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 90
... town , he looked admiringly at her easy stride , her breasts and youthfulness , and , holding himself erect , he hoped he did her credit . He wanted the passers - by to think that he was her son . She asked him some questions about the ...
... town , he looked admiringly at her easy stride , her breasts and youthfulness , and , holding himself erect , he hoped he did her credit . He wanted the passers - by to think that he was her son . She asked him some questions about the ...
Page 160
... town . There had been a sharp frost the night before and lorries that had been out all night had white roofs that sparkled in the sun . The sky was remote and blue : everywhere an atmosphere of briskness prevailed . John watched large ...
... town . There had been a sharp frost the night before and lorries that had been out all night had white roofs that sparkled in the sun . The sky was remote and blue : everywhere an atmosphere of briskness prevailed . John watched large ...
Page 171
... town by ' bus , and , entering a café , have tea . He would skirt the College till after six , for he remembered that Christo- pher and Elizabeth were going to the theatre at that time . After a while the ' bus came , and when it moved ...
... town by ' bus , and , entering a café , have tea . He would skirt the College till after six , for he remembered that Christo- pher and Elizabeth were going to the theatre at that time . After a while the ' bus came , and when it moved ...
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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