Long Lane With Turnings: Last Words of a Motoring Legend

Setright, L. J. K.

ISBN 10: 1862078726 / ISBN 13: 9781862078727

Published by Granta Books, 2006

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Synopsis:

Leonard Setright was one of the twentieth century's most influential, opinionated and idiosyncratic motoring journalists; described as 'more Isaiah Berlin than Jeremy Clarkson', everything he wrote was inspired by his knowledge of and passion for all things automotive. "Long Lane with Turnings" is a dryly witty memoir of his early years and the author's last book, left unfinished at the time of his death in the summer of 2005. We encounter Setright as a child standing behind his father's driving seat in family Wolseley, enjoining him to 'Go fast!'; taking an early delight in machines of all sorts, from the camera-like precision of the Setright ticket machine for bus conductors (manufactured by his father's firm) to his first bicycle. We also see him developing that independence of mind which so characterized his writing as a critic: readers will savour his pitch-perfect descriptions of many of the cars that he drove, be it 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 which emerges from these pages is marvellously detailed, quirky and full of warmth.

About the Author: L. J. K. Setright, author of the critically acclaimed Drive On! A Social History of the Motor Car (Granta), wrote for Car magazine for 33 years, and was a world expert on tyres and expresses forthright views on such things as speed limits, taxation, and pollution.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Long Lane With Turnings: Last Words of a ...
Publisher: Granta Books
Publication Date: 2006
Binding: hardcover
Condition: Very Good