The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

It wasn't until I read The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street that I realised that Hanff's earlier book 84 Charing Cross Road was a memoir rather than fiction.

This charming little book chronicles the author's first visit to London to do some book promotion work and to see the sights that mattered to her.

I've seen that some reviewers think she is a tad chirpy – but I found her resolute in mentioning the things that didn't go well as well as those that did.

Her style of writing is very particular to her personality.  Whether you are English or American I think you will enjoy this.  The book was published in 1973 so feels a bit vintage.