First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a Nobel prize-winning novelist who once commanded a rocket ship: " There was an area east of the Isle of Dogs in London which was an unusual mixture even for those surroundings ."

The winner receives a £25 Blackwells voucher and
the closing date is February 20 .

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 J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace , is Terry Thomas of Leeds Metropolitan University.