"All mankind is like a book. When a man dies, not start a chapter of the book, but translated into a better language. And every chapter must be translated that way. God employs several translators: some pieces are translated by the passing years, some by sickness, some by war, others for justice. But the hand of God will bind our scattered leaves for this great library where the books will be open for one another. "John Donne
"His announcement published in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you are specialized in print books. Antiquarian Booksellers expression scares me a little. For an older associate expensive. (...) I have attached a list of my most pressing needs. " So begins October 5, 1949 the first letter sent by Helene Hanff to Marks & Co. bookshop at number 84, Charing Cross Road, London This letter will be answered the same month Frankd Doel, one of the employees of the store and strikes up a friendship with Helene over 20 years, only interrupted by the death of Frank.
The book 84, Charing Cross Road is a collection some of the letters written in those 20 years not only between Helene and Frank, but also between Helene and other dependents of the store and Frank's wife, Nora, his eldest daughter and the neighbor of them.
The first books submitted by Mark & \u200b\u200bCo, three trials of Hazlitt in the Nonesuch edition of Stevenson's press and in Virginibus Puerisque. The amount of books amounted to 5.30 dollars. As we ignore the shipping cost.
Already in the early letters, Helene, goes in search of Bibles and New Testaments. Of deep Catholic convictions, his favorite poet is John Donne.
"And you do not know what a dramatic incident? Well ... TO JOHN DONNE kidnap the daughter of his employer, taken from Walton's Lives! No viewer has the best idea of \u200b\u200bwho was John Donne, but thanks to Hemingway, everyone sounds that "nobody is an island" and all I had to do was include that in the script ... and sell it. Page 79. Letter of May 3, 1953.
What is a commercial custom becomes a beautiful story about life. We, the readers, we become observers of their lives, we know that in London, by post-war rationing, suffer shortcomings, shortcomings that Helene sending food supplies for Christmas, Easter, meat, egg powder used to make sweets, canned language ... to medium for women. Grateful for the help of Helene, correspond by sending a hand-embroidered tablecloth with old drawings that Frank's neighbor, after insisting he has just selling.
Helene never traveled to London. The economic difficulties prevented him: his work was not published, he began working doing scripts for television, editor changed, changed floor, incidentals avatars dentist ... of life ...
Bookseller Secretary Mark & \u200b\u200bCo advised Helene Frank's death. Why did not Nora, Frank's wife? Helene wrote to Nora to receive the letter advising of the death. "There is nothing in it so they can feel offended." What Helene put in the letter apologizing to Nora for being able to feel offended? This letter or has not been included in the book, or was lost.
84, Charing Cross Road was a bestseller that Helene allowed to live until the end of his days. She was taken to the theater and film, with great success. Success continues to this day as editions of the book succeed and end all readers captivated through its pages.
84, Charing Cross Road, is simply life itself and its mysteries, its magic, its achievements, failures, benefits, ... , A song of hope ...
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