The Real Tom Brown's School Days (2002)

   

Chris Kent knows and understands school boys, especially the English school boys whose lives are chronicled and massaged in the most intriguing way by this author with distinguished success in the genre. Chris Kent sets out to set the record straight (excuse the expression) about Tom Brown and what really happened during his school days (as Chris would see it). A parody to end all parodies of the English school boy traditions. 

This, gentle reader, affectionately parodies that stalwart of English literature, the boy's school story, based of course upon the granddaddy of the genre, "Tom Brown's School Days", by Thomas Hughes. Part of a series by Chris Kent, it follows his novellas, "The Boys of Swithin's Hall" and "Boys in Shorts" and reveals in adolescent glory, freed from Victorian censorship, the real Tom Brown.


The book improves on the original, which frankly most of us today would find rather dull, but it isn't for everyone and is totally unPC, so beware. If pederasty and peons of praise to sex between underage boys offend you, do not under any circumstances pick up this novel because you will be shocked and outraged. I happen to think you'll miss something very special but I understand that it probably entrances or repels depending on the attitude of the reader. Personally I found the book's focus on healthy young boys discovering sex absolutely compulsive and delicious fun, like Death by Chocolate, you know you shouldn't but impossible to resist.

It's a short book, little more than 150 pages which I devoured in one hugely satisfying bite. The book rather relies on an acquaintance with the intricacies of the English public school system, with its layered hierarchy, Head Master, masters, prefects, boys. Younger boys are called upon to serve their seniors in various ways as 'fags', a system open to abuse in cruel hands. Tom, however, is very lucky for he catches the attention of senior prefect, Robert Lawton, and soon finds himself escaping half an hour of dreaded prep (homework) each evening to perform his duties for the older boy.

Tom is smitten with the good-looking and kind Lawton and it's the beginning of a very warm and special friendship. Tom and his friends are matter-of-fact about sex. They of course study the classics, paying close attention to the Greeks with their love of beautiful boys. Sexual experimentation is both an amusement and a diversion from homesickness and the harsh discipline of school life. We follow Tom's progress to the book's electrifying climax when he and his friends confront the nefarious goings on of Mr. Cornish, English master and Rev. Boulind, chaplain.

I highly recommend this moving story that will make you laugh one minute then cry for the plight of these poor boys. A deeply homoerotic tale, there's far more to it than lashings of graphic sex. Neither does it plunge headlong into the nitty gritty. Sex among Tom and the other boys is affirmative and empowering. It grows out of genuine affection and love, skilfully contrasted with exploitative relationships in which adults take advantage of positions of responsibility to satisfy carnal lust for young boys. Tom matures from frightened child to the threshold of manhood, taking succour where he can. He finds strength and courage to overcome adversity, never compromising or behaving other than honourably towards his fellows, setting an example by helping those less able to defend themselves.