Jill: A NovelThe novel is set in wartime Oxford, the city in which it was written. Protagonist John Kemp is a young man from "Huddlesford" in Lancashire, who goes up to Oxford. With great sympathy it analyses his emotions at this first experience of privileged southern life (he had never been south of Crewe). Socially awkward and inexperienced, Kemp is attracted by the reckless and dissipated life of his roommate Christopher Warner, a well-off southerner who has attended a minor public school, tellingly called "Lamprey College". The eponymous Jill is Kemp's imaginary sister, whom he invents to confound Warner. Kemp then discovers a real-life Jill called Gillian, the 15-year-old cousin of Warner's friend Elizabeth. Kemp becomes infatuated with Gillian, but his advances are thwarted by Elizabeth and rebuffed by Gillian |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 74
Page 28
... face to face . They looked at him , and smiled too . The room was large and airy , and in a terrible mess . Tea was laid on the hearthrug and dirty cups and plates were littered about , while the table was covered with wrapping paper ...
... face to face . They looked at him , and smiled too . The room was large and airy , and in a terrible mess . Tea was laid on the hearthrug and dirty cups and plates were littered about , while the table was covered with wrapping paper ...
Page 104
... face close . " You want a fight , ” he diagnosed . " Shut up , Eddy . It's that fool John . He can't tie his tie again , now I've wrecked it - oh , owch - owch - owch- " He went off again . John , gripped by silent laughter , nodded ...
... face close . " You want a fight , ” he diagnosed . " Shut up , Eddy . It's that fool John . He can't tie his tie again , now I've wrecked it - oh , owch - owch - owch- " He went off again . John , gripped by silent laughter , nodded ...
Page 240
... face of a statue able to comprehend only one feature at a time . For instance , although he was safe in bed , he could not rid himself of the idea that he was still lying face downwards , wet through , on the wet grass . The stalks ...
... face of a statue able to comprehend only one feature at a time . For instance , although he was safe in bed , he could not rid himself of the idea that he was still lying face downwards , wet through , on the wet grass . The stalks ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afternoon asked Banbury Road beer began bottle bread Chris Christo Christopher Warner Christopher's cigarette College Crouch d'you damn dark desk door drink Eddy Eddy's Edward du Cann Elizabeth empty eyes face feel felt fire fountain pen gave Gavin Bone girl glass grinned hair Hallo hands head Higher School Certificate Huddlesford Jill Joe Kemp John heard John Kemp John's Junior Common Room knew Lamprey laugh laughter leaving letter light listened looked round mind Minerva morning mouth never night noticed overcoat Oxford Patrick Patrick Dowling paused pher pocket porter pulled pushed remember seemed sherry glasses sitting smiled smoke sofa sound stared stood stopped street talking teacake Thank there's thing thought took town turned Tutor voice walked watched Whitbread window wondered