First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a work by a recipient of the Gold Medal in Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters:

"Around the grave in the rundown cemetery were a few of his former advertising colleagues from New York, who recalled his energy and originality and told his daughter, Nancy, what a pleasure it had been to work with him."

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 14. The winner of last week's competition, who identified Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian , was Nicole Terbach of Loughton, IG10.

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