Sep 29, 2011 11:49 AM
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(Updated Oct 03, 2011 02:19 PM)
What can you say about a demure 11 year old who maintains an innocent face yet commits the most heinous of crimes? What can you say about a grubby, tubby, dirty looking, cheeky 11 year old who cours the English countryside with gay abandon? What can you call a small 11 year old kid who has ambitions of becoming a pirate, a knight in a shining armour, a red indian chief, a robber, a tramp? Lost for words, but the fantastic picture that William conjures is something that will last for a long time. The William series by Richmal Crompton stands way ahead of many of the children's books written.
Though not in the same league as Enid Blyton, the all time greatest for short stories, the William series deserves a special place in the pantheon of fantastic works about tough children. The subtle humour has a charm of its own - Not Wodehousian, but definitely sublime and mocks at society at times. The humour is wicked and subtle at the same time.
You have William and his band of friends(Ginger, Henry, Douglas being the others) who go by the name of Outlaws. You have the Hubert Laneites who for reason beyond comprehension, are always at loggerheads with the Outlaws. William has a very optimistic outlook and takes a very superficial view of all things grown up. He leads the outlaws in the many fights that they have with the Laneites. Many a time or rather most of the time, the Hubert Laneites are forced to retreat with ingominy despite their several attempts to stall any endeavor that the Outlaws would have started.
Set in rural England the stories traverse several periods. You encounter William when he is in quarantine, when his friends are away on Holidays and he is alone, when William is on holiday at the seaside, William in the wartime, when he appears on television. All through his daring and exemplary vision stands out.'Stands to reason' is how he reasons most of the occurences around him. In the world of William the grown ups do not exist, schools are but a bore, French is something that is not required. Life progresses at its own pace. His brother Robert and his love interests, his beautiful sister Ethel whom every guy in the village dotes, add to the funny twists in the tales.
No matter where or how you encounter William - Something is always bound to happen. Mrs. Brown comes across as the passionate mother who maintains an eternal hope that William changes for the better. The author paints a poignant picture of a doting mother who is proud of her son inspite of the headaches he gives her. The exchanges between William and his mother are fantastic and awe-inspiring. A visionary talks to his mother whose only vision is to see him spruce and clean .
William has so many interests that he finds himself in a quandary on the right career to choose. He is a red Indian chief, next he wishes he was an engine driver, he practices being a chimney sweep, a burglar, a detective, a scientist and what not. Yet he is not what other boys of his age would be. When the grown-ups start a literary society, he starts his own society to compete against the grown ups. More often than not, his works and endeavors are far better than the ones set up by adults.
He has a passion for writing stories and mystery ones at that. He talks about the'one eyed pirate', 'the Injun chief', 'sekkiatry' and draws sinister plots. In the confines of his bedroom, he conjures mysterious stories about heroes, villains, mystery, murder, intrigue, passion and what not. He talks about enemy countries at war, he talks about land uninhabited, tribes who are yet to be found, space animals and a wide range of other topics.
To say that the William series is meant for Children is an understatement. The books are meant for a wider audience. Any one can just read William and feel attracted and drawn into his rough and tough world. What strikes you is his buoyant vibrancy and the positive outlook. Seldom does William's optimism desert him. He pursues his goals with a one-track determination and the end is always good. He always knows that'retribution will be swift to follow' when he commits some errors which were actually some good natured efforts to please people.
His english is impeccable and he belives in writing he language as it is spoken. He hates history and works on a time machine that will catapult him into the future. William walks with a swagger - what appears to the ordinary eye as a small kid walking in the streets is actually much more - for William in his pomp is Sir William, knighted by Her Highness for capturing some spies.
William - I never tire of these books. Next to Wodehouse, these are among the fiunniest that I have come across. This is projected as a Children's book which it is not. There is a child in everyone and William's pranks will only elicit a wry smile at the very thought of what every individual would have done as a child. If I cannot lay my hands on a Wodehouse then a William is always my next choice.
Long live William !
May he succeed in whatever profession he chooses!
Never a dull moment when William is around
