84 Charing Cross Road, which is one of my favorite movies...staring Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft, I have found to be based on a book.  After searching around the Bookswap lists, I ran across this title listed under the Biographies genre and written by Helene Hampff no less! So my curiosity is definitely piqued! 

1.  Is Helene Hampff actually a real person?

2.  Did this tale of an international 'penpaship' actually happen to Ms. Hampff?

I love this movie too. I first saw it on the Encore True Channel years ago so I imagine that it must be true. How cool, huh?

OMG - YES.   Her story practically has a cult following.  Do a goggle on Helen Hanff and go to this link:

http://www.84charingcrossroad.co.uk/

The original bookstore recently closed.

This story is absolutely true and one of my very favorite books/movies ever!  Helene Hanff was an amazing woman and a wonderful writer.  You have to put your hands on a copy of 84 Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, the sequel to 84. Sadly Helene Hanff died in 1997; I would very much liked to have met her.

Read both the books and loved them!  Short but sweet.  I've never seen the movie though.

Definitely one of my all-time favorites. I have, I think, all her books, and they're all charming, but I like 84 the best. I haven't read it in some time now, so I thank you for reminding me of it. The perfect book to dream away a very hot summer afternoon.

Les

I loved the Charing Cross book and the sequel, but I didn't know about the video.  I will search it out.  I also enjoyed a another little book by Hanff about getting to know New York City.

Eileen