First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a novel by a Scot about a Leicester in Warwickshire:

"It is the privilege of tale-tellers to open their story in an inn, the free rendezvous of all travellers, and where the humour of each displays itself, without ceremony or restraint."

The winner receives a £20 book token and the closing date is February 2.

Entries should be sent 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 of last week's competition, who correctly identified Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms , J. B. Cookson of Cropston, Leicestershire