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 218
... can't get near the place , can't get anything out of anyone . Don't know a soul here - don't know a soul here , except the manager of Fowler's , and they say he's copped it . Can't get near the works , anyway . No one seems to know ...
... can't get near the place , can't get anything out of anyone . Don't know a soul here - don't know a soul here , except the manager of Fowler's , and they say he's copped it . Can't get near the works , anyway . No one seems to know ...
Page 223
Philip Larkin. " You can't , " chuckled Eddy . " We all know what you're after . " Christopher attempted to tip Eddy's chair over ... can't fool all the Ministry of Labour all the time . " " Man alive ! " Christopher exclaimed . " You 223.
Philip Larkin. " You can't , " chuckled Eddy . " We all know what you're after . " Christopher attempted to tip Eddy's chair over ... can't fool all the Ministry of Labour all the time . " " Man alive ! " Christopher exclaimed . " You 223.
Page 228
... can't afford to despise them— and you can't afford to go through life feeling out of it . For better or for worse , you're in the swim now , for three years . Whether or not you stay in the swim depends entirely on how far you take your ...
... can't afford to despise them— and you can't afford to go through life feeling out of it . For better or for worse , you're in the swim now , for three years . Whether or not you stay in the swim depends entirely on how far you take your ...
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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