The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is Helen Hanff's witty travelogue of her trip to London. The successful publication of 84, Charing Cross Road leads to a book tour invitation, and Helene finally gets to cross the pond and meet those she has been corresponding with for over twenty years.

It's 1971, and Marks & Co. is no longer open. She does manage to visit it, along with many other sites she has only read about for years. Invitations from friends appear daily and she is treated like royalty (while travelling on only the pocket change in her purse). You really need to have read her book 84, Charing Cross Road to know who she is, why she is there, and get the full enjoyment out of her humorous anecdotes, but for fans of hers, this is a wonderful journey to accompany her on. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is equally at home with the upper crust as the shopgirl. Her wit and sense of adventure can't be beat, it's a real treat.

1971/ Tradeback / 144 pages