Tom Brown’s School Days (1857) - Thomas Hughes Audiobook

Written by Thomas Hughes
Read by Jamie Parker
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

· Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
· Release date: 06-11-15
· Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Tom Brown’s Schooldays is the story of an energetic, good-hearted boy and his adventures at public school. Based on the author’s own childhood, the novel presents us with a snapshot of life at Victorian public school as we follow Tom’s development from a boy to a young man.

His first school year is at a local school. His second year starts at a private school, but due to an epidemic of fever in the area, all the school’s boys are sent home, and Tom is transferred mid-term to Rugby School. He is only eleven-year-old when he arrives and the more experienced classmate, Harry “Scud” East, takes care of him. Tom’s nemesis during his time at Rugby is the bully Flashman.

In the second half of the book, Dr Thomas Arnold (1795–1842), the historical headmaster of the school at the time, gives Tom the care of George Arthur, a frail, pious, academically brilliant, gauche, and sensitive new boy. A fight that Tom gets into to protect Arthur, and Arthur’s nearly dying of fever, are described in detail. Tom and Arthur help each other and the friends develop into young gentlemen who say their nightly prayers, do not cheat on homework, and play in a cricket match. An epilogue shows Tom’s return to Rugby and its chapel when he hears of Arnold’s death.

Today, critics say its influence can be seen in works ranging from Billy Bunter’s Greyfriars tales to J.K. Rowling’s depiction of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the popular Harry Potter series.