This is the story of how Helene Hanff came to write 84, Charing Cross Road, and lengthy road to success. She recalls her discovery of Sir Arthur "Q" Quiller-Couch at her local library when searching for books on writing, and details how she would go on to study on her own time for decades. This study and a dream of England led her to seek out the legendary Marks and Co in London for the books that Q mentioned in his lectures. Through this volume Hanff acknowledges her distant mentor Q.