This book was perfect bed time reading when we got in from crazy jaunts across the country in the snow. William is a lovable character just 11 yers old and up to all sorts of naughtiness from a more innocent era. It was first published in 1922.
Chapter XI begins:
‘She’s – she’s a real Botticelli,’ said the young man dreamily, as he watched the figure of William’s sister, Ethel disappearing into the distance.
William glared at him.
‘Bottled cherry yourself,’ he said indignantly. ‘She can’t help having red hair, can she?
I know, I know – it’s daft, but just what I needed.
Thanks again to Niranjana (Brown Paper) for pointing me in the direction of Richmal Crompton.
If you slide your gaze over to my Library Thing thingmyjig on the right, you’ll see that I’ve started reading Ian Rankin’s Black and Blue. I thought I would probably go back to the beginning of the Rebus series but decided to start on this one as it’s in an omnibus edition of three which I’ve borrowed from the library. When I’ve finished with those ones I’ll start at the beginning.
What I’m really supposed to be doing at the moment is reading War and Peace and I can’t avoid it any longer so I’m planning to start that tomorrow, during the day time, I don’t think it’s bed time reading, somehow.
I’d only heard of Richmal Crompton recently, because one of her adult books was reprinted as a Persephone. William sounds so charming. I’m sure I won’t be able to find it here, sadly. Oh well.
Karen,
In Britain, when I was young the Just William stories were part of growing up, but I always avoided them because it was too much like real life for me with my older brother William behaving in much the same way. Now they are a nostalgia trip though and I’m enjoying working my way through them.
I haven’t read any of her adult books yet, I’ll get around to them sometime.
One of the things I love about the William books is the combination of daftness and erudition. In one of the stories, Crompton talks about this naughty scheme springing full-formed and shining from William’s head like Athena from Zeus…
I’m really scared to try out other Crompton books, for fear they’ll spoil the magic. She has another series featuring Jimmy, a younger boy, and he’s a ghastly milk-and-water version of William.
Niranjana,
I suppose the Just William stories were likely to be read by adults too as they were first published in Home magazine, presumably for the kiddiwinks to enjoy. But the best writers always seem to manage to cater for everyone and it’s a great way for wee ones to learn, isn’t it!
I’ve never heard of the Jimmy books, sounds horribly insipid, but people would probably have complained if there was a naughty young child – bad influence and all that. A mother once complained to me about the Raymond Briggs Father Christmas books.