Tom Brown's School Days

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Referenced in discussion of schoolboy fighting, with Tom Holland mentioning the fight scene with 'Slugger Williams.' Rob Colls notes that Thomas Hughes 'knew exactly what he was writing about when he did that.'

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Referenced as an example of classic children's literature when comparing Nelson's story trajectory to 'so many great children's stories' about a young boy learning the ropes.

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Referenced as the original source of the character Flashman, described as 'the bully from Tom Brown's school days'

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Implied reference when comparing Byron at Harrow to 'Tom Brown' who stands up against bullying and for other boys

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Mentioned because Thomas Hughes's son-in-law, the Reverend Ernest Carter, was on the Titanic and led a hymn singing service in the second class cabins.

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The most extensively discussed book in the episode alongside Harry Potter. Published in 1857, it is presented as the foundational Victorian school story and the direct template for Harry Potter. Tom reads a passage aloud describing arrival at Rugby School, paralleling Harry's arrival at Hogwarts. The hosts discuss its enormous influence: it sold 11,000 copies in its first year, went through 52 editions, was recommended by the British Board of Education in 1911 for every school library, and was used in Indian and Japanese schools. Its characters (Tom Brown, Flashman, Scud East, George Arthur) are mapped directly onto Harry Potter equivalents.

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Referenced when discussing the character Flashman, who originates as 'the bully from Tom Brown's school days' before becoming the protagonist of George MacDonald Fraser's series

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Discussed as the book that Baron de Coubertin became obsessed with, which influenced his vision for the modern Olympics. The hosts note that Coubertin confused the fictional account with reality, mistakenly believing Thomas Arnold emphasized sport and muscular Christianity at Rugby school.