Just William: The BBC Radio Collected Stories 2

by Richmal Crompton, Martin Jarvis (Narrator)

A second wonderful collection of Just William stories, selected and read by Martin Jarvis

Richmal Crompton’s stories featuring irrepressible schoolboy William Brown have been firm favourites with both young and old for decades. Perpetually scruffy, mud-stained and mischievous, he is a lovable scamp whose pranks usually end in disaster – for his harassed elders at least.

With friends Ginger, Douglas and Henry (the Outlaws) and the angelic thorn-in-his-side, the lisping Violet Elizabeth Bott, William has rightly joined the literary, and radio, immortals.

The stories in this collection include:

That Boy
The Bishop’s Handkerchief
William and Uncle George
The Haunted House
William and St Valentine
April Fool’s Day
Not Much
The Cure
William’s Wonderful Plan
The Outlaws and the Penknife
William the Reformer
William’s New Year’s Day
Aunt Florence and the Green Woodpecker
The Plan that Failed
William and the Begging Letter
A Question of Exchange
William and the Temporary History Teacher
The Outlaws and the Tramp
A Few Dogs and William
The Outlaws and the Missionary
William the Good
William and the Young Man
William and the Spy
William and the Badminton Racket
William Turns Over a New Leaf
William and Dear Little Peter
William and the Waxwork Prince
William and the White Cat
William and Photography
The Great Detective
The Fete - and Fortune
The Weak Spot
The Outlaws Go a-Mumming
William's Double Life
William to the Rescue
William the Film Star
William the Rat Lover
William the Showman
William And the Monster
William The Persian
The New Game
William and the Love Nest
The Cat And The Mouse
Waste Paper Wanted
William The Globe Trotter
William And The Prize Pig
A Present From William
A Night Of Mysteries
William and the Chinese God
William and the League of Perfect Love
Fireworks Strictly Prohibited
William the Psychiatrist
William Joins the Waits
Violet Elizabeth Takes Control
William – The Dear Little Boysie
William’s Brilliant Plan
The Outlaws and Aunt Jo
Violet Elizabeth’s Special Party

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Humor

Audio CD

Published June 7, 2018

About the author

Richmal 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.

Reviews

[Apo Malo · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories from the life of William are just some of the most refreshing and relevant stories one could read. The stories were written between 1922 to 1970 and yet, the mischievousness and imagination of children back then are still as applicable and relevant now! I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud at some of the troubles William finds himself in.

What I loved though was everything that Wiliam did was out of a need to help, be admired, or get revenge. All of which is relatable in the human experience - though, through a child's eye.

Whilst I enjoyed each of the stories, I found that I needed to take breaks between several sittings as the stories don't have an over-arching story plot. They're just individual experiences in the life of William. The only thing that ties it all together are the main characters.

I personally would read this book to children at bed-time. It's great content for dreams...