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Just William |
| Just William | |
 William joins his teacher and her beau, much to her annoyance (from the story The Fall of the Idol) |
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| Author | Richmal Crompton |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Thomas Henry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's literature |
| Publication date | 1922 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio book |
| Followed by | More William |
Just William is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for numerous television series, films and radio adaptations. Just William is also sometimes used as a title for the series of books as a whole, and is also the name of various television, film and radio adaptations of the books. The William stories first appeared in Home magazine and Happy Mag.
The book contains the following short stories:
William Brown is an eleven-year-old boy, eternally scruffy and frowning. William and his friends, Douglas, Henry and Ginger, call themselves the Outlaws, and meet at the old barn in Farmer Jenks' field. The Outlaws are sworn enemies of the Hubert Laneites, with whom they frequently clash.
William's family, his elder red-gold haired sister Ethel and brother Robert, placid mother and stern father, and never-ending supply of elderly aunts, cannot understand William. Only his mother has any sympathy for him.
Other recurring characters include Violet Elizabeth Bott, lisping spoiled daughter of the local nouveau riche millionaire ("I'll thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick — I can, you know") and Joan Clive, the dark haired girl for whom William has a soft spot. Joan is sometimes considered a member of the Outlaws (the only girl entitled to this high privilege) and sometimes an "Outlaw ally" because she took a special oath. At one point she went away to boarding school, but continued to appear in William's adventures during her holidays.
William is an adventurous, imaginative, romanticising, irrepressible, optimistic, lovable, larger than life character. He writes stories (The Tale of The Bloody Hand), although most of these are written in terrible grammar, much to comic effect. He likes to perform drama, and is fond of white rats, Bull's Eyes, football (soccer) and cricket.
A notable feature of the stories is the subtle observance of the nature of Leadership. William often has to reconcile his own ambitions with the needs of the individuals within the "Outlaws". His strength of personality means that his leadership is never questioned. This poses interesting comparisons with the era in which the majority of the William stories were written: the 1920s and 30s. And yet, despite his charisma and strength of personality, William rarely exercises his power over the Outlaws without conscience...
William has a few arch-enemies - Hubert Lane being the most sought after. Others include Hubert's lieutenant Bertie Franks and supporters.
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