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 147
... There's a taxi outside . " Jill stared at her , trying in a moment to bridge the gap of six days back to something she hardly remembered . " Oh , " she said . “ I see . ” They slid together into the broad leathery back seat of the taxi ...
... There's a taxi outside . " Jill stared at her , trying in a moment to bridge the gap of six days back to something she hardly remembered . " Oh , " she said . “ I see . ” They slid together into the broad leathery back seat of the taxi ...
Page 216
... there would be a south - going train in half an hour . " And is there a pub near by ? " " There's the Brandon Arms over the road . Can't say if they're open . " John went across to find out , his shadow preceding him in the moonlight ...
... there would be a south - going train in half an hour . " And is there a pub near by ? " " There's the Brandon Arms over the road . Can't say if they're open . " John went across to find out , his shadow preceding him in the moonlight ...
Page 221
... There's none left , " said Patrick , filling up his tumbler again and throwing the bottle away into a corner . It thundered on the boards without breaking . John found a full bottle under the desk , and , pouring himself a glassful ...
... There's none left , " said Patrick , filling up his tumbler again and throwing the bottle away into a corner . It thundered on the boards without breaking . John found a full bottle under the desk , and , pouring himself a glassful ...
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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