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Just William #4
William the Fourth
Macmillan 1983 fine paperback In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1924
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 26, 2017
Early last year I came upon the dregs of the library of a very wealth Swiss family. The dispersal of the expensive chattels of the estate, including the better books, was undertaken by one of those auction houses that specialises in the disposal of rich history. But the dregs of the books, as well as other very minor bits ended up in the stock of one of the sellers I frequent at the open air book markets in Geneva. A few of the items, though valueless, had the emblem of the house upon them, which is why I could tell what they were.
Rich or not, this was a family which had loved reading over hundreds of years and here were items from the 1920s to 1970s or thereabouts, reflecting their interest in English literature for young and old. Some of it I bought out of sheer curiosity, authors like Barbara Pym I'd never read, but perhaps I should. William I bought because I adored these books as a kid and haven't read them since the 1960s.
They had aged well then - this early one was first published in 1924 - and fifty years later again they are still standing up as fresh, fun and elegantly written. Apparently an attempt is being made to rehabilitate Crompton as a writer for adults. I must dip into that: if they are anything like as good as her books for children, they'll be a pleasure to snort over, taking care not to spill one's cup of tea while doing that.
Most of the stories are strong - I see one or two complaints on GR that they are repetitive from book to book, but children want that. If they are going to reread the same book over and over, why not stories that are the same but different?
I particularly love the one where a big company opens a sweet shop in the village, undercutting Mr Moss with whom they have always shopped. Come Saturday they take their money to the new shop, get served by a girl who doesn't care and thinks having to sell to them in h'penny lots is ridiculous. As they walk along chomping on their lollies, they pass Mr Moss's shop. He is very sad, quite unlike his usual jolly self. He can't put his prices any lower, but, just like Amazon, the new shop has the financial power to sacrifice short term profits for the long term gains of putting Mr Moss out of business with the cooperation of the locals. He stresses to the boys that they are doing the right thing, of course they have to go to the cheaper shop, but vague ideas appear in the minds of the boys.
William and his gang start realising that it isn't necessarily good to buy cheapest. They want Mr Moss to be happy. They talk about how when they buy from Mr Moss he cares, he is always interested in what they buy. He welcomes their purchasing a h'penny worth at a time. They are sure, now that they think about it, that his sweets taste better too. But what to do? Start a campaign to make people buy from Mr Moss, but how can they, they have no weight, why would anybody notice?
Ah, but William, as usual has a plan. And as usual, no matter how many plans go awry, his followers fall into the next without a moment's hesitation. The Duke is going to be in town to open a Sale of Work. When he appears on stage to do that, unbeknownst to him, he has a big sign on his back advertising Mr Moss's shop. As he wanders around the Sale, the locals summon the Vicar to tell the Duke what's on his back, a large crowd following him around due to the unlikely sight. Just as the Vicar explains and takes the sign off to show the Duke, William and his cohorts appear, each wearing placards with creative spelling announcing the various benefits of Mr Moss's sweets.
The Duke can recognise a ringleader when he sees one. He asks for William to be brought to him. William in his tripping over his tongue enthusiastic way explains about Mr Moss and the Amazon-like attempt to close him down and how much they want to help and that nobody would notice them unless, he thought, they could put their sign on an important person who would be decent enough to care.
Well, the Duke's been to more Sales of Work than he cares to think about and this is the first bright moment he's had for many an appearance. He tells William and the others that they must discuss this further over ices. The eager captive audience of lads listens to his tales of adventure like big game hunting and together they discuss Red Indians and pirates. Then the Duke, with boys in hand, goes to visit Mr Moss. He buys a pound of sweets for each boy and he makes a standing order for himself of cokernuts. Instantly Mr Moss is known as supplier of cokernuts to Royalty. The Amazon shop closes down, Mr Moss is reinstated as the place to go to.
And of William?
Rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
Rich or not, this was a family which had loved reading over hundreds of years and here were items from the 1920s to 1970s or thereabouts, reflecting their interest in English literature for young and old. Some of it I bought out of sheer curiosity, authors like Barbara Pym I'd never read, but perhaps I should. William I bought because I adored these books as a kid and haven't read them since the 1960s.
They had aged well then - this early one was first published in 1924 - and fifty years later again they are still standing up as fresh, fun and elegantly written. Apparently an attempt is being made to rehabilitate Crompton as a writer for adults. I must dip into that: if they are anything like as good as her books for children, they'll be a pleasure to snort over, taking care not to spill one's cup of tea while doing that.
Most of the stories are strong - I see one or two complaints on GR that they are repetitive from book to book, but children want that. If they are going to reread the same book over and over, why not stories that are the same but different?
I particularly love the one where a big company opens a sweet shop in the village, undercutting Mr Moss with whom they have always shopped. Come Saturday they take their money to the new shop, get served by a girl who doesn't care and thinks having to sell to them in h'penny lots is ridiculous. As they walk along chomping on their lollies, they pass Mr Moss's shop. He is very sad, quite unlike his usual jolly self. He can't put his prices any lower, but, just like Amazon, the new shop has the financial power to sacrifice short term profits for the long term gains of putting Mr Moss out of business with the cooperation of the locals. He stresses to the boys that they are doing the right thing, of course they have to go to the cheaper shop, but vague ideas appear in the minds of the boys.
William and his gang start realising that it isn't necessarily good to buy cheapest. They want Mr Moss to be happy. They talk about how when they buy from Mr Moss he cares, he is always interested in what they buy. He welcomes their purchasing a h'penny worth at a time. They are sure, now that they think about it, that his sweets taste better too. But what to do? Start a campaign to make people buy from Mr Moss, but how can they, they have no weight, why would anybody notice?
Ah, but William, as usual has a plan. And as usual, no matter how many plans go awry, his followers fall into the next without a moment's hesitation. The Duke is going to be in town to open a Sale of Work. When he appears on stage to do that, unbeknownst to him, he has a big sign on his back advertising Mr Moss's shop. As he wanders around the Sale, the locals summon the Vicar to tell the Duke what's on his back, a large crowd following him around due to the unlikely sight. Just as the Vicar explains and takes the sign off to show the Duke, William and his cohorts appear, each wearing placards with creative spelling announcing the various benefits of Mr Moss's sweets.
The Duke can recognise a ringleader when he sees one. He asks for William to be brought to him. William in his tripping over his tongue enthusiastic way explains about Mr Moss and the Amazon-like attempt to close him down and how much they want to help and that nobody would notice them unless, he thought, they could put their sign on an important person who would be decent enough to care.
Well, the Duke's been to more Sales of Work than he cares to think about and this is the first bright moment he's had for many an appearance. He tells William and the others that they must discuss this further over ices. The eager captive audience of lads listens to his tales of adventure like big game hunting and together they discuss Red Indians and pirates. Then the Duke, with boys in hand, goes to visit Mr Moss. He buys a pound of sweets for each boy and he makes a standing order for himself of cokernuts. Instantly Mr Moss is known as supplier of cokernuts to Royalty. The Amazon shop closes down, Mr Moss is reinstated as the place to go to.
And of William?
Rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
August 4, 2023
Las mejores historias de este tomo son cuando Guillermo decide hacerse bolchevique, cuando él y sus amigos consiguen salvar la tienda de caramelos de la competencia de una gran compañía, y la aventura de la colección de insectos y el club de pensamientos elevados.
February 14, 2023
Wouter is een jongetje dat niet zo braaf is, vaak tot wanhoop van zijn vader en moeder. Niet bijster geliefd door broer en zus die maar al te vaak het slachtoffer zijn bij zijn gebrek aan inzicht tussen mijn en dijn. Voor jonoge lezers zijn de belevenissen van Wouter, die gewoon doet waar hij zin in heeft en over de gevolgen wel zal nadenken als het te laat is, een spannend avontuur van begin tot eind. Want Wouter doet alles wat een normaal kind niet mag of kan doen.
Vaak wordt Wouter gestraft voor zijn streken maar even vaak of misschien zelfs nog vaker helpt het toeval hem een handje om er straffeloos mee weg te komen.
Het verhaal speelt zich grotendeels af bij Wouter thuis en in de buurt en voor een korte episode wat verder bij een zus van zijn moeder. Hij maakt makkelijk vrienden zolang hij maar de baas kan spelen en kan opscheppen. Dan is hij haantje-de-voorste in het bedenken en uitvoeren van kattekwaad. Al draait hij zijn hand er niet voor om om een ander voor zijn fouten te laten opdraaien.
Hij vindt het leven vervelend en doet er alles aan om dat te veranderen, waar hij tot afgrijzen van zijn slachtoffers en familie ook prachtig in lukt.
Vaak wordt Wouter gestraft voor zijn streken maar even vaak of misschien zelfs nog vaker helpt het toeval hem een handje om er straffeloos mee weg te komen.
Het verhaal speelt zich grotendeels af bij Wouter thuis en in de buurt en voor een korte episode wat verder bij een zus van zijn moeder. Hij maakt makkelijk vrienden zolang hij maar de baas kan spelen en kan opscheppen. Dan is hij haantje-de-voorste in het bedenken en uitvoeren van kattekwaad. Al draait hij zijn hand er niet voor om om een ander voor zijn fouten te laten opdraaien.
Hij vindt het leven vervelend en doet er alles aan om dat te veranderen, waar hij tot afgrijzen van zijn slachtoffers en familie ook prachtig in lukt.
May 25, 2016
I'm starting to find the William stories extremely samey; it's quite beyond me how the series managed to continue with regular releases for fifty years. Already there are chapters which clearly reuse ideas from the previous three books, for example William has now, on two separate occasions, accompanied two separate aged relatives to boisterous entertainment venues and been surprised by their loss of inhibitions.
I found the decision of William's family to have Ethel's mangy old cat put down just because it made too much noise completely disgusting. In the future I am hoping to see more made of William's well-meaning but hapless side, and also of his boyish adventures with his fellow Outlaws, of whom only Ginger has really had a decent look-in so far.
I found the decision of William's family to have Ethel's mangy old cat put down just because it made too much noise completely disgusting. In the future I am hoping to see more made of William's well-meaning but hapless side, and also of his boyish adventures with his fellow Outlaws, of whom only Ginger has really had a decent look-in so far.
October 15, 2023
Richmal Crompton, what could you possibly be concocting in your whimsically brilliant mind that you'd bring forth a character as mischievously delightful as William? And just when I thought our young protagonist couldn't be more amusing, along comes "William the Fourth"! (Note to the uninitiated: This isn't a historical piece about an actual king, though William might occasionally fancy himself as one).
Firstly, let's just address the elephant in the room: William is *not* turning into an upstanding citizen. But then, who needs another one of those, eh? William's consistent commitment to pandemonium is something that should be admired. Much like how some of us commit to a diet and fail spectacularly by the third day (or is that just me?), William remains committed to his escapades and evades the grasp of maturity with the finesse of a fox.
Crompton's village setting is once again the battleground for William and his 'Outlaws', and what a battleground it is! Imagine a place where the hedges whisper secrets, where every turn promises an adventure, and where every adult's sigh of exasperation is a badge of honour for our young heroes.
Each chapter is a standalone story, giving one the luxury to pick up the book and start from any point. Though, why you'd want to skip ahead and miss any of William's antics is beyond me. It's like eating dessert before your starter – simply preposterous!
And speaking of chapters, oh the titles! 'William All The Time', 'Kidnappers', 'William Advertises'. Each title is but a gateway to chaos, a portal to the ever-fertile imagination of our young ruffian. One might wonder how many kidnappings have been committed in rural England, but that's beside the point.
Now, I'll not reveal too much (for fear of William's retribution), but let's just say that the misadventures in "William the Fourth" are such that if he were alive today, he'd probably have a very successful YouTube channel, monetised solely by the number of collective facepalms from his viewers.
In conclusion, "William the Fourth" is another feather in Crompton's cap, a delightful romp that assures us that while the world may change, the spirit of mischievous childhood remains constant. If you have ever been a child (which I presume all of us have been, barring some peculiar exceptions), this book is a nostalgic trip back to those golden days of innocence and chaos.
So, grab a cuppa, curl up in your favourite chair, and let William take you on a journey of laughter, facepalms, and the occasional tear. After all, who wouldn't want to relive their childhood with William as their guide? Just make sure you've hidden all the breakables first.
Firstly, let's just address the elephant in the room: William is *not* turning into an upstanding citizen. But then, who needs another one of those, eh? William's consistent commitment to pandemonium is something that should be admired. Much like how some of us commit to a diet and fail spectacularly by the third day (or is that just me?), William remains committed to his escapades and evades the grasp of maturity with the finesse of a fox.
Crompton's village setting is once again the battleground for William and his 'Outlaws', and what a battleground it is! Imagine a place where the hedges whisper secrets, where every turn promises an adventure, and where every adult's sigh of exasperation is a badge of honour for our young heroes.
Each chapter is a standalone story, giving one the luxury to pick up the book and start from any point. Though, why you'd want to skip ahead and miss any of William's antics is beyond me. It's like eating dessert before your starter – simply preposterous!
And speaking of chapters, oh the titles! 'William All The Time', 'Kidnappers', 'William Advertises'. Each title is but a gateway to chaos, a portal to the ever-fertile imagination of our young ruffian. One might wonder how many kidnappings have been committed in rural England, but that's beside the point.
Now, I'll not reveal too much (for fear of William's retribution), but let's just say that the misadventures in "William the Fourth" are such that if he were alive today, he'd probably have a very successful YouTube channel, monetised solely by the number of collective facepalms from his viewers.
In conclusion, "William the Fourth" is another feather in Crompton's cap, a delightful romp that assures us that while the world may change, the spirit of mischievous childhood remains constant. If you have ever been a child (which I presume all of us have been, barring some peculiar exceptions), this book is a nostalgic trip back to those golden days of innocence and chaos.
So, grab a cuppa, curl up in your favourite chair, and let William take you on a journey of laughter, facepalms, and the occasional tear. After all, who wouldn't want to relive their childhood with William as their guide? Just make sure you've hidden all the breakables first.
August 16, 2017
This review is about the audio version of the book; it is the 5th William audio book I have listened to and is just as good as the others. The books concern a small boy and his friends getting into trouble and is very light and entertaining. I read an interview with the author and she said that the books were never intended to be targeted exclusively for children; it just ended up that way. I recommend the entire series, it is perfect for children and adults who want to read about a more innocent time. The narrator is very good and creates different voices for the characters using the correct tones of irony, hysteria and sarcasm as needed.
August 22, 2021
Yo creo que es muy difícil mantener el tono humorístico con esta serie, libro a libro. Destacamos de este volumen, "El punto flaco", en la que Roberto, el hermano de Guillermo introduce en su cuarto las reuniones de un grupo de admiradores de los bolcheviques, bajo la atenta mirada de Guillermo Brown. "Guillermo y el gato negro" una historia, un tanto cruel, sobre el amor a los gatos. A mí me ha gustado especialmente "Secuestradores" , un secuestro practicado por Guillermo y Pelirrojo, con un particular síndrome de Estocolmo.
March 21, 2017
More William stories. They are quite funny, but better enjoyed in small doses because, while Richmal Crompton has a wonderful sense of humor and a good eye for satire, sometimes her ideas are too similar. We know by know what kind of thing she likes to make fun of, and some stories become predictable because of that. Still, William often manages to surprise us with his ideas, and many good things are to come.
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February 19, 2025Just William is the greatest series of books ever created, one of the most underrated female author/kids author/ female kids author ever, never had kids or married, its a shame she was born so much before me, because id marry her in an instant. Your memory lives on in my heart Richy.
I dont have the patience to do this for all 30+ of them but the point stands i think
I dont have the patience to do this for all 30+ of them but the point stands i think
November 26, 2018
More fun. These books are getting me through chemo!
July 15, 2019
Excellent!
January 4, 2020
Un libro más de Guillermo. En su estilo. A mí me parecen encantadores, quizás a las nuevas generaciones no les gusten tanto.
January 11, 2020
Very funny!
October 13, 2020
Just love these books.
October 1, 2021
Very funny and int'restin'. Some of my favourite stories are William's Evening Out and The Dress Rehearsal.
June 6, 2023
A nostalgic blast from the past. More hijinks from William and his gang of Outlaws. William is a very capable individual when it comes to creating an unholy mess.
March 12, 2015
Wonderful fun - and a huge nostalgia trip as I started reading "The Weak Spot" where William becomes a communist and redistributes his brother's wealth, a story I remember vividly from childhood. They are all beautifully constructed vignettes, almost Wodehousian, where a small event spirals out of control thanks to William's imagination, enthusiasm and misunderstanding of the adult world. Unlike most children's fiction I still find them satisfying to read as an adult.
June 10, 2022
Another terrific set of 'Just William' stories. As always it had me laughing out loud at the antics of William and his band of Outlaws. My favourite stories included:
'The Weak Spot'
'The Fete and The Fortune'
'William All The Time'
'Aunt Jane's Treat'
'William' s Evening Out'
'William Advertises'
'William Enters Politics'
William Makes A Night of It'
Love the William books, both from childhood and now reading (and listening) to them as an adult.
'The Weak Spot'
'The Fete and The Fortune'
'William All The Time'
'Aunt Jane's Treat'
'William' s Evening Out'
'William Advertises'
'William Enters Politics'
William Makes A Night of It'
Love the William books, both from childhood and now reading (and listening) to them as an adult.
July 16, 2013
My childhood staple. I never tire of William and his out of the world antics. This is my umpteenth read, still I enjoyed it. You have to read William to know who he is. I cant do justice to his world and friends in a measly review.
January 25, 2017
Was given this book as a child, this character is hard to hate..
February 20, 2025
Sigue siendo muy gracioso pero algunos me han gustado menos.
January 1, 2019
William makes a night of it - is typical Willaim-ish . An ok set of other stories.
June 8, 2021
Very funny 😆
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews