JillThe 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 29
... Elizabeth . " But he's lazy . " " And he's going to sit all night , too . " Patrick gave a sudden disconcerting roar of laughter , then stuffed cake into his mouth . As no one showed any signs of rising , John took off his coat and ...
... Elizabeth . " But he's lazy . " " And he's going to sit all night , too . " Patrick gave a sudden disconcerting roar of laughter , then stuffed cake into his mouth . As no one showed any signs of rising , John took off his coat and ...
Page 110
... Elizabeth looked at him for a second , and dropped her eyes . After a moment Christopher made another remark , and began laying the table for two with John's cups and plates , which John rightly took as a signal for him to go . He ...
... Elizabeth looked at him for a second , and dropped her eyes . After a moment Christopher made another remark , and began laying the table for two with John's cups and plates , which John rightly took as a signal for him to go . He ...
Page 174
... Elizabeth , in a surprised voice . They all looked round again . " Hallo , old man , didn't expect you in , " said ... Elizabeth " -Elizabeth made as if to throw her cigarette at him— " and Patrick . " He could do nothing for a moment ...
... Elizabeth , in a surprised voice . They all looked round again . " Hallo , old man , didn't expect you in , " said ... Elizabeth " -Elizabeth made as if to throw her cigarette at him— " and Patrick . " He could do nothing for a moment ...
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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 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