Plot

Based on the true story of a transatlantic business correspondence about used books, which later developed into a close, long-distance friendship that evolved over the course of two decades.

When a humorous script-reader in her New York City apartment sees an ad in the Saturday Review of Literature for a bookstore in London that does mail order, she begins a very special correspondence and friendship with Frank P. Doel (Sir Anthony Hopkins), the bookseller who works at Marks & Co., 84 Charing Cross Road.—Kathy Li

1949 marks the beginning of the nineteen year (1949 to 1968) unconventional and long distance love affair between Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) and Frank P. Doel (Sir Anthony Hopkins). Straightforward Helene is an aspiring New York City-based writer who works as a script editor. She is a voracious reader, especially of non-fiction. Frank is the efficient and knowledgeable head clerk at Marks & Co., a second-hand bookstore located at 84 Charing Cross Road in London. Unable to find the out-of-print books she wants at New York City bookstores without having to pay an arm and a leg, she writes to Marks & Co. hoping they can fill her order for a reasonable price. Frank and the bookstore staff are able to provide Helene most of what she wants at an acceptable price, including shipping. As such, she provides them with standing orders for more and more books. But as time goes on, their correspondence not only deals with Helene's orders, but what is happening in their lives and in the world around them, including Frank's loving marriage to his wife, Nora (Dame Judi Dench), and their two children. Helene dreams one day of being able to travel to London to meet Frank and the other Marks & Co. staff; the people who have been able to fulfill a great need in her life.—Huggo