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Somewhere in a small English village, a boy with unkempt hair and dirty knees, falling-down socks and wild hair, is righting wrongs and causing havoc – and is forever 11.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication in May 1922 of the first collection of Just William stories by Richmal Crompton. Over the next 50 years, Crompton published 37 more books in which the world changed but William Brown never did.

Often thought of as children’s books, the Just William stories were originally written for adults, and have an overlooked comic legacy. Through the eyes of a small boy, Crompton satirised the absurdities and hypocrisies of adult life, with a flair and wit closer to PG Wodehouse than Enid Blyton, and an influence extending through work as disparate as The Likely Lads by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Edward Rowett considers how and why these books continue to delight. Just William is a major comic influence on his own work and comedy ambitions – but he swears he has never painted a dog blue, blackmailed a sauce magnate, or accidentally abducted a Sunday school.

He discovers another possible source for the inspiration of William Brown and finds himself increasingly intrigued by Richmal Crompton herself.

He analyses Crompton’s prose and talks to fellow devotees Neil Gaiman, Caitlin Moran, Liam Williams and, of course, the voice of William for so many, Martin Jarvis. Dr Jane McVeigh author of a new literary biography of Richmal Crompton, Just William: A Literary Life, shows Edward around the Richmal Crompton archive.

Edward Rowett is a comedy writer and performer. Since 2015, he has written four series of the award winning comedy Reluctant Persuaders for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4.

The archive recording of Terry Pratchett was made by The Oxford Story Museum and is used with the kind permission of his Estate.
Just William Live was produced Roz Ayres for Jarvis & Ayres Productions for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 and used with the kind permission of Jarvis & Ayres.
With thanks to Kornelia Cepok, Archivist, University of Roehampton Library.

Presenter: Edward Rowett
Reader: Janet Ellis
Producer: Caroline Raphael
Sound: Shane O’Byrne at The Soundhouse
Location Recording: Nick Manasseh

A Dora production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4

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