First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its first sentence, is from a story that "did for the boy's book what Sherlock Holmes did for the detective tale":

"Mr Hungerton, her father, really was the most tactless person upon earth - a fluffy, feathery, untidy cockatoo of a man, perfectly good-natured, but absolutely centred upon his own silly self."

* Entries, including postal address, should be sent to First Impressions, The Times Higher , Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1BX, faxed to 020 7782 3300 or e-mailed to theschat@thes.co.uk

The winner receives a £25 book voucher. The closing date is August 22.

The winner of last week's competition, who identified Nikolaus Pevsner's An Outline of European Architecture , was Lyn Turpin of Brighton.

THES (TSL Education Ltd) and its associated companies may from time to time wish to process, or disclose your data to approved third-party companies, in order to monitor our service and send you future promotions. If you do not wish us to do this, please notify us by writing 'No promotions' on your entry.