First Impressions

This week's First Impressions, the competition in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, comes from the work of a scientist whose writing helped to forge the modern environmental movement:

"Beginnings are apt to be shadowy, and so it is with the beginnings of that great mother of life, the sea."

The winner receives a £20 book token and the closing date is May 5.

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 identified Spinoza's Ethics , is David Nicoll of The Institution of Incorporated Engineers.