First Impressions

This week's competition to identify a book from its opening sentence is from a reportage about the last moments of a dying regime:

"In the evenings I listened to those who had known the Emperor's court."

* 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 emailed to theschat@thes.co.uk

The winner receives a £25 book voucher. The closing date is September 4.

The winner of last week's competition, who identified I, Claudius by Robert Graves, was Michael Gold of the School of Management, Royal Holloway.

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