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Just William #12
William's Happy Days
William Brown is naturally suspicious of grown-ups bearing gifts. They always want him to do something, like run silly errands. It's bribery, pure and simple, and William is not a boy to be bribed. Unless it involves money, food, a pet or a precious heirloom in which case William will do anything.
232 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1930
10 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Richmal Crompton
472 books173 followersRichmal Crompton Lamburn was initially trained as a schoolmistress but later became a popular English writer, best known for her Just William series of books, humorous short stories, and to a lesser extent adult fiction books.
Crompton's fiction centres around family and social life, dwelling on the constraints that they place on individuals while also nurturing them. This is best seen in her depiction of children as puzzled onlookers of society's ways. Nevertheless, the children, particularly William and his Outlaws, almost always emerge triumphant.
Crompton's fiction centres around family and social life, dwelling on the constraints that they place on individuals while also nurturing them. This is best seen in her depiction of children as puzzled onlookers of society's ways. Nevertheless, the children, particularly William and his Outlaws, almost always emerge triumphant.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 17, 2022
I had this book in my Audible library, and coincidentally Kate Atkinson referred to it in A God in Ruins (in fact she did more than refer to it, but saying more would be a spoiler).
I wasn't sure it would work for me the way it did about forty years ago, when I first came acrossd the William series. It did. I added Richmal Crompton to the select group of authors who can really give you more than a few laughs in a book. The pandemic seems to have gone (as of September 2022), but the need to laugh hasn't.
I looked up Ms Crompton's bio, and found myself wanted to learn more about her and read more of her works. She became a victim of polio at 33, but lived to 79, producing a diverse range of fiction; she saw herself as a writer of adult fiction, which I will certainly explore.
A God in Ruins
I wasn't sure it would work for me the way it did about forty years ago, when I first came acrossd the William series. It did. I added Richmal Crompton to the select group of authors who can really give you more than a few laughs in a book. The pandemic seems to have gone (as of September 2022), but the need to laugh hasn't.
I looked up Ms Crompton's bio, and found myself wanted to learn more about her and read more of her works. She became a victim of polio at 33, but lived to 79, producing a diverse range of fiction; she saw herself as a writer of adult fiction, which I will certainly explore.
A God in Ruins
March 27, 2021
I just love how well the humour sits with me in these depressing times. The situations are really hysterically funny, and the characterisation is wonderful. Truly delicious turns of phrase as well. A great place to find oneself during lockdown! So well written as well - a delight.
February 3, 2018
These Just William stories are a delight, particularly when read by the wonderful Martin Jarvis. Richmal Crompton wrote these originally for adults rather than children, and they do show the full range of characters and relationships in families with young and older children in the years before and after the war - and they ring true for today as well, although the freedom children then had to explore and be free is unfortunately greatly diminished.
Well-written, very funny, yet achingly true to life - with exaggerations!
The GR blurb:
'William Brown is naturally suspicious of grown-ups bearing gifts. They always want him to do something, like run silly errands. It's bribery, pure and simple, and William is not a boy to be bribed. Unless it involves money, food, a pet or a precious heirloom in which case William will do anything.'
Well-written, very funny, yet achingly true to life - with exaggerations!
The GR blurb:
'William Brown is naturally suspicious of grown-ups bearing gifts. They always want him to do something, like run silly errands. It's bribery, pure and simple, and William is not a boy to be bribed. Unless it involves money, food, a pet or a precious heirloom in which case William will do anything.'
December 7, 2025
ENGLISH: Twelfth collection of William's adventures, which I have read for the first time. Some of them are funnier than others.
Some of them are very funny, especially "William goes shopping,"
ESPAÑOL: Duodécima colección de aventuras de William, que he leído por primera vez. Algunas son más divertidas que otras.
Algunas son muy graciosas, especialmente "Guillermo va de compras",
Some of them are very funny, especially "William goes shopping,"
ESPAÑOL: Duodécima colección de aventuras de William, que he leído por primera vez. Algunas son más divertidas que otras.
Algunas son muy graciosas, especialmente "Guillermo va de compras",
September 28, 2025
Just William – William Again by Richmal Crompton, a comedy that you should read for it is from the 1,000 Novels everyone Must Read list https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...
Nine out of 10
Laughing with William would help you get over the depressing news of the present, war in Europe (it is a nightmare one feels must end any minute) albeit the mirth of the comedy might be subdued, for there is so much in the background, the subconscious would be anxious about price rises, is the business still going to survive and all of that, but hey, one way to escape the gloom, is through comedy and repeating the Stoic mantras, live in the present, which is the only one that maters (as Tolstoy put it There is only one time that is important – NOW…It is the most important time because it is the only time that we have any power” and maybe there was the notion that the only important thing is what you do now and the relevant person is the one you have in front of you) and consider the transcendence to come…
With the world coming to an end, what can we do but laugh and be merry…the czar of Russia is crazy and he has access to nuclear weapons – he has reminded us three times, over the past weeks about that appalling aspect – and furthermore, you must not doubt that this fellow is capable of anything, yes, may have been surprised by the war he had started three twenty one days ago, but that is because of Hedonic Adaptation – a phenomenon which means we adapt to almost anything, except for the loss of a dear one, unemployment and very loud noise [do not move near an airport thinking you will not notice the booming atmosphere with time] and we could obviously add war there – and the fact that we tend to forget about the bad news, because they are replaced daily with a new batch of calamities - http://realini.blogspot.com/2021/01/e...
We could think of Dr. Strangelove and How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, the work of art by Magister Ludi Stanley Kubrick http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/01/d... and how in one of the best five comedies ever made they laugh at the idea of playing along in the game of nuclear weapons – which is, in case you have not heard and I am the one to give you the chilling news, what the Red Dwarf from the Kremlin does - and yes, this is insulting, but the guy is clearly miniscule in empathy, he is in fact a psychopath, which by definition is the monster who does not feel anything, he will speculate what stupid fanatics would buy, and then promote a calamity like Trump, but he does not have any emotion- and that is perhaps the only way to move through this.
In Doctor Strangelove, there is a lunatic that takes over the base he is in charge of (I think he was a general, equivalent of the present day czar of the new USSR which he regrets so much, calling it the biggest catastrophe of the last century, and he is trying to rebuild now, starting with Ukraine) and he shuts himself from the world, saying some stupid lines about the ‘bodily fluids’ and in real life we look at the Mad Man who had that speech about the Ukraine as a false country, led by Nazis – and yes, it becomes so grotesque, future generations will read this in an absurd key that resembles so much the Kubrick comedy it is eerie, for Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish, and has become a hero of the world, and he is met with standing ovations when he addresses the parliaments of the UK, Canada, EU and the American Congress…here I must confess that I had not liked the fellow, seeing his reaction to Trump and the blackmail, abuse of power and pressure, which the former comedian would deny when asked, but hey, the man has reacted wondrously under pressure and showed what would be called Post Traumatic Growth, something like the opposite of PTSD – and the ‘special operation’ relies on fake history…
The Mad Czar has spoken yesterday, referring to those who talk against his version of the war (which is not a war in the ‘doublespeak’ descended into this dystopian reality from Nineteen Eighty Four by magnificent George Orwell http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/05/n... but something else) and becoming again weird ‘spit out the traitors that have been taken over by the west like flies that have entered your mouth’ or something along these lines…George C. Scott, as the commander in the comedy is ready to fight his own army (just like the Crazy despot is killing brothers) just to be able to launch nuclear missiles against the Russians, something the president and his staff try to block, but they appear to have no solution…they talk to the Soviet leader – who is a parody, caricature, but so close to the joke that keeps the world guessing – only the man is…drunk and unable to make sense, when they tell him he has to shoot down the planes carrying the weapons of mass destruction…
If we come back for just a moment to Just William – somehow, this was meant to be about the light comedy, but the war has gotten into the way – we can also see this dictator as a spoiled child, who wants to have his way, no matter how preposterous his claim is, if the toy is inaccessible and well, does not belong to him, somebody else has that country…he threatens to push the button and blow everybody up, if they stand in the way – the difference is that William is naughty and mischievous very often, but he is so likeable for most of the time, uses tricks, lies – there is the traveler who thinks this might be Stratford –upon- Avon, and William encourages this confusion and offers a tour
The tourist is an American – gullible, and perhaps a Trump supporter, if she were to step into real life and land in our time frame – and she is given the tour, shown the highlights – one house belongs to an old woman who dislikes William, but the latter solves this problem by claiming she is nuts – invited to meet his friends, claiming one is a relative of Woodsworth, another has another celebrity as ancestor and then when names run out, another descends from Nelson, just as William is from the…Shakespeare line
The above is innocent and a good jest, for nothing happens to the traveler, in fact, she is proud to mouth these stories when she is back in the US and lectures people on what she has seen in Britain (where they expect outré things to happen) and the boys of famous heritage she had met…in our real story of the Boy Emperor, his lies are not at all harmless, indeed, thousands have died already in the past weeks and many more will die, before some adult can manage to put the big brat (part of the problem with him, as they said on SNL a few days back, is that he is missing a few inches and the Napoleon complex is hurting so many, again) in the corner…if only Russians will revolt, as that brave protester, who came up on television with a banner against the war, on prime time no less, said ‘they cannot arrest them all’
Nine out of 10
Laughing with William would help you get over the depressing news of the present, war in Europe (it is a nightmare one feels must end any minute) albeit the mirth of the comedy might be subdued, for there is so much in the background, the subconscious would be anxious about price rises, is the business still going to survive and all of that, but hey, one way to escape the gloom, is through comedy and repeating the Stoic mantras, live in the present, which is the only one that maters (as Tolstoy put it There is only one time that is important – NOW…It is the most important time because it is the only time that we have any power” and maybe there was the notion that the only important thing is what you do now and the relevant person is the one you have in front of you) and consider the transcendence to come…
With the world coming to an end, what can we do but laugh and be merry…the czar of Russia is crazy and he has access to nuclear weapons – he has reminded us three times, over the past weeks about that appalling aspect – and furthermore, you must not doubt that this fellow is capable of anything, yes, may have been surprised by the war he had started three twenty one days ago, but that is because of Hedonic Adaptation – a phenomenon which means we adapt to almost anything, except for the loss of a dear one, unemployment and very loud noise [do not move near an airport thinking you will not notice the booming atmosphere with time] and we could obviously add war there – and the fact that we tend to forget about the bad news, because they are replaced daily with a new batch of calamities - http://realini.blogspot.com/2021/01/e...
We could think of Dr. Strangelove and How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, the work of art by Magister Ludi Stanley Kubrick http://realini.blogspot.com/2020/01/d... and how in one of the best five comedies ever made they laugh at the idea of playing along in the game of nuclear weapons – which is, in case you have not heard and I am the one to give you the chilling news, what the Red Dwarf from the Kremlin does - and yes, this is insulting, but the guy is clearly miniscule in empathy, he is in fact a psychopath, which by definition is the monster who does not feel anything, he will speculate what stupid fanatics would buy, and then promote a calamity like Trump, but he does not have any emotion- and that is perhaps the only way to move through this.
In Doctor Strangelove, there is a lunatic that takes over the base he is in charge of (I think he was a general, equivalent of the present day czar of the new USSR which he regrets so much, calling it the biggest catastrophe of the last century, and he is trying to rebuild now, starting with Ukraine) and he shuts himself from the world, saying some stupid lines about the ‘bodily fluids’ and in real life we look at the Mad Man who had that speech about the Ukraine as a false country, led by Nazis – and yes, it becomes so grotesque, future generations will read this in an absurd key that resembles so much the Kubrick comedy it is eerie, for Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish, and has become a hero of the world, and he is met with standing ovations when he addresses the parliaments of the UK, Canada, EU and the American Congress…here I must confess that I had not liked the fellow, seeing his reaction to Trump and the blackmail, abuse of power and pressure, which the former comedian would deny when asked, but hey, the man has reacted wondrously under pressure and showed what would be called Post Traumatic Growth, something like the opposite of PTSD – and the ‘special operation’ relies on fake history…
The Mad Czar has spoken yesterday, referring to those who talk against his version of the war (which is not a war in the ‘doublespeak’ descended into this dystopian reality from Nineteen Eighty Four by magnificent George Orwell http://realini.blogspot.com/2017/05/n... but something else) and becoming again weird ‘spit out the traitors that have been taken over by the west like flies that have entered your mouth’ or something along these lines…George C. Scott, as the commander in the comedy is ready to fight his own army (just like the Crazy despot is killing brothers) just to be able to launch nuclear missiles against the Russians, something the president and his staff try to block, but they appear to have no solution…they talk to the Soviet leader – who is a parody, caricature, but so close to the joke that keeps the world guessing – only the man is…drunk and unable to make sense, when they tell him he has to shoot down the planes carrying the weapons of mass destruction…
If we come back for just a moment to Just William – somehow, this was meant to be about the light comedy, but the war has gotten into the way – we can also see this dictator as a spoiled child, who wants to have his way, no matter how preposterous his claim is, if the toy is inaccessible and well, does not belong to him, somebody else has that country…he threatens to push the button and blow everybody up, if they stand in the way – the difference is that William is naughty and mischievous very often, but he is so likeable for most of the time, uses tricks, lies – there is the traveler who thinks this might be Stratford –upon- Avon, and William encourages this confusion and offers a tour
The tourist is an American – gullible, and perhaps a Trump supporter, if she were to step into real life and land in our time frame – and she is given the tour, shown the highlights – one house belongs to an old woman who dislikes William, but the latter solves this problem by claiming she is nuts – invited to meet his friends, claiming one is a relative of Woodsworth, another has another celebrity as ancestor and then when names run out, another descends from Nelson, just as William is from the…Shakespeare line
The above is innocent and a good jest, for nothing happens to the traveler, in fact, she is proud to mouth these stories when she is back in the US and lectures people on what she has seen in Britain (where they expect outré things to happen) and the boys of famous heritage she had met…in our real story of the Boy Emperor, his lies are not at all harmless, indeed, thousands have died already in the past weeks and many more will die, before some adult can manage to put the big brat (part of the problem with him, as they said on SNL a few days back, is that he is missing a few inches and the Napoleon complex is hurting so many, again) in the corner…if only Russians will revolt, as that brave protester, who came up on television with a banner against the war, on prime time no less, said ‘they cannot arrest them all’
February 14, 2019
Another charming addition to this series, which is a comedy centred around the incorrigible William, a schoolboy of around 11 who lives in an English village circa 1930s, and gets up to all sorts of mischief. The forerunner of many similar modern books, including 'Horrid Henry' and others of the like. Curiously, however, it is written in a style that would be almost impenetrable for the young reader of today (unless they had an extremely extensive vocabulary and could follow quite convoluted sentence structures), and you get the impression that these books are actually aimed at adults who are nostalgic for their own schooldays. It was, however, enjoyed greatly by my two boys aged 8 and 10 who I read it to aloud for their bedtime stories.
September 13, 2020
Another excellent collection of William stories, made me laugh out loud and long for a simpler time. This collection of stories also contains one of my favourite stories 'William and the School Report'.
My favourite stories included
William and the School Report
William's Birthday
The Outlaws and the Hidden Treasure
William and the Twins
My favourite stories included
William and the School Report
William's Birthday
The Outlaws and the Hidden Treasure
William and the Twins
December 5, 2024
My serotonin levels have never been higher than when listening to this.
March 8, 2017
{3.5 stars} What a mess. You gotter (speaking in William's words) laugh at William's personality. If one of my siblings acted like this I would never condone it, but I can't help snickering half the time at the way he says things.
I lowered my rating because there are a few mentions to ghosts and fairies. The last story especially surrounded around a woman who believed that nature came to life in a form of a fairy. That was a bit weird.
Oh, and a side note, I really cracked up how much the author uses italics. That was just great and it reminded me of Emily and Mr. Carpenter in Emily Climbs.
I lowered my rating because there are a few mentions to ghosts and fairies. The last story especially surrounded around a woman who believed that nature came to life in a form of a fairy. That was a bit weird.
Oh, and a side note, I really cracked up how much the author uses italics. That was just great and it reminded me of Emily and Mr. Carpenter in Emily Climbs.
May 2, 2024
William's Happy Days, the twelfth book in Richmal Crompton's beloved Just William series, once again transports readers into the lively world of William Brown, a mischievous but inherently good-hearted boy who has become a classic character in children's literature. This collection of stories continues the delightful tradition of depicting William's adventurous escapades, each infused with humour, chaos, and a hint of nostalgia for the simplicity of childhood.
Crompton's narrative, enriched with her hallmark wit, captures the essence of British suburban life in the 1920s and 1930s through the eyes of a boy whose intentions, though often leading to unintended outcomes, are always endearingly earnest. Her ability to weave tales that resonate with both children and adults is unmatched. Each story in William's Happy Days serves as a standalone adventure but also fits seamlessly into the tapestry of the series, maintaining continuity with recurring characters and settings that fans have grown to love.
What is particularly striking about this instalment is its ability to evoke a sense of joy and light-heartedness. Even when William's plans go awry—which they invariably do—the consequences are portrayed with such a benign and comedic touch that the reader can't help but forgive William's transgressions. His irrepressible spirit and boundless energy reflect a freedom that many readers will find both nostalgic and enviable.
The charm of William's Happy Days lies not only in its humour but also in its subtle morality. Crompton does not preach; instead, she presents William's world as one where right and wrong are often learned through natural consequences. This gentle moral grounding, combined with the author's keen insight into the minds of her young characters, ensures that the stories remain relevant and engaging.
For newcomers to the Just William series, this book provides a perfect introduction to William's world, offering a clear view into his character and escapades. Long-time fans will appreciate the consistency of the characters and settings, along with the fresh mischief that William manages to find in each story.
William's Happy Days is an excellent addition to Richmal Crompton's series. It captures all the elements that have made the Just William books beloved by generations: the humour, the chaos, and the undeniable charm of its young protagonist. It's a book that can be revisited time and again, each reading bringing new laughter and a warm reminder of the joys of childhood.
Crompton's narrative, enriched with her hallmark wit, captures the essence of British suburban life in the 1920s and 1930s through the eyes of a boy whose intentions, though often leading to unintended outcomes, are always endearingly earnest. Her ability to weave tales that resonate with both children and adults is unmatched. Each story in William's Happy Days serves as a standalone adventure but also fits seamlessly into the tapestry of the series, maintaining continuity with recurring characters and settings that fans have grown to love.
What is particularly striking about this instalment is its ability to evoke a sense of joy and light-heartedness. Even when William's plans go awry—which they invariably do—the consequences are portrayed with such a benign and comedic touch that the reader can't help but forgive William's transgressions. His irrepressible spirit and boundless energy reflect a freedom that many readers will find both nostalgic and enviable.
The charm of William's Happy Days lies not only in its humour but also in its subtle morality. Crompton does not preach; instead, she presents William's world as one where right and wrong are often learned through natural consequences. This gentle moral grounding, combined with the author's keen insight into the minds of her young characters, ensures that the stories remain relevant and engaging.
For newcomers to the Just William series, this book provides a perfect introduction to William's world, offering a clear view into his character and escapades. Long-time fans will appreciate the consistency of the characters and settings, along with the fresh mischief that William manages to find in each story.
William's Happy Days is an excellent addition to Richmal Crompton's series. It captures all the elements that have made the Just William books beloved by generations: the humour, the chaos, and the undeniable charm of its young protagonist. It's a book that can be revisited time and again, each reading bringing new laughter and a warm reminder of the joys of childhood.
September 26, 2023
The British equivalent of Dennis the Menace (US) and Ginger Meggs (AUS), William Brown, aged 11, is a hero to the rest of his gang, a constant disappointment to his family and teachers, and the scourge of the neighbourhood to most of the village. William is a practised larrikin and bush lawyer, constantly defying the rules and etiquette of his middle class background. William is not nasty or a bully but he is vengeful. If he likes you, he’ll do anything for you; if you cross him, watch out! He ruins fetes and garden parties, sabotages all his older brother’s and sister’s romances, and usually wins the day about 70% of the time.
The 38 books of short stories in this popular series were originally released between 1922 and 1970 and were firm favourites of mine growing up. Richmal Crompton kept William at age 11 throughout the entire series but changed the situations and backdrop to reflect the current time in which each book was written. This particular book was published in 1930 and I was pleased to find I still enjoyed it William’s antics a lot. While ostensibly for children aged 9-11, in many ways they are written for adults, as through William’s eyes, Richmal Crompton gently pokes fun at convention, airs and graces, and those who take themselves too seriously. British actor Martin Jarvis provides the entertaining narration, despite the poorer audio quality.
The 38 books of short stories in this popular series were originally released between 1922 and 1970 and were firm favourites of mine growing up. Richmal Crompton kept William at age 11 throughout the entire series but changed the situations and backdrop to reflect the current time in which each book was written. This particular book was published in 1930 and I was pleased to find I still enjoyed it William’s antics a lot. While ostensibly for children aged 9-11, in many ways they are written for adults, as through William’s eyes, Richmal Crompton gently pokes fun at convention, airs and graces, and those who take themselves too seriously. British actor Martin Jarvis provides the entertaining narration, despite the poorer audio quality.
December 9, 2018
I read this volume out of order, and was interested to notice that William was growing up. The story, "William, the Superman" (Chapter 8, p164 in my edition) was very moving, and very astute psychologically, I thought. Really liked it.
July 1, 2020
At first I didn't quite warm to William as he reminded me too much of what I imagine a certain British PM might have been like as a boy. But over time William became more enjoyable to the point that I quite liked him by the end. Fun read for my inner child.
September 7, 2018
Just William. Just wonderful.
June 20, 2020
William's Birthday is a classic story in this book . So is William the Superman !
March 3, 2023
I had to give this 5*. It brought back so many memories of reading the William books as a child. Written in 1930 but still a good read I think, for children today!
Read
June 8, 2013wonderful ,lucky, and cheerful William.
August 3, 2014
Fantastic!I liked the part where they decide to kidnap Reggie and chop of his curls.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews