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 105
A Novel Philip Larkin. pher , his black eyebrows pulling together in the middle . " What the hell are you talking about ... pulled the bedclothes over himself the night before he had thought he would never be depressed again , and went to ...
A Novel Philip Larkin. pher , his black eyebrows pulling together in the middle . " What the hell are you talking about ... pulled the bedclothes over himself the night before he had thought he would never be depressed again , and went to ...
Page 131
A Novel Philip Larkin. When he had finished the first page , he pulled out his fountain pen and then fell asleep . I ... pulling at the letter in his hand . He was trembling when he dropped it into a pillar- box , and leant against the ...
A Novel Philip Larkin. When he had finished the first page , he pulled out his fountain pen and then fell asleep . I ... pulling at the letter in his hand . He was trembling when he dropped it into a pillar- box , and leant against the ...
Page 236
... pulled the bottle from his pocket . " Oh , sorry . Haven't opened it . " He fumbled at the neck . " It's corked . " " I've got a corkscrew - come inside . " The young man took the bottle and stepped back . John came in , frowning at the ...
... pulled the bottle from his pocket . " Oh , sorry . Haven't opened it . " He fumbled at the neck . " It's corked . " " I've got a corkscrew - come inside . " The young man took the bottle and stepped back . John came in , frowning at the ...
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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