Thomas Hughes (20 October 1822 22 March 1896) was an English lawyer, judge and author. He is mostly known for his novel Tom Brown's School days, which was partially based on his own biography. Hughes had numerous other interests, in particular as a Member of Parliament, in the British co-operative movement, and in a settlement in Tennessee reflecting his values. Tom Brown's School Days is a novel by Thomas Hughes, partially based on his own biography. The story is set a public school for boys in the first half of nineteen's century. Tom Brown is energetic, stubborn, kind-hearted. He acts according to his feelings and the unwritten rules of the boys around. He'll have to accept Rugby School traditions, face his first adversary and find his way to adolescence.