In 1970 Helene Hanff wrote a short novel, 84, Charing Cross Road about her correspondence from New York with a bookseller in London. The correspondence lasted over twenty years and now, finally, Helene has a chance to visit London. This is her diary from that trip. I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy 84, Charing Cross Road when I read it five years ago, and that I definitely don't share most of Ms. Hanff's enthusiasms for London, but this was a fun little book to read, all the same. ( )

Classic Hanff. Autobiographical and awesome! ( )

This is a sequel of sorts to 84 Charing Cross Road. Instead of two decades of correspondence between a London bookseller and Helene Hanff, she is finally in London herself. It comes to her attention that she should keep some sort of travel journal, and that is the main source of Duchess. At last Helene meets some of the people she has known through letters, as well as Bibliophiles, old friends, eccentrics, and the son of Marks (from Marks & Co.) She maintains a frank humor thoughout the book, and manages to complain without seeming like a whiner. This is definitely worth a reading or two - it's not very long but full of love for London and books. ( )

Wonderful, great read for any Anglo-file. ( )

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