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 |
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Page 142
... girls in her form seemed strident and lumpish , and , despite all her resolutions , she felt impelled to quarrel with them . She was unable to ignore them as Minerva would . Particularly she disliked a plump , jolly girl called Rosalie ...
... girls in her form seemed strident and lumpish , and , despite all her resolutions , she felt impelled to quarrel with them . She was unable to ignore them as Minerva would . Particularly she disliked a plump , jolly girl called Rosalie ...
Page 174
... girl and Jill . " This is my better half , John Kemp . This is Evelyn and this is Gillian , who has the misfortune to be a cousin of Elizabeth " -Elizabeth made as if to throw her cigarette at him- " and Patrick . " He could do nothing ...
... girl and Jill . " This is my better half , John Kemp . This is Evelyn and this is Gillian , who has the misfortune to be a cousin of Elizabeth " -Elizabeth made as if to throw her cigarette at him- " and Patrick . " He could do nothing ...
Page 176
... girl , " said Elizabeth , looking round . “ Just think , in this day and age . " " Oh , it isn't as bad as that , " exclaimed Jill , putting her cup down . " Only Sorrell and Son . " She gave a hard little laugh as if at the sound of ...
... girl , " said Elizabeth , looking round . “ Just think , in this day and age . " " Oh , it isn't as bad as that , " exclaimed Jill , putting her cup down . " Only Sorrell and Son . " She gave a hard little laugh as if at the sound of ...
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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