Tom Brown's Schooldays

This is a wonderful book for kids and teens. It's a fantastic coming of age story that's entertained young people for over 150 years. It's a classic tale about young boys coming into their own. The main character is Tom Brown, a good but rowdy boy. His nemesis is Flashman who ruthlessly bullies him to the point where he can't take it anymore and strikes back hard. I cheered when he vanquished Flashman. The book also has some... Read Full Review

I am often amazed that this wonderful classic is so often overlooked. The author's style and syntax is pure Victorian, through and through with wonderfully convoluted sentences, and indeed, paragraphs. This work, which takes place during the mid 1800s, circa 1840, is the story of a young man in a English Public School (which, unlike in the U.S. is actually a private school to which only the elite can afford to attend) and... Read Full Review

I opened this dusty tome in a sense of duty and with expectations of a dreary read. I am still engaged in reading, but am so pleased with it's contents so far that I am prompted to write these comments.The description of the horse driven coach journey to Rugby is delightfull, and worthy of Charles Dickens himself.The introduction of Tom to his guide (mentor)has ensured my continued attention.How can one review a book before... Read Full Review

This book is about the life and coming of age of a young wealthy English boy, who goes to school at Rugby. Throughout the novel, we are witnesses to the growing up of Tom and his friends. Tom is not a model boy, but rough, virile and self-confident, as is his friend East, a smart and audacious guy. The story is funny and entertaining, and is also illustrative about life in the English boarding schools (for affluent people)... Read Full Review

This is one of my favorite books. Hughes,the author, developes a wonderful atmosphere in this story, you feel as if you are in this 19th century English boarding school with Tom. You taste, smell, and hear the experiences in this book. It is educational about what life was like at that time in England for a boy like Tom. But it is the plot that endears this classic to me. Tom is a rough and tumble lad who cares little about... Read Full Review