- Tom Brown (character)
Tom Brown is a fictional character created by the author
Thomas Hughes in his semi-autobiographical work "Tom Brown's Schooldays ", first published in 1857, set at a real English public school,Rugby School for Boys, in the 1830s when Hughes himself had been a pupil there. Tom Brown is based on the author's brother, George Hughes, and George Arthur is based onArthur Penrhyn Stanley .Tom Brown's Schooldays
In "
Tom Brown's Schooldays ", Tom Brown attendsRugby School after an epidemic means that he is unable to attend his local school inBerkshire . At Rugby, he befriendsHarry "Scud" East , a slightly-senior boy at the school, and falls foul of the school bully, Flashman. Over the course of the novel, Brown changes from a timid boy to a brave young man who has overcome his initial fear of Flashman and his fellow bullies.Tom Brown at Oxford
In the sequel novel, "
Tom Brown at Oxford ", Brown is now attendingOxford as his adventures continue, albeit without Scud East, who has since joined the army.Other Appearances
Tom Brown later appears in the historical novel "
Flashman's Lady " byGeorge Macdonald Fraser , in which he is reunited with his former rival,Harry Paget Flashman , and invites him to a cricket game as an act of friendship. Flashman describes Tom's adult form as "...a giant of a man...like some boxer..."Flashman made some passing references to Brown in earlier novels, referring to him as "East's odious friend" in "
Flashman at the Charge " and during Flashman's recollection of his explulsion in "Flashman".
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