Families mature, some of the workers pass away or move on to new jobs, and Helene becomes busy with work.īy the end of the book, the friendship is still there, but the communication and correspondence has faded. As the years go on, the friendships formed in the early years decline.

Over time, a bond forms and both sides continue to write. Helene sends gifts (food, clothing) for the holidays and continues to write letters to and purchase books from the store. The other workers of the dealer love her writing and send her letters saying how much they wish they could meet her. Helene always gives Frank a hard time and is witty and silly with her writing. Over the span of 20 years, Helene and the book dealer’s main dealer, Frank Doel, write to each other with information on which books are in stock, which books Helene wants, and what Frank is doing to get those books. Their relationship is captured throughout the book as they share information about their families, their activities, and their hopes and dreams. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, Helen and the workers share a friendship based on their common love for books. Book Summary of 84, Charing Cross RoadĨ4, Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters between Helene Hanff, a freelance writer living in New York City, and the workers and family members of a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. The rest of this post includes a summary of 84, Charing Cross Road, takeaways from 84, Charing Cross Road, and a reading recommendation for you. In 84, Charing Cross Road, we learn about the struggles of long distance relationships, the impact of our interactions, and why good-bye can be temporary. With handwritten letters and storytelling, relationship building and communication was much different in the past!

In the 21st century, we live in a digital world, where communication is instant and less personal than in previous centuries. The book sheds light on the relationships formed overseas, and the communication that took place during the 1950s and 1960s. 84, Charing Cross Road is a collection of letters Helene Hanff, an aspiring playwright in the 1950s in New York, wrote to a used-book dealer in London during the time 1950 to 1970.

84 charing cross road summary