Over several years, Helene Hanff read aloud stories of her life in New York City for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. In these selected scripts from the series, composed with a British audience in mind, the author offers us a glimpse into her own everyday tales of New York City (‘the last small town in America’).
Written in her trademark whimsical and upbeat style, the author of 84, Charing Cross Road transports us to the heart of 1980s Manhattan, describing her favourite places, people and pets, and the ups and downs of life in a high-rise apartment building with gentle humour.
What started out as a six-month trial in 1978 eventually turned into a six-year project, during which time Helene Hanff captivated radio audiences with her monthly broadcasts – each one a love letter to her beloved NYC. Letter from New York is still a delight to read, 40 years after its contents were first written – a timeless and beguiling tale of everyday life in this great city, by one of the best-loved authors of the 20th-century.
Manderley Press commissioned the New York Times bestselling author and Helene Hanff’s cousin Jean Hanff Korelitz to introduce this edition of Letter from New York. The front cover was specially designed by New Yorker illustrator Bruce Eric Kaplan, a fan of Hanff and a resident of New York City too.
