[Geoff Kingston]

I bought my first copy when it came out ordered from my local book/paper shop ( the good old days) for the grand sum of £5.50p, at that time there was very little published about the cars, Old Motor had done a few features as had Classic Car with one article about the 401, for a long time that was it so needless to say Setright's book was read cover to cover several times.
A few years later Godfey Oxley-Sidey published his first book, very readable but much like his efforts in the club magazine, his second effort was far better and set the standard for a few years to come and in line with most motor books by then was far better illustrated.
Setright took the stage again with his book published by Palawan, lavish extravagant and a perfect platform for him to demonstrate his mastery of the English language but not a comfortable read, and I mean that in the physical sense its just too big and heavy to rest on your lap and I hate reading books on the table or on book rests!, the end result after years of ownership it has never been read cover to cover though the picture volume was.
Christofer Balfours book was a long awaited absolute gem, it brought the whole storey up to date and perhaps corrected a few earlier misconceptions and perhaps Setrights bias on some points. It is a book I enjoy dipping into again and again, but reading again the chapter in Setrights original book on Areodine's today made me remember what a wonderful introduction to Bristol Cars it is, albeit that it only goes up to the period of the late 411 series.
It is a book if you have not read it or do not own a copy that is well worth seeking out, Setriight owned a 401 a 405 and a 404 before he bought his 409 and the book is worth reading for his comments on that alone, perhaps also as an insight into a period when more owners worked on their cars and bought them for a love of what they were, what they drove like rather than what they were worth.
Geoff.