William J. Smith is an author about whom very little public information is available; his dates of birth and death, nationality, and principal life experiences cannot be verified. Only one work by him is currently held in the collection, namely The Last Straw. Because biographical information is lacking, it is impossible to know the full scope of his writing career or to determine where this book stands within it. Judging from the title and its common usage, the work may deal with the theme of pressure accumulating to a breaking point, or it may carry an allegorical or satirical flavor, though the specific subject matter and writing style can only be confirmed by examining the book itself. Given the limited material, any introduction to this author must remain at the level of the work: he enters readers' view through a single title, and his influence and reception await further disclosure.
