Temptation
Page 46
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Foyles in Charing Cross Road, London, is a shop that I try to avoid. Once inside I am immediately bemused by the rows and rows of enchanting books on every conceivable topic and I seldom emerge in less than half-an-hour (which I can ill afford) and with fewer than three or four hardbacks (which I can afford still less).
A new room full of motoring books has now been opened and many deal with commercial vehicles. One title, published in English and Japanese, is about German military vehicles in World War H. I was able to resist that but I have succumbed to the Encyclopedia of the World's Classic Cars which I am learning by heart.
It recalls my boyhood, when I
lived near Ranelagh po ground and saw the Quali. driving down New King's Roal Fulham, in exotic cars such Armstrong Siddeley, Aubun Austro-Daimler, Bentley, Cad lac, Daimler, Darracq, Delag, Delaunay-Belleville, Duesei berg, Excelsior, Hispano-Suiz; Hotchkiss, Invicta, !sou Fraschini, Kissel (with bask' chair on the nearside runnin board for the chauffeur whe the owner wanted to drive
Mercedes, Metallurgiqui Minerva, Rolls-Royce and mar more — they are all describe and beautifully illustrated, recommend it as a birthday pr sent for anyone who sighs fc the days when cars had ir dividuality and panache, an were not stamped out like sou cans.