Jill: A NovelThe 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 126
... door . They said , ' Come in , ' so I came in . There was some little runt working . ' Have you ' , I said politely , ' any bread - and - butter , toast or cake ? ' He went as red as a turkey and said , ' No. ' I bowed gracefully and ...
... door . They said , ' Come in , ' so I came in . There was some little runt working . ' Have you ' , I said politely , ' any bread - and - butter , toast or cake ? ' He went as red as a turkey and said , ' No. ' I bowed gracefully and ...
Page 201
... door , seriously , his hand moving in surprise round the bow tie he was wearing . The feet mounted the steps , approaching the door . Two knocks . " Come in . " Elizabeth entered . He blinked . His first thought was that she had called ...
... door , seriously , his hand moving in surprise round the bow tie he was wearing . The feet mounted the steps , approaching the door . Two knocks . " Come in . " Elizabeth entered . He blinked . His first thought was that she had called ...
Page 238
... door , pulling himself upright by the doorpost , and got away out . His dirty hands had left marks on the photograph : since it was dirty , he tore it up and threw it away . But this would never do : straightening his tie , wiping his ...
... door , pulling himself upright by the doorpost , and got away out . His dirty hands had left marks on the photograph : since it was dirty , he tore it up and threw it away . But this would never do : straightening his tie , wiping his ...
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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 Hallo 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