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 31
... laughter so sudden and boisterous that he jumped and looked round him in alarm . Everyone was wildly amused . Elizabeth snatched her tiny handkerchief again , and , holding it to her eyes , shook with merriment . Eddy Makepeace gave ...
... laughter so sudden and boisterous that he jumped and looked round him in alarm . Everyone was wildly amused . Elizabeth snatched her tiny handkerchief again , and , holding it to her eyes , shook with merriment . Eddy Makepeace gave ...
Page 32
... laughter , and gusts of it coughed from his chest . " Oh , God , I shall spill the " He put the teapot down and a ... laughter . " And the exquisite way . . . . " She gulped , to strangle her laughter . " He brought the subject up so ...
... laughter , and gusts of it coughed from his chest . " Oh , God , I shall spill the " He put the teapot down and a ... laughter . " And the exquisite way . . . . " She gulped , to strangle her laughter . " He brought the subject up so ...
Page 104
... Laughter slowly gathered all his body and began to contract , so that he bent , one hand on his knee . " I - I don't know how . " " You don't ? " Christopher was starting to laugh as well . " Then you'll always have to wear it like that ...
... Laughter slowly gathered all his body and began to contract , so that he bent , one hand on his knee . " I - I don't know how . " " You don't ? " Christopher was starting to laugh as well . " Then you'll always have to wear it like that ...
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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