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 |
From inside the book
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Page 34
... John heard them go laughing round the cloisters . Left alone , he sat dejectedly down on the sofa , among the litter of dirty china , feeling that if he were left alone for long he would begin crying . But this feeling changed to alarm ...
... John heard them go laughing round the cloisters . Left alone , he sat dejectedly down on the sofa , among the litter of dirty china , feeling that if he were left alone for long he would begin crying . But this feeling changed to alarm ...
Page 64
... John , old man ? ” " Why , of course . " John felt in his pockets . Rather belatedly , Christopher said : " John ... heard Eddy's high laugh in the alleyway outside - why did he laugh ? Frowning , tasting his beer reluctantly , he went ...
... John , old man ? ” " Why , of course . " John felt in his pockets . Rather belatedly , Christopher said : " John ... heard Eddy's high laugh in the alleyway outside - why did he laugh ? Frowning , tasting his beer reluctantly , he went ...
Page 185
... John , turning his cigarette between his fingers . It had gone out and , noticing this , he groped again for his ... heard what the gentleman said . " Patrick hooked his stick round a chair and drew it towards him , then sat down . " Well , ...
... John , turning his cigarette between his fingers . It had gone out and , noticing this , he groped again for his ... heard what the gentleman said . " Patrick hooked his stick round a chair and drew it towards him , then sat down . " Well , ...
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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