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Just William
William at War
Now with a fantastic redesigned cover to tie in with the new JUST WILLIAM BBC television series! William is always ready to offer his services to his country. But why is it that his enthusiastic contribution is so seldom appreciated? William is determined to do his bit, but unfortunately no one else thinks he'd make a hero . . . Ten wonderful wartime stories where William proves himself just as dangerous, unpredictable and downright troublesome as the Enemy!
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
11 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Richmal Crompton
473 books172 followersRichmal Crompton Lamburn was initially trained as a schoolmistress but later became a popular English writer, best known for her Just William series of books, humorous short stories, and to a lesser extent adult fiction books.
Crompton's fiction centres around family and social life, dwelling on the constraints that they place on individuals while also nurturing them. This is best seen in her depiction of children as puzzled onlookers of society's ways. Nevertheless, the children, particularly William and his Outlaws, almost always emerge triumphant.
Crompton's fiction centres around family and social life, dwelling on the constraints that they place on individuals while also nurturing them. This is best seen in her depiction of children as puzzled onlookers of society's ways. Nevertheless, the children, particularly William and his Outlaws, almost always emerge triumphant.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 18, 2018
The 'William' books are, of course, incomparable. They formed the staple of my boyhood reading (and dreaming) - a dozen or so tattered red-bound hardbacks, printed on yellowing war economy paper, that I had inherited from my father's boyhood reading - every story read a hundred times, every one an old friend, known intimately for its particular qualities of humour, language, description, character. Richmal Crompton had much in common with P. G. Wodehouse: both had an utterly distinctive comic style, one that never faltered, and both recycled their favourite themes shamelessly without ever becoming stale. I have yet to come across a William story that falls noticeably short of the series' high standard.
Although the books that I read as a child were published during the war, when my father was a boy, they were mostly written in earlier eras, the 1920s and 1930s. I didn't come across 'William at War' until quite recently. It's a wonderful collection of stories in its own right, and a fascinating document of its period. The William books present a sort of hidden history of English childhood, from the 1920s to the late 1960s.
Reading the stories as an adult, it strikes me that Richmal Crompton was one of the great English writers of comic dialogue, on a par with Harold Pinter. Her dialogue, like Pinter's, is not naturalistic, but strikes one as perfect in its modulation. William's self-justifying speeches are both hilarious and almost Orwellian in the inarguability of their twisted logic.
William remained 11 & 3/4 years old until Crompton's death in 1969. (In the very earliest stories - in one which he visits a 'kinematograph' - William seems a little younger, but he never grows any older) - as another commenter has said, he exists in a kind of 'magical stasis'. I like to imagine that when his creator died he was finally released to grow up. He'd be in his mid-50s now. About my age. Not bad considering he would have been born just before or during the First World War. I wonder what he's up to?
Although the books that I read as a child were published during the war, when my father was a boy, they were mostly written in earlier eras, the 1920s and 1930s. I didn't come across 'William at War' until quite recently. It's a wonderful collection of stories in its own right, and a fascinating document of its period. The William books present a sort of hidden history of English childhood, from the 1920s to the late 1960s.
Reading the stories as an adult, it strikes me that Richmal Crompton was one of the great English writers of comic dialogue, on a par with Harold Pinter. Her dialogue, like Pinter's, is not naturalistic, but strikes one as perfect in its modulation. William's self-justifying speeches are both hilarious and almost Orwellian in the inarguability of their twisted logic.
William remained 11 & 3/4 years old until Crompton's death in 1969. (In the very earliest stories - in one which he visits a 'kinematograph' - William seems a little younger, but he never grows any older) - as another commenter has said, he exists in a kind of 'magical stasis'. I like to imagine that when his creator died he was finally released to grow up. He'd be in his mid-50s now. About my age. Not bad considering he would have been born just before or during the First World War. I wonder what he's up to?
March 29, 2018
William Brown or Just William the boy who never grow up.Dennis Watterman & Bonnie Langford as Viliet Scream scream until your sthick Langford this WWII stories taken from.other collections
September 29, 2021
This was quite a pleasant surprise. After the first chapter or so I was a little bored, I mean, little boys with silly ideas thoroughly messing up everything all the time ... But then it really picked up and even became quite exciting
Beautiful illustrations.
Beautiful illustrations.
January 23, 2016
I have listened to many of these stories read by the inestimable Martin Jarvis, of course. None of this batch, interestingly, so it's a thanks to Andre for hunting out an electronic source. These don't age, do they? They're always just the same, held in magical stasis.
September 13, 2020
An excellent, amusing set of Just William stories, with something of a twist. These are the tales of William and his band of Outlaws as they live through the events of the Second World War.
I really enjoyed this collection, as it had the familiar Just William style, but also explored new terrority in the wartime setting.
My favourite stories included:
'William Does His Bit'
'William - The Firefighter'
'The Outlaws and the Parachutist'
'William and The Bomb'
'William and the Mock Invasion'
'William and the Teacake'
'The Battle of the Flowers'
With this book I have come to the end of my Just William adventures (the ones I own anyway).
I have throughly enjoyed the experience, some of the stories I had read or heard through the narrations by Martin Jarvis during my childhood but others were new to me.
I shall miss William and his band of Outlaws, their antics have made me laugh out loud at times, and longingly wish for those halcyon days of childhood, where one's biggest worry was what game to play or which sweet to buy.
Thank you to both William and Richmal Crompton for allowing me to vicariously relive those days through the adventures of the Outlaws.
I really enjoyed this collection, as it had the familiar Just William style, but also explored new terrority in the wartime setting.
My favourite stories included:
'William Does His Bit'
'William - The Firefighter'
'The Outlaws and the Parachutist'
'William and The Bomb'
'William and the Mock Invasion'
'William and the Teacake'
'The Battle of the Flowers'
With this book I have come to the end of my Just William adventures (the ones I own anyway).
I have throughly enjoyed the experience, some of the stories I had read or heard through the narrations by Martin Jarvis during my childhood but others were new to me.
I shall miss William and his band of Outlaws, their antics have made me laugh out loud at times, and longingly wish for those halcyon days of childhood, where one's biggest worry was what game to play or which sweet to buy.
Thank you to both William and Richmal Crompton for allowing me to vicariously relive those days through the adventures of the Outlaws.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2022
"William books" as I call the books of the main protagonist called William Brown written by Richmal Crompton, are always a fav, always bringing laughter and amusement to the reader.
In this book my favourite chapter was "William and the Mock Invasion", no wait it was "William - the Salvage Collector", then again it could be "The Outlaws and the Parachutist", I dunno, maybe my fav, totally fav was "William and the Bomb"🤔 ... actually I loved all the chapters.
The book is about William Brown and is set in the WWII era and ends when the Allies have already won. It is really funny and enjoyable. Readable by adults and children alike.
5 stars *****, cool book. 💗
In this book my favourite chapter was "William and the Mock Invasion", no wait it was "William - the Salvage Collector", then again it could be "The Outlaws and the Parachutist", I dunno, maybe my fav, totally fav was "William and the Bomb"🤔 ... actually I loved all the chapters.
The book is about William Brown and is set in the WWII era and ends when the Allies have already won. It is really funny and enjoyable. Readable by adults and children alike.
5 stars *****, cool book. 💗
July 14, 2023
A cheery read. It is William's wartime stories that had stuck most firmly in my mind, so it came as rather a surprise to find that so few of his stories were actually explicitly Home Front themed, although there are limits to how many interactions William can have with the ARP, Home Guard and unexploded bombs! It's hardly a gritty look at life in the Blitz, given that these are families with cooks, maids and gardeners and no one is bombed out or bereaved. It's standard, entertaining William fare with added tin hats and shrapnel! The Outlaws are much in evidence and it is good to see Joan and Violet Elizabeth - a marvellous creation - feature but, sadly, Jumble is absent.
January 1, 2023
Well, what's wrong with a little bit of nostalgia at Christmas?
I read these books years ago and this collection had the added dimension of being written during the war, it being a compilation of short stories taken from several books written from before the outbreak through to Victory celebrations. As such, there were some interesting details of the characters and activities of the time. The humour was light, even though nowadays they would probably be banned for all sorts of reasons.
The stories were as amusing as I remembered them and thankfully, whatever scrapes William and his chums got into, they always seemed to come out ahead.
Just the thing to read as an antidote to the gloom of modern life with all its hassles and complications.
I read these books years ago and this collection had the added dimension of being written during the war, it being a compilation of short stories taken from several books written from before the outbreak through to Victory celebrations. As such, there were some interesting details of the characters and activities of the time. The humour was light, even though nowadays they would probably be banned for all sorts of reasons.
The stories were as amusing as I remembered them and thankfully, whatever scrapes William and his chums got into, they always seemed to come out ahead.
Just the thing to read as an antidote to the gloom of modern life with all its hassles and complications.
April 28, 2020
It was okay iked it a lot fun and interesting.
June 30, 2020
Always enjoy reading the Just William stories. I have been reading them for nearly 60 years.
They are not children's stories and are enjoyed by adults and there is often a twist to the tale.
They are not children's stories and are enjoyed by adults and there is often a twist to the tale.
March 11, 2022
Ah good ole William!
A feel-good series at the level of Wodehouse, and what that i’ll take up anytime.
A feel-good series at the level of Wodehouse, and what that i’ll take up anytime.
October 11, 2025
A hoot!!!
Crompton never lets you down. She has crafted another hilarious but thought provoking anarchic romp in a much missed England.
Thank you once more Richmal.
Crompton never lets you down. She has crafted another hilarious but thought provoking anarchic romp in a much missed England.
Thank you once more Richmal.
August 21, 2016
Absolutely love William! First read most of the series as a child, but have started reading the 'new' apparently politically-correct version. Apart from an unappealing new cover, the wonderful Thomas Henry illustrations and William's efforts at doing his bit against 'ol' Hitler's Nasties' are all in place. Great stuff.
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June 5, 2013can we get any free ebooks of william to read. i am a die hard fan of william but the prices are very high
joy mascarenhas
joy.peter110@gmail.com
joy mascarenhas
joy.peter110@gmail.com
April 23, 2016
A funny and entertaining story but a little too young for me.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews