One of the classics of English children's literature, and one of the earliest books written specifically for boys, this novel's steady popularity has given it an influence well beyond the upper middle-class world that it describes. It tells a story central to an understanding of Victorian life, but its freshness helps to distinguish it from the narrow schoolboy adventures that it later inspired.

I enjoyed Tom's story. For all its Victorian morals and mores, it's not that different to more modern school tales. I loved boarding school books as a kid. To spend all ones time surrounded with school friends & having midnight feasts seemed to be the pinnacle of fun, but in retrospect it might not have been so good, especially in the first year.

It was certainly interesting to read about that first rugby match with all those people on the field, the scrummage must have been quite a scrimmage - just as well the rules have been formalised. The head, Dr Arnold, sounds a great man, & Rugby lucky to have had him.

Meeting the early Flashman was fun, too. I've never read any of Fraser's "Flashman" series but I have heard a little about them. I always think of Rick Mayall's Flashheart in the "Blackadder" series' - surely a nod to Flashman.

On the brick wall.