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
Results 1-3 of 43
Page 44
... cigarette . He crossed to the fire and crouched before it . " What a blasted nuisance . Where does he live , d'you know ? " " No - in College somewhere- " Oh , God , I should hope so . I don't want to have to be chasing all over the ...
... cigarette . He crossed to the fire and crouched before it . " What a blasted nuisance . Where does he live , d'you know ? " " No - in College somewhere- " Oh , God , I should hope so . I don't want to have to be chasing all over the ...
Page 50
... cigarette in a satisfied way for a bit , while Jack clattered about in the bed- room , emptying slops and making the beds . Then he would call : " Here , Jack , make mine first . It's been a hard day : I'm ready for bed . " " Ah , I ...
... cigarette in a satisfied way for a bit , while Jack clattered about in the bed- room , emptying slops and making the beds . Then he would call : " Here , Jack , make mine first . It's been a hard day : I'm ready for bed . " " Ah , I ...
Page 226
... Cigarette ? ' He held out his case , amused when the boy unconsciously took one . As far as John was concerned , Mr. Crouch looked unexpectedly young and it seemed natural for him to be there . " Surely you haven't broken up already ...
... Cigarette ? ' He held out his case , amused when the boy unconsciously took one . As far as John was concerned , Mr. Crouch looked unexpectedly young and it seemed natural for him to be there . " Surely you haven't broken up already ...
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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