Richmal Crompton

Richmal Crompton Lamburn (1890–1969) was an English author and schoolteacher, best remembered for her series of children's books featuring the irrepressible schoolboy William Brown. Born in Bury, Lancashire, she studied classics at Royal Holloway College, London, and later taught at a girls' school. Her first "William" story appeared in 1919 in the magazine Home Magazine, and the first collection, Just William, was published in 1922. Over the next five decades, she wrote 38 William books, along with numerous short stories and adult novels. Crompton's genius lay in her sharp, affectionate satire of middle-class English life and her timeless portrayal of childhood rebellion. The William stories remain classics of children's literature, celebrated for their humor, linguistic play, and enduring appeal across ages.