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List of works by W. E. Johns

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W. E. Johns
bibliography
Books↙8
Broadcast works↙2
As editor↙3
Publications in periodicals↙57
Fictional books↙155
References and footnotes

William Earl Johns (professionally known as W. E. Johns; 1893–1968) was an English writer and journalist. He wrote over 150 books and was, after Enid Blyton, "the most prolific and popular children's writer of his time".[1] Most of Johns's work—102 books—consists of the stories of Biggles, a First World War pilot and, later, adventurer, detective and Second World War squadron leader. He also wrote science fiction stories, and two further series of war stories, featuring the characters Worrals of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and Gimlet, a British Commando.[1][2]

Johns served in the army during the First World War.[a] In 1917 he was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and saw action in Northern France. In September 1918 his aircraft was shot down and Johns, wounded, was captured by the Germans; he remained a prisoner until the end of the war, despite two attempts to escape. He remained with the RFC through its change into the Royal Air Force (RAF), and served with them until 1927.[1][3][b]

On leaving the RAF he became a journalist and illustrator. In 1932 he founded Popular Flying magazine and became its first editor. He used the magazine to publish his Biggles short stories.[4][5] Johns described Biggles as "typical of the type of British airman I knew during the Great War. His chief characteristics are courage, loyalty and sportsmanship."[4] He continued to publish his stories in periodicals and newspapers throughout his career. Six months after the first Biggles stories were published they were collected in book form in The Camels are Coming. During the Second World War, Johns worked for the Air Ministry; the ministry asked him to create a female character to boost recruitment into the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, which resulted in the publication of the Worrals stories and books.[6] The character was successful and the War Office requested Johns introduce a soldier, which led to the introduction of Gimlet.[1]

Johns also wrote eight non-fiction books, most of which related to flying and pilots, although a book on gardening and two children's books—The Modern Boys Book of Pirates and The Biggles Book of Treasure Hunting—were also published. In 1942 Johns also co-wrote two radio plays, which were broadcast on the BBC.[3]

As editor

[edit]
Anthologies edited
Title[7][8] Year of first
publication 		First edition publisher
(All London)
Wings: A Book of Flying Adventures 1931 J. Hamilton
The Modern Boy's Book of Aircraft 1931 Amalgamated Press
Thrilling Flights 1935 J. Hamilton

Fiction

[edit]
The fictional books of W. E. Johns
Title[3][9][10][11][12] Year of first
publication 		First edition publisher
(London, unless otherwise stated) 		Series Notes
The Camels are Coming 1932 J. Hamilton Biggles
Mossyface 1922 Weekly Telegraph Novel – As William Earle
The Cruise of the Condor 1933 J. Hamilton Biggles
The Spy Flyers 1933 J. Hamilton –
Biggles of the Camel Squadron 1934 J. Hamilton Biggles
Biggles Flies Again 1934 J. Hamilton Biggles
Biggles Learns to Fly 1935 The Boys' Friend Library Biggles
The Black Peril 1935 J. Hamilton Biggles
Biggles Flies East 1935 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Hits the Trail 1935 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles in France 1935 The Boys' Friend Library Biggles
The Raid 1935 J. Hamilton –
Biggles & Co 1936 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles in Africa 1936 Oxford University Press Biggles
Sky High 1936 Newnes Steeley
Steeley Flies Again 1936 Newnes Steeley
Blue Blood Runs Red 1936 Newnes – As Jon Early
Biggles – Air Commodore 1937 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Flies West 1937 Oxford University Press Biggles
Murder by Air 1937 Newnes Steeley
Biggles Flies South 1938 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Goes to War 1938 Oxford University Press Biggles
The Murder at Castle Deeping 1938 J. Hamilton Steeley
Desert Night 1938 J. Hamilton –
Champion of the Main 1938 Oxford University Press –
The Rescue Flight 1939 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles in Spain 1939 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Flies North 1939 Oxford University Press Biggles
Wings of Romance: A Steeley Adventure 1939 Newnes Steeley
Det Forsvunne Bagboksblad (The Missing Page) 1939 Forlagshuset, Oslo, Norway Steeley
Biggles – Secret Agent 1940 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles in the Baltic 1940 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles in the South Seas 1940 Oxford University Press Biggles
The Unknown Quantity 1940 J. Hamilton –
Biggles Defies the Swastika 1941 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Sees It Through 1941 Oxford University Press Biggles
Spitfire Parade 1941 Oxford University Press Biggles
Worrals of the W.A.A.F. 1941 Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals
Biggles in the Jungle 1942 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Sweeps the Desert 1942 Oxford University Press Biggles
Worrals Flies Again 1942 Hodder & Stoughton Worrals
Worrals Carries On 1942 Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals
Sinister Service 1942 Oxford University Press –
Biggles – Charter Pilot 1943 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles in Borneo 1943 Oxford University Press Biggles
Biggles Fails to Return 1943 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Worrals on the War-Path 1943 Hodder & Stoughton Worrals
King of the Commandos 1943 Hodder & Stoughton "Gimlet" King
Gimlet Goes Again 1944 University of London Press "Gimlet" King
Worrals Goes East 1944 Hodder & Stoughton Worrals
Biggles in the Orient 1945 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Worrals of the Islands: A Story of the War in the Pacific 1945 Hodder & Stoughton Worrals
Biggles Delivers the Goods 1946 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Gimlet Comes Home 1946 University of London Press "Gimlet" King
Sergeant Bigglesworth CID 1947 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Gimlet Mops Up 1947 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Comrades in Arms 1947 Hodder & Stoughton "Gimlet" King, Biggles, Worrals
Worrals in the Wilds 1947 Hodder & Stoughton Worrals
Biggles' Second Case 1948 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Hunts Big Game 1948 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Takes a Holiday 1948 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Gimlet's Oriental Quest 1948 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Worrals Down Under 1948 Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals
The Rustlers of Rattlesnake Valley 1948 Thomas Nelson –
Biggles Breaks the Silence 1949 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Gimlet Lends a Hand 1949 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Worrals Goes Afoot 1949 Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals
Worrals in the Wastelands 1949 Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals
Biggles Gets His Men 1950 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Gimlet Bores In 1950 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Worrals Investigates 1950 Lutterworth Press, Lutterworth, Leics Worrals
Doctor Vane Answers the Call 1950 Latimer House –
Another Job for Biggles 1951 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Goes to School 1951 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Gimlet off the Map 1951 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Biggles Works It Out 1952 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Takes the Case 1952 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Follows On 1952 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles – Air Detective 1950 Marks & Spencer Biggles
Gimlet Gets the Answer 1952 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Biggles and the Black Raider 1953 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles in the Blue 1953 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles in the Gobi 1953 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles of the Special Air Police 1953 Thames Publishing Co. Biggles
Short Stories 1953 Latimer House –
Sky Fever, and Other Stories 1953 Latimer House –
Gimlet Takes a Job 1954 Brockhampton Press, Leicester "Gimlet" King
Biggles Cuts It Fine 1954 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles and the Pirate Treasure 1954 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Foreign Legionnaire 1954 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Pioneer Air Fighter 1954 Thames Publishing Co. Biggles
Kings of Space: A Story of Interplanetary Exploration 1954 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Biggles in Australia 1955 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles' Chinese Puzzle 1955 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Return to Mars 1955 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Adventure Bound 1955 Thomas Nelson –
Biggles of 266 1956 Thames Publishing Co. Biggles
No Rest for Biggles 1956 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Now to the Stars 1956 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Biggles Takes Charge 1956 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Makes Ends Meet 1957 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles of the Interpol 1957 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles on the Home Front 1957 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
To Outer Space 1957 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Adventure Unlimited 1957 Thomas Nelson –
Biggles Presses On 1958 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles on Mystery Island 1958 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Buries a Hatchet 1958 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
The Edge of Beyond 1958 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
No Motive for Murder 1958 Hodder & Stoughton –
Biggles in Mexico 1959 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles' Combined Operation 1959 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles at the World's End 1959 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
The Death Rays of Ardilla 1959 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
The Man Who Lost His Way 1959 Hodder & Stoughton –
Biggles and the Leopards of Zinn 1960 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Goes Home 1960 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles and the Poor Rich Boy 1960 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
To Worlds Unknown: A Story of Interplanetary Exploration 1960 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Adventures of the Junior Detection Club 1960 M. Parish –
Where the Golden Eagle Soars 1960 Hodder & Stoughton –
Biggles Forms a Syndicate 1961 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles and the Missing Millionaire 1961 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
The Quest for the Perfect Planet 1961 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Biggles Goes Alone 1962 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Orchids for Biggles 1962 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Sets a Trap 1962 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Takes It Rough 1963 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Takes a Hand 1963 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles' Special Case 1963 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Plane That Disappeared 1963 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Flies to Work 1963 Dean & Son Biggles
Worlds of Wonder 1963 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
The Man Who Vanished into Space 1963 Hodder & Stoughton Rex Clinton
Biggles and the Lost Sovereigns 1964 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Black Mask 1964 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles Investigates 1964 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Looks Back 1965 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles and the Plot That Failed 1965 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Blue Moon 1965 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Scores a Bull 1965 Hodder & Stoughton Biggles
Biggles in the Terai 1966 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Gun Runners 1966 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Sorts It Out 1967 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Dark Intruder 1967 Knight Books, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Penitent Thief 1967 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Deep Blue Sea 1967 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
The Boy Biggles 1968 Dean & Son Biggles
Biggles in the Underworld 1968 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Little Green God 1969 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles and the Noble Lord 1969 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Sees Too Much 1970 Brockhampton Press, Leicester Biggles
Biggles Does Some Homework 1997 Norman Wright, Watford Biggles
Biggles Air Ace: The Uncollected Stories 1999 Norman Wright, Watford Biggles

Publications in periodicals

[edit]

Johns wrote a great number of short stories under his own name and the pseudonym William Earle; no complete list of these works exists.[13] He was also a prolific contributor to articles, columns and news articles. He was the author of "The Passing Show" column for the My Garden magazine between 1937 and 1944 and a columnist for The Modern Boy, Pearson's Magazine, The Boy's Own Paper, The Girl's Own Paper and the ATC Gazette.[14][15]

Title[16][17][18] Date of
publication 		Periodical Notes
"The White Fokker" April 1932 Popular Flying
"The Packer" May 1932 Popular Flying
"J-9982" June 1932 Popular Flying
"The Balloonatics" July 1932 Popular Flying
"The Blue Devil" August 1932 Popular Flying
"The Boob" September 1932 Popular Flying
"The Battle of Flowers" October 1932 Popular Flying
"A Flying Start" November 1932 Popular Flying
"Biggles and the White Fokker" 7 January 1933 The Modern Boy
Stories from The Camel is Coming 14 January – 15 April 1933 The Modern Boy
"The Professor" January 1933 Popular Flying
"The Joy-Ride" February 1933 Popular Flying
"The Bridge Party" March 1933 Popular Flying
"The Bottle Party" April 1933 Popular Flying
"The Trap" May 1933 Popular Flying
"The Gold Rush" July 1933 Popular Flying
"The Maid and the Mountains" August 1933 Popular Flying
"The Blue Orchid" September 1933 Popular Flying
"Fair Cargo" October 1933 Popular Flying
Stories from The Camel is Coming 14 – 21 October 1933 The Modern Boy
"Beauty and the Beast" November 1933 Popular Flying
"Bob's Box" December 1933 Popular Flying
"Savages and Wings" January 1934 Popular Flying
"Coffee for Two" 4 January 1934 The Daily Express
"The Oriental Touch" February 1934 Popular Flying
"Encounter" 17 February 1934 The Daily Express
"Down in the Forest" March 1934 Popular Flying
"Three Weeks" April 1934 Popular Flying
"Biggles Learns to Fly" April 1934 The Modern Boy
"The Sheikh and the Greek" May 1934 Popular Flying
"Biggles' Xmas Box" 22 December 1934 The Modern Boy
"Biggles' Christmas Tree" 22 December 1934 The Modern Boy
"Biggles and the Joker" 2 February 1935 The Modern Boy
"Biggles' Night Out" 31 August 1935 The Modern Boy
"Winged Justice" 1935 The New Book of the Air As William Earle
"Biggles on the Spot" 1936 The Modern Boy's Book of Adventure Stories
"Biggles Takes the Bait" 1937 The Modern Boy's Annual
"Haunted Treasure" 26 June 1937 The Modern Boy
"Biggles Goes to War" February 1938 Boys' Friend Library
"Biggles on the Treasure Trail" 19 February 1938 The Modern Boy
"Wings Over Spain" 21 January 1939 The Modern Boy
"Biggles' Fledgling" 7 June 1939 The Modern Boy
"Biggles' Second Case" February – September 1946 The Boy's Own Paper
"Sausage and Mash" March 1940 Air Stories
"Worrals Works it Out" September 1947 The Girl's Own Paper
"Worrals Takes a Hand" 1948 Children's Gift Book
"The Badge" January 1950 The Strand Magazine
"Biggles in Arabia" February – November 1950 Collins Magazine for Boys & Girls
"Biggles at School" October – March 1951 The Boy's Own Paper
"Biggles Works it Out" April – September 1951 The Boy's Own Paper
"Biggles Follows On" April – September 1952 The Boy's Own Paper
"Biggles Buries a Hatchet" March – September 1953 The Boy's Own Paper
"Biggles Works it Out" October 1953 The Silver Jacket Published over eight issues
"What is the 'Secret of Biggles?'" 27 March 1960 TVTimes
"Living up to Biggles" 8 May 1960 TVTimes
"Biggles – Air Ace Number 1" March 1963 Look and Learn
"Biggles and the Lost Sovereigns" August – September 1963 Look and Learn

Non-fiction

[edit]
The non-fiction work of Johns
Title[11][19] Year of first
publication 		First edition publisher Notes
The Pictorial Flying Course 1932 J. Hamilton With Harry M. Scholfield
Fighting Planes and Aces 1932 J. Hamilton
The Air VCs 1935 J. Hamilton
Some Milestones in Aviation 1935 J. Hamilton
The Passing Show: A Garden Diary by an Amateur Gardener 1937 My Garden
The Modern Boys Book of Pirates 1939 Amalgamated Press
The Biggles Book of Heroes 1959 M. Parish
The Biggles Book of Treasure Hunting 1962 M. Parish

Broadcast works

[edit]

Several of Johns's works have been adapted for radio and television by others; the following is a list of works by Johns only.[20]

Broadcast works of Johns
Title[3] First performance Date of first performance Type of work Notes Ref.
The Machine That Disappeared BBC Radio 19 June 1942 Radio play With G.R. Rainier [21]
The Charming Mrs. Nayther BBC Radio 15 August 1942 Radio play With G.R. Rainier [22]

Notes and references

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Johns was with the Norfolk Yeomanry at the start of the war, serving in the Gallipoli Campaign, before he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps for service in Salonika.[1]
  2. ^ Johns was the recruiting officer who signed T. E. Lawrence into the RAF. Although Johns wanted to reject the application because of the obviously false name given by Lawrence, he was ordered to accept the former soldier.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Williams & Berresford Ellis 2008.
  2. ^ Schmidt 1995, pp. 128–29.
  3. ^ a b c d "W(illiam) E(arle) Johns". Contemporary Authors. Gale. Retrieved 15 September 2015. (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b "Capt W. E. Johns". The Times. 22 June 1968. p. 10.
  5. ^ Wright 2001, pp. 4–5.
  6. ^ Cadogan 1990, p. 5.
  7. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, p. 307.
  8. ^ Schmidt 1995, p. 128.
  9. ^ Cadogan 1990, p. 10.
  10. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, pp. 293–307.
  11. ^ a b Schmidt 1995, pp. 124–28.
  12. ^ Doggett 1987, pp. 13–14.
  13. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, pp. 308–09.
  14. ^ Wright 2001, pp. 16–18.
  15. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, pp. 309–10.
  16. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, pp. 308–10.
  17. ^ Wright 2001, pp. 19–21.
  18. ^ Wright 2007, p. 42.
  19. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, pp. 307–08.
  20. ^ Berresford Ellis & Schofield 1993, pp. 301–12.
  21. ^ "The Machine That Disappeared". BBC Genome Project. BBC. 19 June 1942. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  22. ^ "The Charming Mrs. Nayther". BBC Genome Project. BBC. 15 August 1942. Retrieved 15 September 2015.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]

Information about the complete works of W. E. Johns http://www.wejohns.com

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