12 JANUARY 1951, Page 14

SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 48

Set by N. K. Boot

A prize of £5, which may be divided, is offered for the firSt sentence of a novel which is guaranteed to deter the reader from reading any further.

Entries must be addressed to the Spectator. 99 Gower Street, London, W.C.1, in envelopes marked "Competition," and must be received not later than January 24th. Results will be published in the Spectator of February 2nd.