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 128
... voice . " What am I going to do ? " John knocked a pencil against his cheek , still smiling , still unable to grasp that the situation was serious . " " Oh , you can hash up something . . . . " " Look here , Kemp . " Christopher's voice ...
... voice . " What am I going to do ? " John knocked a pencil against his cheek , still smiling , still unable to grasp that the situation was serious . " " Oh , you can hash up something . . . . " " Look here , Kemp . " Christopher's voice ...
Page 174
... voice . They all looked round again . " Hallo , old man , didn't expect you in , " said Christopher , with false joviality . John smiled suddenly . " How do you all do ? " he said . " Will you put that kettle on , " said Patrick , in ...
... voice . They all looked round again . " Hallo , old man , didn't expect you in , " said Christopher , with false joviality . John smiled suddenly . " How do you all do ? " he said . " Will you put that kettle on , " said Patrick , in ...
Page 218
... voice : " They hit a shelter down our way . " There was a pause . " I reckon they'll do this to everywhere , " said the young man , looking up again . " Everywhere . There won't be a town left standing . ' His voice had a half ...
... voice : " They hit a shelter down our way . " There was a pause . " I reckon they'll do this to everywhere , " said the young man , looking up again . " Everywhere . There won't be a town left standing . ' His voice had a half ...
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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