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 |
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... smoke dirtied the sky; the train swung violently over set after set of points. A signal-box. Their speed seemed to increase, as they swept towards the station round a long curve of line through much rolling-stock, among which John ...
... smoke dirtied the sky; the train swung violently over set after set of points. A signal-box. Their speed seemed to increase, as they swept towards the station round a long curve of line through much rolling-stock, among which John ...
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... smoke hid his face , then parted . “ Not that I blame them . ” " What are you going to read ? " " I'm supposed to be doing English . " " Yes - so am I. " " Oh , then that's why we're together . " He took another look round the room ...
... smoke hid his face , then parted . “ Not that I blame them . ” " What are you going to read ? " " I'm supposed to be doing English . " " Yes - so am I. " " Oh , then that's why we're together . " He took another look round the room ...
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... smoking a cigarette . He crossed to the fire and crouched before it . “ What a blasted nuisance . Where does he live , d'you know ? ” " No - in College somewhere-- " " Oh , God , I should hope so . I don't want to have to be chasing all ...
... smoking a cigarette . He crossed to the fire and crouched before it . “ What a blasted nuisance . Where does he live , d'you know ? ” " No - in College somewhere-- " " Oh , God , I should hope so . I don't want to have to be chasing all ...
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... smoked cigarettes until twelve o'clock , when he got up to go out . As he was putting on his big heather - coloured overcoat , he remarked : " Cute file that . I suppose I shall have to be getting something in that line soon . " " Do ...
... smoked cigarettes until twelve o'clock , when he got up to go out . As he was putting on his big heather - coloured overcoat , he remarked : " Cute file that . I suppose I shall have to be getting something in that line soon . " " Do ...
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... smoke at his cigarette in a satisfied way for a bit , while Jack clattered about in the bedroom , emptying slops and making the beds . Then he would call : “ Here , Jack , make mine first . It's been a hard day : I'm ready for bed ...
... smoke at his cigarette in a satisfied way for a bit , while Jack clattered about in the bedroom , emptying slops and making the beds . Then he would call : “ Here , Jack , make mine first . It's been a hard day : I'm ready for bed ...
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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