Chapter 22 This world, at least you

Chen Huipeng International Herald Tribune article Poor screenwriter Helene living in New York?Hanff loves English literature, but American books are either shoddy or expensive. She tried to contact the Max and Cohen bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Road, London, on October 5, 1949, according to the advertisement.By November 3rd, she had received her first order of books.The cheap rare books provided by the bookstore made Hanfu very happy, and the bookstore manager Frank?Del's meticulous patience probably also won Hanfu's favor (although she didn't know who this FPD was at first).And so, the communication started.After the war, there was a shortage of supplies in Britain, and the commodity rationing system was implemented. "Each person has only one egg per month."When Hanfu heard about it, she was "frightened". From December of that year, she sent eggs, meat, ham and other food in short supply to colleagues in the bookstore one after another until 1953.Hanfu's kindness and generosity moved everyone. Since then, the simple and boring business contacts have turned into acquaintance and care among friends.

For many years, Hanfu's long-cherished wish has been to visit London. She wants to see everything related to English literature. Later, she even went to what she called "my bookstore", and the bookstore colleagues have been looking forward to her visit.Del said: "When you decide to visit the UK, there will be a room at 37 Oakland Lane for you to stay indefinitely." Failed to visit London, at which point their correspondence had been maintained for 20 years. After Del's death, the heartbroken Hanff compiled and published her correspondence with Del and others related to 84 Charing Cross Road over the past 20 years, and this is it.

Open the book, the most outstanding thing is Hanfu's letter.Hanff's writing style is lighthearted, humorous, and free-spirited. For the books she likes, she is ecstatic and grateful to Del; for the books she doesn't like, she scolds the whole body. Of course, she also scolds Del severely.Although Han Fu has only bought 50 books in the past 20 years, her words about books are all satisfying, like iced chrysanthemum tea in the hot summer, refreshing and refreshing.And through the text, it is her heroism and deep love for books. Del's letter was reserved and steady.From the letter, we can see the image of a hard-working bookstore manager.It is precisely because Del took pains to understand his own work and did his best to satisfy Hanfu's picky requirements for the book that Hanfe could only mention the title of the book and entrust the responsibility of selecting the edition to Del.

The correspondence between Hanff and other people seems to be a narration, and another role of Del is quietly revealed here-he is Hanff's listener.Although Del never took the initiative to ask questions, and often only responded in a few words to Hanfu's ramblings, after Del's death, Mrs. Del wrote to Hanfu, "...I used to be very jealous of you, because Frank likes your letters so much, and your letters have the same sense of humor as his." In fact, Hanff didn't feel this kind of appreciation, otherwise, she wouldn't have said so in a letter in 1961 "Oh, now you should understand, Frankie, you are the only one who understands me in this world".Then contact Del. The letter was written on February 14, 1952 instead of Miss Hanff at the request of Hanve, and Deldy Once Hanfu was invited to visit London.The so-called "there must be a reason for the groundless rumors", it is no wonder that when this story was put on the screen in 1986, it would have the meaning of love.In fact, this kind of speculation may not come true, and even if there is, it is an out-and-out platonic love. However, it is probably because of this kind of speculation that people are deeply moved by the fate of twenty years. sigh.

Now let’s talk about some technical issues with the translated version at hand—although I also feel that the scenery is broken, but I can’t help it, occupational disease! Yilin can launch such a delicate and elegant binding this time, it really needs to be taken a look with admiration.In addition to including book reviews by Katie, Chen Jianming, Tang Nuo, and Zhang Lixian, the book also has more than 80 detailed annotations—some with illustrations—also a major feature.What is even more surprising is the exlibris designed by Yang Chunhua on the title page.On the screen, a woman in a long skirt is reading a book under the flowers, and at the bottom of the screen is the last sentence of Hanfu's letter to a friend in 1969: "If you happen to pass by 84 Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me! I owe it's so much."

This translation is somewhat unsatisfactory.Several of the books in the bookstore showed signs of accidental folding around the mouth, and there were some creases and faint ink smudges on the inside pages, apparently from the printing process.If the above are all problems of printing and typesetting, then the occasional writing style with typical Chinese connotations in the book is obviously a problem of translation-maybe those who agree with it think it is a feature, but I can't stand "Amitabha" "The football season is not over yet, comrades still need to work hard"!No way, maybe we should really read the original English version as Chen Jianming said.But where can I find a Frank?Del, say to him "Go, get me a copy of '84, Charing Cross Road"?