84, Charing Cross Road Read Free Page B

and pudding will be ready at the same time.
    I don’t know quite how to describe it to someone who has never seen it, but a good Yorkshire Pudding will puff up very high and brown and crisp and when you cut into it you will find that it is hollow inside.
    The RAF is still keeping Doug in Norfolk and we are firmly hoarding your Christmas tins until he comes home, but my dear, what a celebration we shall have with them when he does! I do think you oughtn’t to spend your money like that!
    Must fly and post this if you’re to have it for Brian’s birthday dinner, do let me know if it’s a success.
    Love,

Cecily

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14 East 95th St.

February 25, 1951

    Dear Cecily—
    Yorkshire Pudding out of this world, we have nothing like it, I had to describe it to somebody as a high, curved, smooth, empty waffle.
    Please don’t worry about what the food parcels cost, I don’t know whether Overseas Asso. is non-profit or duty-free or what, but they are monstrous cheap, that whole Christmas parcel cost less than my turkey. They do have a few rich parcels with things like standing rib-roasts and legs of lamb, but even those are so cheap compared with what they cost in the butcher shops that it kills me not to be able to send them. I have such a time with the catalogue, I spread it out on the rug and debate the relative merits of Parcel 105 (includes-one-dozen-eggs-and-a-tin-of-sweet-biscuits) and Parcel 217B (two-dozen-eggs-and-NO-sweet-biscuits), I hate the one-dozen egg parcels, what is two eggs for anybody to take home? But Brian says the powdered ones taste like glue. So it’s a problem.
    A producer who likes my plays (but not enough to produce them) just phoned. He’s producing a TV series, do I want to write for television? “Two bills,” he said carelessly, which it turned out means $200. And me a $40-a-week script-reader! I go down to see him tomorrow, keep your fingers crossed.
    Best—

helene

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Marks & Co., Booksellers
84, Charing Cross Road
London, W.C.2
    4th April, 1951
    Helene dear—
    Your marvelous Easter parcels arrived safely and everyone is quite upset because Frank left the city on business for the firm the next morning and so hasn’t written to thank you, and of course no one else quite dares to write to Frank’s Miss Hanff.
    My dear, the meat! I really don’t think you should spend your money like that. It must have cost a packet! Bless you for your kind heart.
    Here comes Ben Marks with work so must close.
    Love,

Cecily

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Earl’s Terrace
Kensington High St.
London, W.8

5th April, 1951

    Dear Miss Hanff,
    This is just to let you know that your Easter parcels to Marks & Co. arrived safely a few days ago but have not been acknowledged as Frank Doel is away from the office on business for the firm.
    We were all quite dazzled to see the meat. And the eggs and tins were so very welcome. I did feel I must write and tell you how exceedingly grateful we all are for your kindness and generosity.
    We all hope that you will be able to come to England one of these days. We should do our best to make your trip a happy one.
    Sincerely,

Megan Wells

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Tunbridge Road
Southend-on-Sea
Essex

5th April, 1951

    Dear Miss Hanff:
    For nearly two years I have been working as a cataloguer at Marks & Co. and would like to thank you very much for my share-out in the parcels which you’ve been sending.
    I live with my great-aunt who is 75, and I think that if you had seen the look of delight on her face when I brought home the meat and the tin of tongue, you would have realized just how grateful we are. It’s certainly good to know that someone so many miles away can be so kind and generous to people they haven’t even seen, and I think that everyone in the firm feels the same.
    If at any time you know of anything that you would like sent over from London, I will be most happy to see to it for you.
    Sincerely,

Bill Humphries

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Marks & Co., Booksellers
84, Charing Cross Road
London, W.C.2
    9th April,