First Impressions

This week's First Impressions, the competition in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, comes from a distinguished left-wing double act:

"Agricultural England in the 19th century presented a unique and amazing spectacle to the enquiring foreigner: it had no peasants."

Entries should be submitted to First Impressions, The THES, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1 9XY, faxed to 0171 782 3300 or emailed to theschat@thes.co.uk The winner receives a Pounds 20 book token and the closing date is December 2. The winner of last week's competition, who identified R. K. Narayan's My Days - A Memoir is Gordon Johnson, Wolfson College, Cambridge.