William—the fourth

audiobook

William—the fourth

by Richmal Crompton

EN·~5 hours

Chapters

Description

A whimsical, fast‑moving tale opens with a chorus of “William” in every imaginable guise—conqueror, outlaw, detective, pirate—setting the stage for a delightfully absurd world where identity seems both fluid and relentless. The story quickly lands in a cramped drawing‑room where a young William, barely eleven, is thrust into a heated debate among earnest teenagers about equality, wealth, and the promise of a new social order. Their impassioned leader, Jameson Jameson, waxes lyrical about Bolshevism and justice, while the bewildered youth listen, half‑amused and half‑confused, as the boy’s presence becomes both an intrusion and a catalyst.

Through witty dialogue and exaggerated caricature, the narrative explores the clash between lofty ideals and the messy reality of youthful ambition. It captures the restless energy of a generation eager to reshape society, all filtered through a lens of playful satire that keeps the tone light even as serious questions surface. Listeners will find themselves both laughing at the absurdity and pondering the earnestness hidden beneath the chaos.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (304K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Original publisher

United Kingdom: George Newnes Limited, 1924.

Credits

deaurider, Alan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2021-12-20

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Richmal Crompton

Richmal Crompton

1890–1969

Best known for creating the unruly, unforgettable William Brown, this English writer mixed sharp humor with a real understanding of childhood. Her stories stayed popular for decades and helped make the Just William books a classic of British children's literature.

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