William in Trouble

Just William #8

by Richmal Crompton, Thomas Henry (Illustrator)

William has a habit of being where he shouldn't be. But the village girls' school is the last place he's likely to be making mischief, isn't it?

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Childrens, Short Stories, Adventure, British Literature, Young Adult

260 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1927

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

[Joaquin del Villar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Octavo libro de las Aventuras de Guillermo. En este tomo aparece en varias aventuras el Colegio Femenino de Rose Mount, que da juego sobradamente a los "Proscritos". En "Guillermo y el Hada Narciso" sustituye a una de las alumnas mientras que esta se fuga del colegio, Guillermo la sustituye en una obra teatral. En "Todas las noticias", Guillermo y sus amigos hacen de reporteros, ayudados por Violet Elizabeth, que es mas bestia aún que Guillermo y sus amigos. "Guillermo entre los poetas" trata de Guillermo intentando ayudar a su hermano Robert en un concurso de poesía, también en este libro en "Guillermo en la verbena" trata de ayudar a Robert.

[Jayal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah good old William! I really should have revisited him earlier, but in my defense I never suspected the CPL was stocking them in the adult section.
For a moment I was hit with regret seeing the unfamiliar cover art, but no, the iconic original illustrations by Thomas Henry are faithfully intact inside the pages.
Each story is a literal delight from beginning to end, so you’ll be seeing a lot of William books on here next year as well..

[Farseer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richmal Crompton in good form. The Just William stories are basically following a similar formula, but it's a hilarious formula: all the follies and ridiculousness of the adult world are exposed when they are near the destructive force of nature that is William and his friends. Really funny to lose myself in William's world and William's logic.

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divertidísimo! Uno de los mejores volúmenes que he leído hasta ahora de esta serie. Las aventuras en el Colegio Femenino, las del mono (especialmente la del partido que enfrenta a los Proscritos con sus rivales acérrimos), la del ídolo chino... Son todas impagables!

[Janani K · Rating 3 out of 5]

William among the Poets is a funny one.

[Richard Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Another fabulous collection of William stories.

[MeryJiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho cuando lo leí de pequeña

[Rosie-Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, love Just William!! 😁

[Rosemary Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always and forever good.

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "William in Trouble" by Richmal Crompton, we dive once again into the delightfully chaotic world of William Brown and his fellow Outlaws. This book, possibly the pinnacle of the Just William series, showcases Crompton's talent for capturing the essence of childhood with a sardonic twist that appeals to adult readers as well.

The stories, such as "William and the Fairy Daffodil," demonstrate William's knack for unwittingly wreaking havoc. His adventures often lead to embarrassments for his family, highlighting Crompton's skill in portraying the contrasting worlds of unruly children and the rigid adult society. For instance, in "William and the Fairy Daffodil," William's disastrous yet hilarious addition to a school play leaves the audience and his mother aghast but thoroughly entertained.

The characters are brilliantly crafted, with the Outlaws embodying the four Greek humours, adding a layer of classical reference to their personalities. William's interactions with characters like Violet Elizabeth, who manipulates him with her stubbornness and famous catchphrase, add depth and humor to the stories.

Crompton cleverly uses William to poke fun at the pretentiousness and absurdities of adults. In "William in Trouble," the chaos William brings serves as a foil to the adult world's often comical seriousness. His escapades at a garden party, where he's mistaken for a musical prodigy, are a prime example of this.

Illustrator Thomas Henry's contributions further enhance the book's charm, capturing the essence of William and his world. The illustrations, like the stories, balance the whimsical with a touch of rebellion, making "William in Trouble" a joy to both read and behold.

In summary, "William in Trouble" is not just a children's book; it's a witty, insightful commentary on society, childhood, and the inevitable clash between the two, all seen through the antics of the unforgettable William Brown.

[Deborah Kelty · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's one of the great books in the Just William series, of which I hope to read more of in the future.
Filled with laughter and hilarious in most places, it turns out I quite enjoyed it.
Hope you enjoy it also!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable collection of William stories. I found myself chuckling at many of William and his outlaws escapades.

My favourite stories included
'William and the Early Romans'
'William and the Chinese God'
'All the News'
'William Among the Poets'

[Thomas A Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was given this book as a child, this character is hard to hate......

[Jake Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, these stories are essentially very familiar and the experience of reading them has started to become repetitive.