Booksellers report of the Norman Dewis Event

Norman Dewis promotes his new book "Developing the Legend"

“Filled with Norman’s personal insights and anecdotes, and fascinating technical detail from Norman’s archive of factory documentation, this book is also a full development history of the Jaguar car. It reveals how, under Sir William Williams at the height of his powers, Norman and the amazing team, which included Bill Heynes, Bob Knight, Malcolm Sayer and Tom Jones, evolved the Jaguars that are today known and loved as classics.”

Having spent a lot of my childhood crammed in the back of my Mums E-type I was really keen to hear Norman Dewis’ tales of the years he spent at Jaguar.

Norman is a very busy man these days and sped from Switzerland that day to do our event. We here at Burway Books had no idea that the event was going to be so popular and 110 people sat, others stood at the back and we sadly had to turn many disappointed enthusiasts away.

Norman has been described as frank engaging and revealing and he didn’t disappoint.

He engaged everyone and had us all in fits of laughter .The anecdotes and reminiscences were fascinating and I got a sense- given half a chance -he could’ve talked till the wee hours! He has so much energy and spirit and is sharp as a button.

We sold quite a lot of books, which was brilliant, the book is now in reprint and we’ve been inundated by demands for the next print, which will come out in April.

A truly memorable evening in every sense and due to popular demand Norman will be back for another event in October 2007. Can’t wait. Thanks Norman – you’re an inspiration and the youthfulness of your persona is something else!