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 32
Page 13
... empty cup , he would pitch its dregs messily into the grate , further discouraging the fire , before reaching again for the teapot . " A gentleman , " he would aphorize with dignity , " never drinks the lees of his wine . ” Norman at ...
... empty cup , he would pitch its dregs messily into the grate , further discouraging the fire , before reaching again for the teapot . " A gentleman , " he would aphorize with dignity , " never drinks the lees of his wine . ” Norman at ...
Page 21
... empty footbridges . It looked cold and deserted . The windows of the carriages were bluish with the swirls of the cleaner's leather still showing on the glass , and he confined his eyes to the compartment . It was a third - class ...
... empty footbridges . It looked cold and deserted . The windows of the carriages were bluish with the swirls of the cleaner's leather still showing on the glass , and he confined his eyes to the compartment . It was a third - class ...
Page 61
... empty except for the landlord , who read the newspaper , and a tremulous old man sitting in a corner with an untouched pint of beer before him . up . " Evening , Christopher , " said the landlord , folding the paper " Good evening ...
... empty except for the landlord , who read the newspaper , and a tremulous old man sitting in a corner with an untouched pint of beer before him . up . " Evening , Christopher , " said the landlord , folding the paper " Good evening ...
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