It’s been such a long time since I recorded the book that I too forgot about Benjy until I read what you had written. For some reason Tom Brown is really about Rugby in our minds, and we forget that he is really stands for the solid middle English yeoman, and must therefore have a solid middle English pre-school too. That first part of the book was huge fun to read, trying to get the accent as it was written.

Good luck with your thesis. I will certainly be interested to see how you compare and contrast Tom’s experiences with Harry Potter’s. I can see Dumbledore in the Arnold role, but I don’t really see an Arthur figure, unless it is Neville, who seems to be almost completely good, for all his comedy value in the earlier books.

I’ve been listening to your recordings of Tom Brown’s Schooldays. I am writing my undergraduate thesis on tales of growing up, using Tom Brown’s Schooldays and Harry Potter as my primary sources for study and comparison. I’ve appreciated your voice. If you ever feel like sharing any other thoughts you have had, I am sure I would find them valuable. Right now I am looking into the role hat each mentor in Tom’s life plays. It’s been such a while since I read the beginning that I’m going to go back to read; I cannot remember much about Benjy.

peace,
paulina