William the Dictator

William — The Dictator is the 20th book of children's short stories in the Just William series by Richmal Crompton.

This book contains 10 stories. It was first published in 1938, and the first published versions are now collectors items and pretty rare.^[1]

This title and the stories contained within this book reflect a general theme of fascism.

Stories in short

He Who Fights

William's friends are away at the seaside, and in his boredom, he tries to make friends with Lucinda, newly arrived at the village. Lucinda is friendly with him only to 'show' her neighbour Ralph Montague, a red-haired boy, who had rejected her overtures of friendship, and wants him to fight that boy. William makes friends with Ralph independently though, the two boys being identical in taste and disposition. As they pass Lucinda she goads him to fight Ralph, and they do so. William is worsted, and Lucinda runs off in disgust. The boys continue their friendship to the detriment of the neighbourhood, until their teasing of a group of camping boys brings them to their nemesis. Bruised, they return home, with the excuse that they fought each other. William tries to use this as a means to get back into Lucinda's favours, but as the lady has seen Ralph's worse condition, he only gets attacked for having 'beaten' her idol.

A Question Of Exchange

The Outlaws put decide to do something they've never done before and settle on a television show. William is the good man, Ginger is the bad man, Douglas is the good man's old father, Henry is a policeman and Violet Elizabeth is the girl. She steals her Auntie Maggie's mink fur so she can wear it in the television show. She swaps this with Arabella Simpkin for a fur boa Arabella has stolen from her mother. And when the girls go back home, they have not swapped again. And the victims of the swap believe there is a culprit.

References