Set in the backdrop of World War II, the novel follows John Kemp, a young and naive scholarship student from a working-class background, as he navigates the complexities of life at Oxford University. Struggling to fit in with his more affluent peers, John creates an imaginary sister named Jill to cope with his loneliness and isolation. As he becomes entangled in the lives of those around him, including his charismatic but troubled roommate Christopher, John grapples with themes of identity, class, and the harsh realities of adulthood, ultimately confronting the illusions he has built to shield himself from the world.
