Just William (book series) facts for kids

The Just William series is a collection of thirty-nine books written by the English author Richmal Crompton. These popular books tell the exciting adventures of a mischievous schoolboy named William Brown.

The series was published over almost fifty years, from 1922 to 1970. What's cool about these books is that William always stays eleven years old, even though each story is set in the time it was written. The very first book was called Just William, and often the whole series is known by that name. Most of the books are collections of short stories, except for one novel called Just William's Luck.

The Just William stories have been made into many different things, like TV shows, movies, plays, and radio shows. There are also lots of fans, including groups like the Just William Society.

Discover William's World

Where Do William's Adventures Happen?

William Brown is an eleven-year-old schoolboy who lives in a country village in Southern England. He's from a middle-class family. People have tried to guess where the stories are set. One idea is that the village is about 50 miles from London. Another suggestion is that it's near Bromley, Kent. An old drawing by Thomas Henry even shows a road sign pointing to "London A1", which would mean the village is north of London.

William is the leader of his group of friends, who call themselves the Outlaws. His best friend is Ginger, and his other friends are Henry and Douglas. William also has a scruffy mixed-breed dog named Jumble.

A typical William story often begins with William or the Outlaws planning something. This could be putting on a play, collecting metal for the war, or even looking after the spoiled Violet Elizabeth Bott. William always seems to get into trouble with his parents, even though he never understands why. His good intentions often lead to unexpected and funny problems.

Sometimes William tries to be very good. For example, in William's Truthful Christmas (from Still William, 1925), he decides to tell the truth all Christmas Day. This doesn't go so well:

William had just received a geometry set and a book on church history for Christmas.

"Did you like the book and instruments that Uncle and I gave you?" asked Aunt Emma. "No," William said sadly but truthfully. "I'm not interested in Church History, and I have something like those at school. Not that I'd want them," he quickly added, "if I didn't have them." "William!" screamed Mrs. Brown in shock. "How can you be so ungrateful!"

"I'm not ungrateful," William explained tiredly. "I'm only being truthful..."

How Current Events Shaped the Stories

The Just William books often included real-life events from the 20th century. For example, William the Conqueror (1926) shows ideas from before World War I. Books from the 1930s, like William The Dictator (1938), touched on Fascism. Stories from the 1940s, such as William and the Evacuees (1940), were set during World War II. Later, William and the Moon Rocket (1954) and William and the Space Animal (1956) were written during the exciting Space Race. Even with all these changing events, William and the other characters never grow older.

Meet the Characters

• William Brown – He's the main character, an eleven-year-old schoolboy. William is the confident leader of the Outlaws. He's unique because he's strong-willed and has his own ideas about the world. He loves being in charge of any adventure the Outlaws plan. William doesn't care much about his clothes or how he looks. He loves playing Red Indians and pirates and is always ready for a new project. This could be anything from catching spies to making a "moon rocket" or putting on a "circus." His dog, Jumble, is often a reluctant star in these shows. William usually doesn't like girls, but he can be chivalrous sometimes. He has a soft spot for his neighbor, Joan, who looks up to him a lot. William is a rebel and always hopeful. He often shows a strong sense of responsibility and never gives up on a challenge. His amazing imagination and love for adventure constantly get him into tricky situations. Even when he tries to "help" others, things can get complicated, but William usually wins in the end. His motto is: "Doin' good, rightin' wrongs, spreadin' happiness and walking down the narrow path of virtue."

• Ginger Flowerdew/Merridew – William's best friend and an Outlaw. "Ginger" is a nickname because of his red hair. We never learn his real first name, and his last name changes between Flowerdew and Merridew in the books. He has an older brother named Hector, who is friends with Robert. Many Just William stories focus just on William and Ginger.

• Henry – Another of William's friends and an Outlaw. He's known for being well-read and knowing a lot of things. He has an older brother, John, and a baby sister he often argues with. In the very first stories, he was William's rival for leading the Outlaws.

• Douglas – Also one of William's friends and an Outlaw. He's the most careful and quiet of the group. He's often the one who objects when William shares his wild plans. He has an older brother, George, who is friends with Robert.

• Jumble – William's scruffy mixed-breed dog.

• Margaret or Mary Brown – William's mother, who often has to deal with his antics. Despite many disappointments, she always believes in William. She often tells other family members who complain about him, "He means well." Her first name is Margaret in one book and Mary in others.

• John Brown – William's father, who often gets annoyed by William's troublesome behavior. However, sometimes he secretly agrees with William and even gives him money. Some stories suggest that Mr. Brown was very much like William when he was young. He works in an office and sometimes takes time off.

• Ethel Brown – William's older sister. She's a pretty redhead and very popular with the teenage boys in the village, especially Jimmy Moore. Ethel's age changes in the stories, from 17 to 21. William can't understand why anyone likes her because she's usually quite mean to him. But Ethel does care about William; she gets truly worried when she thinks he's sick, even if he's just pretending.

• Robert Brown – William's grown-up brother. He's always falling in love with different girls, each one he swears is "the most beautiful girl in the world." Robert's age also varies, from 17 to 22. He's a romantic who sees the world through the heroic novels he reads. He also tries to impress his friends and family with his knowledge and important connections. Many stories involve Robert trying to impress a girl, only to be embarrassed by William.

• Violet-Elizabeth Bott – The spoiled daughter of the rich Mr. Bott. She speaks with a lisp and forces the Outlaws to let her join their adventures by threatening: "I'll thcream and thcream and thcream till I'm thick." She first appeared in the fifth book, Still William (1928). Her lisp usually affects "s" sounds, but sometimes it changes to "r" sounds.

• Mr. & Mrs. Bott – They are a very wealthy couple who spoil their daughter, Violet Elizabeth. Mr. Bott made his money by inventing and selling "Bott's Digestive Sauce." While Mr. Bott is easygoing, his wife tries hard to impress high-society people with her wealth. Even though they are often seen as funny, the Botts are sometimes shown in a kind way. They take William and his friends more seriously than most adults do.

• Joan Clive/Crewe/Parfitt – The girl next door. She's younger than William and looks up to him a lot. William often tries to impress her. She's sometimes called an Outlaw or an "Outlaw-ally." Joan has three different last names in the series and her appearance changes too.

• Hubert Lane – William's main rival in the village. Hubert is the opposite of William; he's greedy, sneaky, and spoiled. He's also overweight and loves to eat. His gang, the "Hubert Laneites," usually stay loyal to him because he has a lot of pocket money, which he uses to buy treats for them. Hubert almost always loses when he confronts William.

• Bertie Franks – A key member of the Hubert Laneites, usually Hubert's second-in-command. He's also fat and spoiled.

• Oswald Franks – Bertie Franks's older brother, who is friends with Robert. He's quite similar to Bertie.

• Mrs. Lane – Hubert Lane's mother. She likes to think William and Hubert are best friends and goes to great lengths to end their arguments. She also spoils Hubert a lot.

• Mr. Marks/Markson – The headmaster of William's school, known to the boys as "Ole Markie." He's middle-aged and tries to hide his sensitive personality at work. He gets along well with older students but dislikes younger, more disruptive ones like William.

• Ole Stinks – William's chemistry teacher. He often punishes William for misbehaving in the lab but actually enjoys his company.

• Mr. French – The teacher mentioned most often. He is usually against William.

• Victor Jameson – The leader of another group of boys. Victor's gang generally supports William's, though they sometimes argue. Victor is often involved in fights against the Laneites.

• Jameson Jameson - Victor Jameson's older brother and a friend of Robert's. In one story, he starts the "Society of Reformed Bolshevists," which both Robert and William join.

• Jimmy Moore – A reliable young man who is Ethel's friend. He's her backup boyfriend when other suitors disappoint her. William once helped him get back into Ethel's good graces, and Jimmy was so impressed he gave William a new badminton racket.

• Arabella Simpkin – A strong-willed, clever girl who often causes trouble for the Outlaws. She usually argues with their leadership and always demands her money back after their shows.

• Archie Mannister – A forgetful young artist who is in love with Ethel. He's generally friendly with William and appears more in the later books. He also likes Eleanor, Colonel Fortescue's niece.

• Dorinda – Another girl William is interested in. She adores William and loves "funny things," including William's performance in a play. Her aunt lives in William's village.

How the Books Were Published

The William series first appeared in Home magazine and then in Happy Mag. After being published in magazines, the stories were collected and printed as books.

All the William books up to William and the Witch, published in 1964, were illustrated by Thomas Henry. He used ink drawings and watercolor paintings for the front covers. After Henry passed away in 1962, Henry Ford and Lunt Roberts continued drawing in his style.

List of Books in the Series

Richmal Crompton kept writing William books until she died in 1969. The very last book, William the Lawless, was published after her death in 1970.

The publication dates listed are for the UK.

George Newnes continued to print the series until the late 1960s. However, starting in 1963, they began to shorten their editions, usually leaving out two to four stories. These shortened versions became the standard ones through the 1960s and 1970s. It wasn't until Macmillan reprinted the books in the 1980s and 1990s that the full texts were restored, except for William the Detective. Editions highlighted in  green  are complete, while those in  red  are shortened.

Other Books and Plays

Richmal Crompton also wrote a one-act play about William:

• William and the Artist's Model (1956).

Other writers have also created plays based on William:

• Alick Hayes, Just William: A Play in Three Acts (1947).
• Alick Hayes, More Just William (1947).
• Ireland Wood, William's Half Holiday: A Play in One Act (1960).
• Matthew Barnes, Jonathan Massey Just William's Luck (2018).

Radio Play Scripts

Crompton wrote 55 radio play scripts for the BBC, which started broadcasting in 1946. These were later collected into 6 books from 2008 to 2010. Many of these plays were completely new stories, not from the books:

• 1. William - the Terrible (2008).
• 2. William - the Lionheart (2008).
• 3. William - the Peacemaker (2009).
• 4. William - the Avenger (2009).
• 5. William - the Smuggler (2010).
• 6. William's Secret Society (2010).

Film Books

Some books were published to go along with the movies.

• Just William: The Book of the Film (1940) was approved by Crompton but not written by her. It was the script for the first William film.
• Just William's Luck: The Story of the Film in the Making (1947) was published for the second film, without Crompton's involvement.

More William Collections

These books are not part of the main series. They feature stories that were already published in the original books.

• William - the Ancient Briton (1965).
• William - the Globetrotter (1965).
• William the Cannibal (1965).
• William and the Monster (1965).
• Just William and Other Stories (1977).
• The Just William Collection (1991).
• Just William - As Seen on TV (1994) - for the 1990s TV series.
• More Just William - As Seen on TV (1995) - for the second series of the 1990s TV show.
• William at War (1995).
• Just William at Christmas (1995).
• Just William on Holiday (1996).
• Just William at School (1997).
• Just William - and Other Animals (1998).
• Just William and Girls (2000).

Books About the Series

• Mary Cadogan, Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind William (1986).
• Mary Cadogan, The William Companion (1990).
• Mary Cadogan, Just William Through the Ages (1995).
• Gillian Clements and Kenneth Waller, Just William's World: A Pictorial Map (1990).
• Margaret Disher, Growing Up With Just William (1990).
• W. O. G. Lofts and Derek Adley, William: A Bibliography (1980).

Other William Items

• Just William's Cookin' Book (1977).
• Just William Annual 1978 (1977) - for the 1970s TV series.
• Just William Annual 1979 (1978) - for the 1970s TV series.
• The William Diary 1995 (1994).
• The William Diary 1996 (1995).
• Just William's Codes: An Outlaws Club Book (1994).
• Just William's Plays: An Outlaws Club Book (1994).
• Just William's Puzzles: An Outlaws Club Book (1994).
• Just William's Tricks: An Outlaws Club Book (1994).
• Just William Bumper Joke and Activity Book (1995) - for the 1990s TV series.

William on Screen and Stage

William's Films

Several movies have been made based on the Just William books.

• The first film was Just William (1940). It was directed by Graham Cutts and starred Richard Lupino as William Brown.
• Just William's Luck and William at the Circus were both released in 1948. They were written and directed by Val Guest. William Graham played William Brown in these films.

William on the Radio

In 1946, Alick Hayes, a BBC radio producer, created the first Just William radio series. It ran for two years as a sitcom. John Clark played William, and Charles Hawtrey played Hubert Lane.

Later, in 1956, a radio play called William and the Artist's Model was broadcast.

The BBC has also made many recordings of William stories read by Martin Jarvis. These were first broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

William on Stage

Because the radio show was so popular, there was a big effort to bring Just William to the stage. This allowed audiences to see the actors behind the famous voices. In 1947, a stage production of Just William began touring the British Isles. It broke audience records at most theaters. Many children saw their first play thanks to this show.

Shedload Theatre created a stage version of Just William's Luck that first appeared in 2017 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This play had William, the Outlaws, and Violet Elizabeth acting out the story themselves, like a play within a play. It used fun techniques like physical theatre, puppetry, and music. The show was praised for its imagination and energy. Just William's Luck later toured around Europe and Britain.

William on Television

1950s TV Series

In 1956, ITV aired a series called Over to William. It had 13 episodes and starred Keith Crane as William.

1960s TV Series

The BBC broadcast a TV series called William in 1962 and 1963. In 1962, Dennis Waterman played William. In 1963, Denis Gilmore took over the role.

Episodes

Series one

• William and the Wonderful Present (May 26, 1962)
• William and the Leopard Hunter (June 2, 1962)
• William Finds a Job (June 9, 1962)
• William the Counterspy (June 16, 1962)
• William and the Parrots (June 23, 1962)
• William and the American Tie (June 30, 1962)

Series two

• William the Peacemaker (March 30, 1963)
• William and the Little Girl (April 6, 1963)
• William and the Three Bears (April 13, 1963)
• William and the Sleeping Major (April 20, 1963)
• William and the Real Laurence (April 27, 1963)
• William goes Shopping (May 4, 1963)

1970s TV Series

London Weekend Television made an ITV series called Just William in 1976 and 1977. Adrian Dannatt played William.

Episodes

Series one

• William and the Begging Letter (February 6, 1977)
• William the Great Actor (February 13, 1977)
• The Outlaws and the Tramp (February 20, 1977)
• The Sweetest Little Girl in White (February 27, 1977)
• William and the Badminton Racket (March 6, 1977)
• A Little Interlude (March 13, 1977)
• William and the Prize Pig (March 20, 1977)
• William and the Wonderful Present (March 27, 1977)
• William the Matchmaker (April 3, 1977)
• Waste Paper Wanted (April 10, 1977)
• Only Just in Time (April 17, 1977)
• William and the Sleeping Major (April 24, 1977)
• William Clears the Slums (May 1, 1977)

Series two

• William's Lucky Day (October 23, 1977)
• The Great Detective (October 30, 1977)
• Violet Elizabeth Wins (November 6, 1977)
• William Holds the Stage (November 13, 1977)
• William the Philanthropist (November 20, 1977)
• It All Began with the Typewriter (November 27, 1977)
• A Rescue Party (December 4, 1977)
• William Finds a Job (December 11, 1977)
• Parrots for Ethel (December 18, 1977)
• William at the Garden Party (January 1, 1978)
• Two Good Turns (January 8, 1978)
• Finding a School for William (January 15, 1978)
• William and the Tramp (January 22, 1978)

Christmas Special:

• William's Worst Christmas (December 24, 1977)

1990s TV Series

In 1994, the BBC broadcast another series also called Just William. It was written by Allan Baker and starred Oliver Rokison as William and Tiffany Griffiths as Violet Elizabeth Bott.

Episodes

Series one

• William and the White Elephants (November 13, 1994)
• Finding a School for William (November 20, 1994)
• William and the Great Actor (November 27, 1994)
• William's Birthday (December 4, 1994)
• William and the Russian Prince (December 11, 1994)
• William's Busy Day (December 18, 1994)

Series two

• William Clears the Slums (November 12, 1995)
• Boys Will Be Boys (November 19, 1995)
• William and the Ebony Hairbrush (November 26, 1995)
• William and the Old Man in the Fog (December 3, 1995)
• Parrots for Ethel (December 10, 1995)
• William Turns Over a New Leaf (December 17, 1995)

2010s TV Series

In July 2009, the BBC announced a new series of Just William. The episodes were written by Simon Nye and broadcast in 2010. Daniel Roche played William, and Martin Jarvis narrated the series.

Episodes

Series one

• The Sweet Little Girl in White (December 28, 2010)
• Parrots for Ethel (December 29, 2010)
• The School Report (December 30, 2010)
• William Holds the Stage (December 31, 2010)

William in Comics

A Just William comic strip appeared in Look-in magazine from April to October 1977. It was adapted by Angus Allan and drawn by Arthur Ranson, to go along with the ITV series at that time.

William in Pop Culture

• The series was mentioned in the Good Omens miniseries by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett on Amazon.
• It was also referenced in Cosmo Pyke's song 'Great Dane' in 2017.