Frank Doel
Encyclopedia
Frank Percy Doel was an antiquarian bookseller for Marks & Co
in London, England, who achieved posthumous fame as the recipient of a series of humorous letters from the American
author Helene Hanff
; to which he scrupulously, and at first very formally, replied. The shop where he worked was at 84 Charing Cross Road
, the title of a bestselling novel written by Hanff, which became a cult classic, a stage play, and a film, in which Doel was played by Anthony Hopkins
and Hanff by Anne Bancroft
.
, Cheshire
, and moved from there to Harringay
, London
, when he was 8 years old.
From 1919 to 1924, Doel was educated at Hornsey County Grammar School, a co-educational school also attended by his elder brother.
On leaving school, Frank started his first, and only, job with Marks & Co
, an antiquarian bookshop, located at 84 Charing Cross Road
, London.
Always known as "young Frank", he learnt the trade from his employers Ben Marks and Mark Cohen.
In 1936 he married Mary Price, and their daughter, Sheila, was born in 1939.
Mary died in 1945.
In 1947 Doel married Nora Flynn and a second daughter, Mary, was born in 1948.
.
Doel loved classical music and was, with his brother, a keen supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
.
Frank had many good friends and colleagues in the antiquarian book trade and much of his and Nora's social life centred around the Society of Antiquarian Booksellers Employees, of which he was a Committee Member.
Doel knew the Soviet double agent Peter Kroger, who was later imprisoned for spying, because he opened a rare bookshop near St Clement Danes
's church as a cover for his activities.
He died from peritonitis
on 22 December 1968 and his funeral was attended by almost the whole of London antiquarian book trade on New Year's Day
1969.
When Hanff belatedly heard of his death she wrote a short autobiographical book which became the cult classic 84, Charing Cross Road. The book was subsequently turned into a play and a film starring Anthony Hopkins
and Anne Bancroft
.
Almost all of the above information was originally researched by 84 Charing Cross Road - Revisited (referred to below as a 'Fan web-site').
Marks & Co
Marks & Co, also incorrectly referred to as "Marks & Company" or colloquially as "84", was a well-known antiquarian bookseller located at Cambridge Circus - 84, Charing Cross Road, London....
in London, England, who achieved posthumous fame as the recipient of a series of humorous letters from the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author Helene Hanff
Helene Hanff
Helene Hanff was an American writer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is best known as the author of the book 84, Charing Cross Road, which became the basis for a stage play, , and film of the same name.- Career :...
; to which he scrupulously, and at first very formally, replied. The shop where he worked was at 84 Charing Cross Road
84 Charing Cross Road
84, Charing Cross Road is a 1970 book by Helene Hanff, later made into a stage play, television play and film, about the twenty-year correspondence between her and Frank Doel, chief buyer of Marks & Co, antiquarian booksellers located at the eponymous address in London, England.Hanff, in search of...
, the title of a bestselling novel written by Hanff, which became a cult classic, a stage play, and a film, in which Doel was played by Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
and Hanff by Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft was an American actress associated with the Method acting school, which she had studied under Lee Strasberg....
.
Early life
He was born in WallaseyWallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, and moved from there to Harringay
Harringay
Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, when he was 8 years old.
From 1919 to 1924, Doel was educated at Hornsey County Grammar School, a co-educational school also attended by his elder brother.
On leaving school, Frank started his first, and only, job with Marks & Co
Marks & Co
Marks & Co, also incorrectly referred to as "Marks & Company" or colloquially as "84", was a well-known antiquarian bookseller located at Cambridge Circus - 84, Charing Cross Road, London....
, an antiquarian bookshop, located at 84 Charing Cross Road
84 Charing Cross Road
84, Charing Cross Road is a 1970 book by Helene Hanff, later made into a stage play, television play and film, about the twenty-year correspondence between her and Frank Doel, chief buyer of Marks & Co, antiquarian booksellers located at the eponymous address in London, England.Hanff, in search of...
, London.
Always known as "young Frank", he learnt the trade from his employers Ben Marks and Mark Cohen.
Family life
Doel was twice married.In 1936 he married Mary Price, and their daughter, Sheila, was born in 1939.
Mary died in 1945.
In 1947 Doel married Nora Flynn and a second daughter, Mary, was born in 1948.
War service
During the Second World War in the Middle East Doel served as a Private in the RAOCRoyal Army Ordnance Corps
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps was a corps of the British Army. It dealt only with the supply and maintenance of weaponry, munitions and other military equipment until 1965, when it took over most other supply functions, as well as the provision of staff clerks, from the Royal Army Service...
.
Character
Doel travelled the country and was well regarded wherever he went. Mark Cohen would describe him as the shop's 'anchor man'.Doel loved classical music and was, with his brother, a keen supporter of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
Social life
Frank had many good friends and colleagues in the antiquarian book trade and much of his and Nora's social life centred around the Society of Antiquarian Booksellers Employees, of which he was a Committee Member.
Doel knew the Soviet double agent Peter Kroger, who was later imprisoned for spying, because he opened a rare bookshop near St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
's church as a cover for his activities.
Later life
By the late 1960s Frank was running the business virtually single handed, Marks having died and Cohen too elderly to oversee day-to-day operations.He died from peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
on 22 December 1968 and his funeral was attended by almost the whole of London antiquarian book trade on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1969.
" It is with deep sorrow and regret we have to announce the death on the 22nd of December of MR. FRANK DOEL, who has been with us for over forty years. He will be greatly missed by us all and his many friends throughout the country. - Messrs. MARKS & CO., 84, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.2.".
When Hanff belatedly heard of his death she wrote a short autobiographical book which became the cult classic 84, Charing Cross Road. The book was subsequently turned into a play and a film starring Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, KBE , best known as Anthony Hopkins, is a Welsh actor of film, stage and television...
and Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft was an American actress associated with the Method acting school, which she had studied under Lee Strasberg....
.
Almost all of the above information was originally researched by 84 Charing Cross Road - Revisited (referred to below as a 'Fan web-site').