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 117
... Jill wanted to see the British Museum . " " That's more than I've ever done . " " No , I don't suppose I should have gone alone , but Jill wanted to see it . " " See any shows ? " " I don't remember .... We hadn't enough money for much ...
... Jill wanted to see the British Museum . " " That's more than I've ever done . " " No , I don't suppose I should have gone alone , but Jill wanted to see it . " " See any shows ? " " I don't remember .... We hadn't enough money for much ...
Page 172
... Jill appeared , holding her handbag , looking for a seat . It seemed that the impetus of her great last effort to catch the ' bus had carried her on up the stairs . She sat at the back . He dared not look round for fear she should ...
... Jill appeared , holding her handbag , looking for a seat . It seemed that the impetus of her great last effort to catch the ' bus had carried her on up the stairs . She sat at the back . He dared not look round for fear she should ...
Page 177
... Jill's cup , putting his mouth where hers had been . So many different things dismayed him . When he had fol- lowed them to the theatre and lacking the courage to go inside leant against the wall in the dusk , he occupied himself with ...
... Jill's cup , putting his mouth where hers had been . So many different things dismayed him . When he had fol- lowed them to the theatre and lacking the courage to go inside leant against the wall in the dusk , he occupied himself with ...
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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