84 Charing Cross Road
by Helene Hanff, (£8.99, PB, Little Brown)
The story: There’s a good reason this simple ‘love’ story, first published in 1970, has never been out of print. It’s an extraordinary true story told through letters which charts the remarkable friendship that developed between vivacious freelance writer, Helene Hanff, in New York, and Frank Doel of Marks & Co antiquarian books in London.
Based on their love of books, they exchange humorous and often intimate correspondence spanning Britain’s post-war austerity to the 60s – and yet, sadly, they never got to meet.
Our verdict: Not only is this gorgeous read a love letter to books, it’s a sentimental, heart-warming story of an unconventional friendship – and quite aptly, a publishing sensation.…
