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
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Page 66
... Huddlesford Grammar School was large and of a fairly high standing , and he regarded his post there as nothing but a stepping - stone to better things . He liked his rooms , and after tea would sit placidly in the armchair before the ...
... Huddlesford Grammar School was large and of a fairly high standing , and he regarded his post there as nothing but a stepping - stone to better things . He liked his rooms , and after tea would sit placidly in the armchair before the ...
Page 205
... Huddlesford . The knowledge that Whitbread had told the truth settled down like an iron mould on his mind ; he walked back to the College filled with dread . Everyone was just leaving the Hall , coming out into the sun with their hands ...
... Huddlesford . The knowledge that Whitbread had told the truth settled down like an iron mould on his mind ; he walked back to the College filled with dread . Everyone was just leaving the Hall , coming out into the sun with their hands ...
Page 212
... Huddlesford Central , and as it would go no farther all passengers for Huddlesford had to get out . In a sombre line they clumped over the wooden foot- bridge , John last . He nerved himself for any shock when he got into the street ...
... Huddlesford Central , and as it would go no farther all passengers for Huddlesford had to get out . In a sombre line they clumped over the wooden foot- bridge , John last . He nerved himself for any shock when he got into the street ...
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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