Long Lane With Turnings: Last Words of a Motoring Legend

L. J. K. Setright was one of the 20th century's most influential, opinionated, and idiosyncratic motoring journalists. In this dryly witty memoir of his early years—left unfinished at the time of his death—Setright recalls a variety of vivid memories from his childhood years, including standing behind his father's driving seat, enjoining him to “go fast,” and taking an early delight in machines of all sorts, from his first bicycle to his first car. Readers will savor his pitch-perfect descriptions of many noted automobiles, whether the Mini—“a very convincing little brick”—a Renault 4—“swaying like a sailing dinghy in corners”—or his beloved Bristols. The portrait of the writer and the man which emerges is marvelously detailed, quirky, and full of warmth.