JillA young man from Northern England struggles to find a sense of belonging at Oxford University during WWII in this “brilliant” novel by a literary icon (The Times). John, who’s never traveled far from his northern town of Huddleston, finds himself an undergraduate at Oxford University in 1940. A shy, insecure working-class young man, he is awed by his confident, careless roommate and yearns to fit in, clumsily pursuing a girl from a wealthy family. But as his efforts fail, he retreats further into a dream world in this early novel by Philip Larkin, who would go on to become one of the most celebrated poetic voices of postwar Britain. “Provides a revealing portrait of Oxford and the English class system as it existed during World War II . . . Mr. Larkin’s gift for using landscape as a mirror of an individual’s emotions is very much in evidence.” —The New York Times Includes an introduction by the author |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 56
Page
... often, in fact, the men of one college would share a tutor with another, whom they would never see socially at all. Perhaps the most difficult thing to convey was the almost - complete suspension of concern for the future Introduction.
... often, in fact, the men of one college would share a tutor with another, whom they would never see socially at all. Perhaps the most difficult thing to convey was the almost - complete suspension of concern for the future Introduction.
Page
... never drinks the lees of his wine . " Norman at once set about roughing - up my general character and assumptions . Any action or even word implying respect for qualities such as punctuality , prudence , thrift or respectability called ...
... never drinks the lees of his wine . " Norman at once set about roughing - up my general character and assumptions . Any action or even word implying respect for qualities such as punctuality , prudence , thrift or respectability called ...
Page
... Never lose a chance to make a good impression . " " What play have you written about ? " " King Lear . You see , I've DONE King Lear . " " Ay . " " Ay . " This comedy probably gave Norman more emotional release than myself , for he had ...
... Never lose a chance to make a good impression . " " What play have you written about ? " " King Lear . You see , I've DONE King Lear . " " Ay . " " Ay . " This comedy probably gave Norman more emotional release than myself , for he had ...
Page
... never before or since. Even in that last term, with Finals a matter of weeks away, I began an unclassifiable story called Trouble at Willow Gables, which Bruce and Diana Gollancz would come back to read after an evening at The Lord ...
... never before or since. Even in that last term, with Finals a matter of weeks away, I began an unclassifiable story called Trouble at Willow Gables, which Bruce and Diana Gollancz would come back to read after an evening at The Lord ...
Page
... beside him on the kerb. It was because he had crammed everything he had into that bag that it was so heavy and forced him to take a taxi, a thing he had never done before. Only his china had gone before him in a little crate :
... beside him on the kerb. It was because he had crammed everything he had into that bag that it was so heavy and forced him to take a taxi, a thing he had never done before. Only his china had gone before him in a little crate :
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afternoon asked beer began bottle bowler hat Chris Christopher Warner Christopher's cigarette College Crouch d'you damn dark desk door drink Eddy's Edward du Cann Elizabeth empty eyes face feel felt fire fountain pen gave Gavin Bone girl glass gone grinned hair Hallo hands head Higher School Certificate Huddlesford Jill Joe Kemp John heard John Kemp John looked 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 pocket porter pulled pushed remember seemed sherry glasses sitting smiled smoke sofa sound stared stood stopped street suddenly talking teacake Thank there's things thought took town trying turned Tutor voice walked watched Whitbread window wondered