School Stories · Chapter
The Tom Brown Question explained
A traveler on a train is drawn into a conversation by a stranger who argues that the second half of Tom Brown's Schooldays was written by a different author.
What happens
A traveler on a train is drawn into a conversation by a stranger who argues that the second half of Tom Brown's Schooldays was written by a different author. The stranger presents evidence from the cricket match and Tom's actions, and ultimately reveals a fanciful theory involving a secret society that forced Mr. Hughes to let them write the second part.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Reputation
The stranger argues that the Tom Brown of part one would never have acted dishonorably by showing favoritism or allowing comic songs during a cricket match, highlighting a concern for integrity and reputation.
Athleticism and Sport
The cricket match in part two is a central piece of evidence in the stranger's argument, with detailed criticism of Tom's captaincy decisions.
Characters to notice
- Tom Brown
Discussed as the protagonist of Tom Brown's Schooldays; the stranger contrasts the Tom of part one with the Tom of part two.
- Mr. Hughes
The author of Tom Brown's Schooldays; the stranger claims he only wrote part one and was coerced by a secret society into letting them write part two.
- Professor Burkett-Smith
Mentioned as the author of a monograph arguing for dual authorship of Tom Brown's Schooldays.
Key passages
“I see you are reading Tom Brown's Schooldays.”
The stranger notices the narrator's book and initiates a conversation about it.
Opening of the chapter's dialogue.
“It is obvious that part one and part two were written by different people.”
The stranger asserts that the two halves of the book have different authors.
Central claim of the stranger's argument.
“Only the actual fight is the work of the genuine author. The interference of Arthur has been interpolated!”
The stranger claims that only the fight scene in part two is by Hughes; Arthur's intervention was added by someone else.
Key point in the stranger's theory.
“We are the committee of the Secret Society For Putting Wholesome Literature Within The Reach Of Every Boy, And Seeing That He Gets It.”
The stranger describes a fictional society that forced Hughes to let them write part two.
Climax of the stranger's story.