Just William's Luck facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Richmal Crompton |
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| Illustrator | Thomas Henry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | George Newnes |
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Publication date
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1948 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio book |
| Followed by | William the Bold |
Just William's Luck is an exciting adventure book from 1948. It's part of the popular Just William series written by Richmal Crompton. This book is special because it's the only full-length novel in the entire series!
The story follows William Brown and his gang of friends, known as "The Outlaws." They come up with a clever plan to get lots of cool stuff. Their idea is to get their older brothers married! Why? So they can get all the wedding presents and trade them for things they really want. As you can imagine, their plans lead to some very funny and unexpected adventures. Along the way, they accidentally help the police catch a group of people who were illegally bringing fur coats into the country. Because of their help, they even get a reward!
This book actually started as a movie! A film called Just William's Luck was made, and it was loosely based on the earlier books. Richmal Crompton, the author, loved the movie so much that she decided to write this novel based on its story.
Contents
What Happens in Just William's Luck?
This book is full of William's usual mischief and clever schemes. The Brown family is often tired of William's antics. Even Emily, the maid, gets tired of William telling her what to do!
William and his friends, Henry and Douglas, love to play make-believe games. You might find them in the old barn, pretending to be "The Knights of the Round Table." Then, Ginger arrives with a fantastic new bicycle, which surely sparks new adventures for the gang.
Bringing William to the Stage: The Play Adaptation
Did you know Just William's Luck was also turned into a play? Shedload Theatre created a stage version that first appeared in 2017. It was shown at a big arts festival called The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.
Who Created the Play?
The play was written by Matthew Barnes and Jonathan Massey. They had a really creative idea for the show. In their play, William, The Outlaws, and Violet Elizabeth act out the story themselves! It's like a play within a play.
How Was the Play Performed?
The actors used fun, childlike ways to tell the story. This included things like physical theatre (using their bodies to show actions), puppetry (using puppets), and music.
Who Were the Original Actors?
The first cast included:
- Jonathan Massey as William
- Thomas Guttridge as Ginger
- Davey Lias as Douglas
- Greg Arundell as Henry
- Lucy Telfer as Violet Elizabeth (Later, Louise Waller played Violet Elizabeth)
How Was the Play Received?
Critics and audiences really enjoyed the play. They said it was imaginative and full of energy. Many people felt it truly captured the fun and lively spirit of Richmal Crompton's original book. After its first run, Just William's Luck toured different theatres across Europe and Britain. It even returned to Edinburgh in 2018!
