Guest Post: Book Review: William by Richmal Crompton #1929club

What fun! Its time for another of Karen and Simon‘s biannual book clubs and the year they picked this time is 1929. Another year rich in its literary pickings, this one has left me (and I’m sure everyone else) spoilt for choice. Like last time, I have read some of my picks but am yet to get my thoughts in shape, so will be kicking off the club with a guest post from my mom who also very much enjoyed joining in earlier this year. Her first pick for the #1929club features a character who turns 100 this year, though of course he will forever remain 11! Here’s what she has to say:

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William, the lovable scamp turned 100 this year. What better time to make his acquaintance or renew old ties! The tenth in Crompton’s William series, William, first published in 1929 continues the adventures of the 11-year-old rascal, William, and his three equally disreputable friends Ginger, Henry, and Douglas or the Outlaws as they call themselves. Living in a small English village, the four make up their own entertainment usually centred on the other residents, particularly newcomers to the village, whom they view with great interest. As usual, each volume contains around ten short episodes, complete in themselves.

Source: Wikipedia

Inclement weather leads William and Ginger to turn to books, an activity very unusual for them. This welcome change to their usually boisterous activities could be attributed to the fact that their respective elder brothers had acquired a large number of detective novels, which with or without permission, fell into their own hands. When the sun shines again, the Outlaws meet, and the two experts in detection share with their friends their newly acquired knowledge about murders, and poisoning, how to find clues, and why the police never can solve a case without the help of an outsider. William’s priceless knowhow is best expressed in his own words:

“Tell you what it is,” he said, warming to his theme, “policemen have gotter be stupid ’cause of their clothes. I mean, all the policemen’s clothes are made so big that they’ve gotter be very big men to fit ’em an’ big men are always stupid ’cause of their strength all goin’ to their bodies ‘stead of their brains. That stands to reason, dun’t it?”

One thing leads to another and the boys set off to solve a “murder”, leading to a set of hilarious capers.

Then follows the organizing of a greyhound race, with betting, as you can’t have a race without betting.

“Bettin’s wrong,” objected Henry piously. ” “Only when it’s horses,” said William hastily; it’s all right when it’s greyhounds.” ” Besides,” said Ginger, as if exculpating them still further in the matter, “Jumble’s not exactly a greyhound either so it’s prob’ly quite all right.”

And where does one get a greyhound? Jumble has played so many roles in William’s escapades, that there is little need to look further.

“No one’s ever found out exactly what sort of a dog Jumble is,” he said distantly, “an’ I bet he’s as likely to be a greyhound as anythin’.”

William’s boundless imagination and steely determination to achieve his goals, lead him from one dire predicament to another. If William decides to have 200 little fish in his aquarium (A leaky washing pail donated by the cook), 200 it is, not a single one less, no matter the consequences. Finding sneaky ways out of these mishaps is no hardship to a brain like William’s, and provides a bellyful of laughs to the reader.

Next a fair comes to their village, but only for one day, and William due to the treachery of his rival Hubert Lane, finds himself in detention. Apart from the usual attractions at the fair, there is a waxworks show, which is new to the gang, but all the fun pales without William. This time Ginger sets out to rescue him. How can William visit the fair, and not get caught? The fertile brains of the Outlaws can always provide a solution, no matter if there is a painful ending.

The Outlaws are looking for a new adventure. The recent fair inspires them. Why not their own Waxworks show? What will they be? “History people”. But where will they get the costumes? With the true zeal of innovators, nothing is impossible for this gang.

 “History people jus’ wore tablecloths and long stockings an’ funny things on their heads. Anyone c’n get those. You can make crowns out of cardboard for kings, an’ other people wore waste-paper baskets or well, p’raps not saucepans,” ended William thoughtfully, remembering an occasion when a saucepan had slipped down over his head during his rendering of a dramatic part in a play and refused to be removed. And who would they choose? Why not the Kings who went to the crusades?

“Crusades ?” said Ginger vaguely. “Oh, they were jus’ things people went to wearin’ armour an’ suchlike. There wasn’t much goin’ on at home those days, you see. It was before cinemas an’ things were invented. They’d gotter do somethin’.”

Not only do they go to extraordinary lengths to put up a show, but William has to fend off the hostile and knowledgeable audience which spots similarities between the waxworks and the three missing outlaws, and large gaps in his knowledge of history. But Lady Luck does smile occasionally, and the show is a big success, bringing happy endings to other participants, as well.

Next comes a School collection for the new wing. Goaded by Hubert Lane’s announcement of donating five pounds, William instantly announces that the Outlaws would double the amount. Since their pockets are empty as usual, it is an impossible challenge. But William the incurable optimist, has his own views:

“Ten pounds isn’t much. I mean” in answer to their gasp of incredulity, “it isn’t much when you think of a hundred pounds or a thousand pounds or a million pounds. Why, when you think of a million pounds, ten pounds is ” hardly anythin’. ” An’ when you think of twopence, which is all we get for pocket money,” said Douglas gloomily, “it’s a jolly lot.”

Where there is a will, there is a way, and so the Outlaws prove.

Guy Fawkes Day is approaching, bringing with it a mixed bag of emotions. This is a day that the Outlaws look forward to the whole year, but this time, they have been banned from setting off fireworks, after their last attempt at manufacturing their own led to a narrow escape, while the shed went down in flames.

 “I wonder why it’s called Guy Fawkes Day.” “‘Cause a man called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the House of Commons,” said Henry. Henry was always the best informed of the Outlaws.

” Why ? “‘Cause he di’n’ like ’em, I s’pose.” ” Why di’n’ he like ’em? “People don’t like ’em. You should hear my father goin’ on about ’em. I be” t he’d blow ’em up if he knew how to.”

The only alternative is Colonel Master’s glorious fireworks display every year, but the irascible Colonel is well up to their tricks, and earlier attempts at peeping over the garden wall resulted in a drenching from a hosepipe trained on them. The Outlaws’ all out attempts at laying their hands on the fireworks their hearts desire, seem doomed to disappointment, till the sun breaks through. All set to enjoy their victory, they are disappointed once again. But they have their REVENGE!

Christmas is at hand and the Vicar’s wife has to turn to the Outlaws for help in collecting holly, as mumps has swept through the village and most of her regular little helpers are in bed. Only too eager to spend a full day in the woods with the wheelbarrow from the vicarage and full parental approval, they have a glorious time playing Indians, and Arabs, and to top it all, the Arab William is mistaken for a Martian by an old Professor, who achieves his lifelong ambition of meeting an alien.

William is never one to leave his friends in trouble. When his longtime friend and provider of cookie boys, Mrs. Roundway, worries about her rich, widowed sister being courted by a deceiver, William takes things into his own hands. His fertile imagination and glib tongue combined with practical action, when needed, help expose the erring suitor, and all ends well for his benefactor.

The last episode involves an enormous pig, for what is life in the English countryside without a gigantic pig? Shades of Emsworth and Blandings! Fearing severe reprisal from his father, when he is caught riding on a prize pig and his ears are twisted by the owner, William decides to blackmail Mr. Ballater into forgetting his complaint.

 “He doesn’t look as if he’d ever done anythin’ wrong in his past,” said Henry sadly; “he’s got a a good sort of face.” “Yes,” said William eagerly, ” but that’s why he’s never got found out. With him havin’ a good sort of face people took for granted that he hadn’t done it. If he’d had a bad sort of face they’d have known he did it.’  Did what?” said Henry the literal. ‘Did whatever he did,” said William. “Well, what did he do? ” ‘ That’s what we’ve gotter find out,” said William, and added feelingly, “I bet he murdered someone pullin’ their ears out.”

Sometimes, luck is on William’s side and he not only, escapes just punishment, but emerges a hero in the bargain.

Source: Wikipedia

For this priceless series of 38 books published between 1919 and 1970 (posthumously), we are indebted to Richmal Crompton Lamburn, born in Bury, Lancashire to Clara and the Rev. John Lamburn, a classics master at Bury Grammar School. Crompton graduated in 1914 with a BA honours degree in Classics. She also took part in the Women’s Suffrage movement. In 1914, she returned to St Elphin’s as a Classics mistress and later, at age 27, moved to Bromley High School in southeast London where she began her writing in earnest. The William books sold over 12 million copies in the United Kingdom alone, and have been translated into 17 languages. They have been adapted for films, stage-plays, and numerous radio and television series. Thomas Henry’s striking pen and ink drawings bring the series to life (Source: Wikipedia).