First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a sailor who taught himself English and became a famous novelist: "There is, as every schoolboy knows in this scientific age, a very close chemical elation between coal and diamonds."

The winner receives a £25 Blackwell's book voucher and
the closing date is September 14 .

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 George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier , is Sean Semple of Epsom.