Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

Daniel Stuart (Texas Tech University)

Ed. by Grace Moore, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.07: English Writing and Culture of the Victorian Period, 1837-1901.
Vol. editors: Gillian Fenwick (University of Toronto), Jessica Gossling (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1857

Places

United Kingdom (Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Children's Literature
Novel

Resources

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Recommended Reading

First published in 1857,

Tom Brown’s Schooldays

by Thomas Hughes describes the trials and tribulations of young Tom Brown who is sent to Rugby School, then under the direction of legendary headmaster Dr. Thomas Arnold. Hughes drew heavily on his own time at Rugby under the real-life Arnold (1795-1842) for this, his seminal work and, as a way of marking the headmaster’s influence, he identifies Arnold’s character by his full name in the novel. The book quickly became a commercial success, undergoing five further print runs by its publisher, Macmillan, and inspiring a sequel in subsequent years. Since then, it has been printed, circulated, and translated all over the world, and has become a classic of children’s literature. While a work of fiction, the book is as much a spiritual…

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2378 words

Citation: Stuart, Daniel. "Tom Brown's School Days". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 March 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38839, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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