First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a story by a French writer known for his love of nature:

"For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years."

* 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 October 18.

The winner of last week's competition, who identified Leonard Woolf's The Village in the Jungle , was Radhakrishnan Nayar of Southall.

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