established the popularity of the boarding-school genre of literature for children. First published in 1858, it offers a picture of Rugby School in the 1840s seen through the experiences of Tom Brown, a lightly fictionalised presentation of author Thomas Hughes. Hughes intended the book to be what he termed preaching (Preface), the moral story of the development of Tom from a boy into a Christian gentleman, and
Tom Brown’s Schooldaysis first and foremost a didactic text around spiritual growth. It is also a highly entertaining account of school-boy life, with well-drawn characters who capture the enthusiasm of the reader. The most enduring achievement is the portrayal of Rugby’s headmaster Dr Thomas Arnold and his innovative educational methodology. It is…
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Citation: Davis, Graeme. "Tom Brown's School Days". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 May 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38842, accessed 22 November 2024.]
