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 First edition (ninth impression) | |
| Author | Richmal Crompton |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Thomas Henry |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Newnes |
| Publication date | 1935 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) & Audio book |
| Followed by | Sweet William |
William - The Detective is a book in the Just William series written by Richmal Crompton. Modern editions contain ten stories; it originally contained eleven: In a (for the series) rare example of moral panic, the eleventh, entitled "William and the Nasties" has been removed from reprints of the book since 1986 because, though ultimately anti-Nazi, it was considered inappropriate after the atrocities of the Holocaust, especially for a book aimed at children. William and the League of Perfect Love has also been removed from some editions under pressure from the animal-rights activists it satirises..
The stories
- William and the Campers
- William the Invisible – William swears he can discover the secret of invisibility, but finds the task more difficult than he had expected.
- William the Conspirator – The Outlaws start a campaign for Free Speech.
- William the Rat Lover – William starts a sanctuary for the protection of rats and even has a Rat Fortnight. But when his costume for Miss Chesterfield's Children's Animal Fete is ruined, they help him without knowing it.
- William and the Tablet
- William and the League of Perfect Love
- Waste Paper Wanted – William and Ginger believe they have accidentally given away an important manuscript belonging to Robert's intellectual friend Ward.
- William the Persian
- William and the Monster
- A Present from William
Removed story: William and the Nasties (originally in sixth position) – William and his friends attempt (unsuccessfully) to imitate Nazi stormtroopers by driving a Jewish shopkeeper from his business. ("Nasties" is William's mispronunciation of "Nazis".)
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