First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, comes from a novel by a Nobel laureate decorated for bravery in the second world war:

"The fretted hands of the bronze clock on the shelf stood at five to five."

The winner receives a £20 book token and the closing date is December 15.

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 Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat , is Emma L. Bissell of Preston, Lancashire.