The Life and Correspondence of Thomas Arnold, D.D: Late Head-master of Rugby School, and Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford

Published in 1844, this biography was written by Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, a former pupil of Thomas Arnold at Rugby School. Stanley undertook the project shortly after Arnold's sudden death in 1842, aiming to preserve the legacy of his mentor, who had become a pivotal figure in nineteenth-century educational reform and Anglican theology. The work was intended to memorialize Arnold’s efforts to instill a sense of Christian moral duty and intellectual rigor within the English public school system.

The book is regarded as a quintessential Victorian biography, noted for its earnest tone and its deep focus on the moral development of its subject. It was received with significant acclaim upon publication, helping to cement Arnold’s status as a transformative educationalist and shaping the Victorian ideal of the 'gentleman-scholar.' By utilizing Arnold’s own extensive correspondence, Stanley provided an intimate view into the life of a man whose pedagogical influence extended far beyond his tenure at Rugby.