Richmal Crompton, Author of Just William

Richmal Crompton, Author of Just William: A Literary Life celebrates the first two William books, Just William (1922) and More William (1922). As well as a study of her famous character William Brown, this book is an introduction to Richmal Cromptons less well-known fiction and a story about her writing life. Her multifaceted identityher deep knowledge of Classical Greek and Latin literature and languages, her life as a disabled writer, and her writing about domestic violence and disabilityplayed a role in her literary persona. Jane McVeigh moves beyond Richmal Cromptons impact on childrens literature and offers an appraisal of all her writing including her novels and short fiction, her media profile on radio and TV, her impact on her readersboth adults and childrenand her international success. Particularly, McVeigh considers Crompton in the context of twentieth century woman writers and the development of crossover fiction for dual audiences. Thebook argues that as a woman writer pigeon-holed as a writer for children, Cromptons other novels and short stories have been side-lined and overlooked. More than a century after the first book collection of Cromptons William stories was published, this biography places Richmal Crompton among other twentieth century women writers.