E: 8/5 Win a £25 book token - help needed

SoozyJ22

This is this week's THES first lines competition.

clicky

This week's competition, in which you have to identify a book from its opening sentence, is from a biography of a renowned peace advocate who started working life as a shipping clerk:

"On a fine sunny evening on 14 July 2003, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, hosted a reception in Downing Street."

I'm afraid I can't work out the answer though - I've tried googling for the line itself and peace advocates who started life as shipping clerks, but nothing. I'm sure the collective power of MSE compers can work it out!

Edit - I'm going away for the weekend but will be back on Monday so I'll update the OP then if you clever people have worked out the answer!

yully

i think it might be Iran awakening by shirin ebadi

fraoch

Could the author be Jerry Lewis - he started life as a shipping clerk in a hat factory - no idea what book though

Cheeky_Chicken

Don't know the answer, but Google advises that on that date Ariel Sharon attended a reception at no. 10.

I don't know if that might give anyone else a clue?

catz747

I'm completely stumped but I think Cheeky chicken might be on to something .....

Thrupneybit

Nelson Mandela was a Law Clerk, but I can't find any ref: to shipping,,,,,,,,

Prudent

I think it is E.D. Morel see the entry for 1924:

http://nobelprize.org/nomination/peace/nomination.php?action=advsearch&key1=nomcountry&log1=IS&string1=FI

He was a shipping clerk who was later nominated for the nobel peace prize.

Thrupneybit

Prudent wrote: »

I think it is E.D. Morel see the entry for 1924:

http://nobelprize.org/nomination/peace/nomination.php?action=advsearch&key1=nomcountry&log1=IS&string1=FI

He was a shipping clerk who was later nominated for the nobel peace prize.

E.D.Morel

It's possible, But I'd like to know why Tony hosted THAT reception,,,,

WiseOldBird_2

Can't be Morel as he died in 1924? Haven't had time to do much research but am inclined to Jerry Lewis, he has done a lot of charity work. But not sure if it's his book.

furndire

Did anyone suss the correct answer to this one.

catz747

furndire wrote: »

Did anyone suss the correct answer to this one.

Not a clue