Richmal Crompton was a British author who gained fame for her immensely popular series of books featuring the mischievous schoolboy, William Brown. Born in Bury, Lancashire, in 1890, Crompton studied Classics at university before becoming a schoolteacher. However, her true passion lay in writing, and she began her career by contributing short stories to magazines. It was the publication of her first William story in 1919 that brought her widespread recognition and led to the creation of one of the most enduring characters in British children's literature. Over the next four decades, Crompton wrote more than 40 William books, as well as several novels and collections of short stories for adults.

William—In Trouble is the 8th volume in the series, and it features more short stories with William and his Outlaw buddies as they write poetry, join the waits at Christmas singing carols, publish a newsletter, and save William's sister from a marriage against her will.