William the Outlaw is a central volume in the Just William series, explicitly referencing William's identity as the leader of his secret society, the Outlaws. The stories in this collection typically focus on the gang's adventures, including their secret meetings, their rivalry with other groups, and their general mission to escape the oppressive rules of adult society. William and the Outlaws consider themselves rebels living outside the law, and their antics often involve misunderstood acts of kindness, spectacularly failed robberies (of jam tarts, usually), and attempts to live a wild, free life in the countryside. The volume captures the joy and chaos of childhood freedom and the enduring bond of the gang.
