First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a new translation of the world's earliest novel:

"In a certain reign (whose can it have been?) someone of no very great rank, among all His Majesty's Consorts and Intimates, enjoyed exceptional favour."

The winner receives a £25 Blackwell's voucher and the closing date is December 3.

Entries, including postal address, 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

Last week's winner, who correctly identified Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea , was William Revell of the department of health and human sciences, London Metropolitan University.

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