Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind William - Hardcover

Cadogan, Mary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0049280546 ISBN 13: 9780049280540

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1986

Synopsis

Richmal Crompton's "William" is known even to those who have never read the books featuring his anarchic exploits. For many, the scruffy, adventurous and exuberant William and his trials and tribulations with the awful Violet Elizabeth and his companions in daring, Ginger, Henry and Douglas remain a part of our childhood. But what do we know of his creator, who always shunned the limelight? So shy of fame was she that, owing to her unusual Christian name, many people thought she was, in fact, a man. In this biography, Mary Cadogan provides a portrait of a witty and talented writer, and a celebration of her works. Fully illustrated with pictures of Richmal and her family - including the brother, nephew and great-nephew who helped inspire William's antics - and the timeless original pictures of William by Thomas Henry.

About this title

About the Author

Mary Cagogan is a specialist in the history of children's literature. Her biography of Frank Richards: the chap behind the chums' (Viking,1988) was reissued by Swallowtail in 2001, and her selection of Enid Blyton stories, 'A Treasure of Enid Blyton School Stories' (with Norman Wright, Sept 02, Hodder) is about to be published. She lives in Bromley, Kent.

Review

Richmal Crompton's William is known even to those who have never read the tales of his anarchic exploits. For many, the scruffy, adventurous and exuberant William, Ginger, Henry and Douglas - not forgetting the awful Violet Elizabeth - remain an ever-remembered part of our childhood. But what do we know of his creator? According to Cadogan, so shy of fame was she that she was happy with the fact that, owing to her unusual Christian name, many people assumed she was a man. In this sympathetically written biography, Mary Cadogan provides a portrait of a witty and talented writer, and a celebration of her works. Cadogan is a specialist in the history of children's literature, and her biography of Angela Brazil, You're a Brick Angela!, had the same quirky appeal as this volume.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0049280546
• ISBN 13: 9780049280540
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192