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This week's First Impressions, the competition in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, comes from an author best known for his novels of the fourth emperor: "As proof of my readiness to accept autobiographical convention, let me at once record my two earliest memories."

Entries should be submitted to First Impressions, The THES,Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1 9XY, faxed to 0171 782 3300 or emailed to theschat@thes.co.uk The winner receives a Pounds 20 book token and the closing date is August 5. The winner of last week's competition, who identified Arthur C. Clarke's 2001, is Ann Black of Oxford.