First Impressions

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a Jewish Nobel laureate's novel about life in Eastern Europe after the First World War:

"On the eve of the Day of Atonement, in the afternoon, I changed from the express to the local train that runs to my home town."

* 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 January 17.

The winner of last week's competition, who correctly identified Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius , was Helen Clish of Lancaster University.

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