave up the M when I was just about your age!

Thanks for the delightful letter.

Yrs
Helene Hanff