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 15
Philip Larkin. to Oxford ( he was at the Slade , then exiled to the Ashmolean ) , so that we need not be without our favourite sound . There was not much live jazz to be heard at Oxford in those days until the Oxford University Rhythm ...
Philip Larkin. to Oxford ( he was at the Slade , then exiled to the Ashmolean ) , so that we need not be without our favourite sound . There was not much live jazz to be heard at Oxford in those days until the Oxford University Rhythm ...
Page 18
... Oxford life itself . Christopher and his friends would not now have to bother about wearing gowns , or fear molestation by the Proctors when on licensed premises , nor would Elizabeth's visits be limited to between two and seven o'clock ...
... Oxford life itself . Christopher and his friends would not now have to bother about wearing gowns , or fear molestation by the Proctors when on licensed premises , nor would Elizabeth's visits be limited to between two and seven o'clock ...
Page
... Oxford during World War II . John Kemp , a young man from a working class background in a world of privilege who is in awe of the excesses of his decadent , aristocratic roommate , must come to terms with the limitations of his social ...
... Oxford during World War II . John Kemp , a young man from a working class background in a world of privilege who is in awe of the excesses of his decadent , aristocratic roommate , must come to terms with the limitations of his social ...
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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