Thomas Hughes (dramatist)

Thomas Hughes (1823 – 1896) was an English lawyer, judge, politician, social reformer, and author, best known for his novel Tom Brown's School Days (1857). While principally remembered for his prose works, he also authored dramatic works, though these are less widely known and studied. Details about specific plays by Hughes are limited, and his lasting influence remains rooted in his novels and social activism. He was a Christian socialist and advocate for working-class education. His efforts to establish the Rugby Colony in Tennessee, while ultimately unsuccessful, demonstrated his commitment to utopian social ideals.