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 8
Page 74
... Kemp . " Joe Kemp passed his hand over his hair again and kept it there to scratch perplexedly . " Ay , well , it's a bit of a winder . I reckon it's a bit of a tall order . " " I think John is capable of it , Mr. Kemp . Otherwise , I ...
... Kemp . " Joe Kemp passed his hand over his hair again and kept it there to scratch perplexedly . " Ay , well , it's a bit of a winder . I reckon it's a bit of a tall order . " " I think John is capable of it , Mr. Kemp . Otherwise , I ...
Page 81
... Joe Kemp , but welcomed him in , and they sat by the fire with the half - full suitcase open on the table . When he listened to what Joe Kemp had to say for three minutes he began nodding his head wisely , in order to halt Joe's ...
... Joe Kemp , but welcomed him in , and they sat by the fire with the half - full suitcase open on the table . When he listened to what Joe Kemp had to say for three minutes he began nodding his head wisely , in order to halt Joe's ...
Page 245
... Joe Kemp clutched his cap in his hand , then suddenly put it on , staring about him at the traffic lights and cinemas , as if surprised to find that Oxford was a city like any other . He took his wife's arm when they crossed the streets ...
... Joe Kemp clutched his cap in his hand , then suddenly put it on , staring about him at the traffic lights and cinemas , as if surprised to find that Oxford was a city like any other . He took his wife's arm when they crossed the streets ...
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