[John Whitworth]

Humph. Where's Nabokov. He's the only one I can do. Tolkien? What's Tolkein?

No. 2831: Essence of…

You are invited to compose what might be a quintessential opening paragraph from the pen of one of the following: Graham Greene, Franz Kafka, Tolkien, Jane Austen (150 words max.). Please email entries to lucy@spectator.co.uk by midday on 15 January.