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.[citation needed].

William the Detective
First edition (ninth impression)
AuthorRichmal Crompton
IllustratorThomas Henry
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's literature
PublisherNewnes
Publication date
1935
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback) & Audio book
Followed bySweet William 

The stories

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  1. William and the Campers
  2. William the Invisible – William swears he can discover the secret of invisibility, but finds the task more difficult than he had expected.
  3. William the Conspirator – The Outlaws start a campaign for Free Speech.
  4. 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.
  5. William and the Tablet
  6. William and the League of Perfect Love
  7. Waste Paper Wanted – William and Ginger believe they have accidentally given away an important manuscript belonging to Robert's intellectual friend Ward.
  8. William the Persian
  9. William and the Monster
  10. 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".)