Richmal Crompton

Born in Lancashire in 1890, she became one of the best-loved British children's authors of the 20th century. Richmal Crompton is most closely associated with William Brown, the irrepressible schoolboy at the center of the Just William series, which began in 1922 and ran for decades.

Before writing full-time, she worked as a teacher, and that close knowledge of school life helped give her stories their lively, believable edge. Although the William books made her famous, she also wrote many short stories and novels for adults.

She died in 1969, but her work has remained in print and continues to be remembered for its humor, warmth, and wonderfully unruly view of childhood.