Speed Reads: Parting Thoughts
December 1, 2007
Leonard John Kensell Setright, or L.J.K. Setright, as readers knew him, left his last words in an unfinished work entitled Long Lane with Turnings. Setright—who may have resembled a biblical prophet more than an automotive authority—was renowned for writing with a high-flown style, contributing his eloquent prose to the otherwise technical subject of engineering. Famous for his columns in Car, a British automotive magazine, Setright was mostly self-taught but had a vast understanding of the inner workings of a vehicle thanks to his early exposure and passion for motoring.
Setright’s final offering, a captivating and enjoyable book that was cut short due to his passing in September 2005, provides the reader with a detailed account of the writer’s two passions—music and motoring. One of Setright’s earliest automotive memories is from a time when "fast drivers were rare" and he was begging to "Go Fast!" in his father’s 82 mph Wolseley. The 151-page book is charming in a way that wise men tell stories and his lyrical writing portrays a life that was enjoyed to the fullest.
Granta Books, www.granta.com
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