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