The Novel “Jill” by Philip Larkin in the Context of Aestetic Principles of “Angry Young Men”

The current study is dedicated to the analysis of the novel “Jill” by Philip Larkin from the viewpoint of its reception by English writers and playwrights of 1950s. This study is a pilot research that allows taking the first step in comprehension of Philip Larkin’s work as well as the literary process of the second half of the last century in Great Britain, enlightening its consistent patterns. Thus, the results of the research have shown that the key principles that made the novel “Jill” a precursor of English “campus novel” and the literature of “Angry Young Men” were initially borrowed by and developed in the novel “Lucky Jim” by Kingsley Amis. However, the Amis’ novel was the first step in transformation of aesthetic principles, the key ideas and the plot lines of “Jill”. Subsequently, it can be shown how the reception of “Jill” has changed from “campus novel” to “angry” play by John Osborne.