First impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, comes from a Russian novelist whose book had nothing to do with deceased fish:

"Into the gates of the inn in the provincial capital NN there drove a small but rather handsome sprung chaise of the kind affected by bachelors, such as retired lieutenant colonels, staff-captains, land-owners possessed of some 100 souls - in a word, by all those regarded as gentlemen of the middle estate."

The winner receives a £20 book token and the closing date is September 1.

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

he winner of last week's competition, who identified John Reed's Ten Days That Shook the World , is Michael Levin of Goldsmiths College, London.