First impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is by a trained architect whose novel is more celebrated than its hero: " The schoolmaster was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry ."

The winner receives a £25 Blackwells voucher and
the closing date is November 16 .

Entries should be sent to:

First Impressions
The THES
Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield
London E1W 1BX,

faxed to 020-7782 3300
or emailed to theschat@thes.co.uk

The winner of last week's competition, who correctly identified Henry Fielding's Joseph Andrews , is Miriam Marcus of London NW6.