at Rugby in general derives from detailed descriptions by one of his former pupils and – more indirectly – from scattered observations and reflections in his impressive literary output, which deals mostly with historical and political issues, from some of his letters, and from the collection of the sermons which he preached at his school on Sundays.

Surprisingly, no attempt has been made so far to give a life-size portrait of Thomas Arnold as a teacher. This book pieces together the available evidence about his pedagogical theory and practice, trying to evaluate his achievement in the light of the tendencies of his own age as well as seen with the eyes of modern pedagogy.