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Tom Playfair #1
Tom Playfair: Or Making a Start
This delightful story centers on 10-year-old Tom Playfair who is quite a handful for his well-meaning but soft-hearted aunt. Mr. Playfair, his widowed father, decides to ship his son off to St. Maure's boarding school--an all-boys academy run by Jesuits--to shape him up, as well as to help him make a good preparation for his upcoming First Communion. Tom is less than enthusiastic, but his adventures are just about to begin. Life at St. Maure's will not be dull as the reader will soon find out.
Father Francis Finn SJ was an early 20th-century Jesuit priest who wrote delightful children's stories about life in Jesuit boarding schools. Taken from his years of experience teaching Catholic boys, Father Finn writes about various human personalities with warmth and humor that makes for enjoyable reading for all types.
Father Francis Finn SJ was an early 20th-century Jesuit priest who wrote delightful children's stories about life in Jesuit boarding schools. Taken from his years of experience teaching Catholic boys, Father Finn writes about various human personalities with warmth and humor that makes for enjoyable reading for all types.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
6 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Francis J. Finn
57 books11 followersFather Francis J. Finn, S.J. was born to Irish immigrant parents at St. Louis, Missouri in 1859.
As a boy, Francis was deeply impressed with Cardinal Wiseman’s famous novel of the early Christian martyrs, Fabiola. After that, religion really began to mean something to him. Eleven-year-old Francis was a voracious reader; he read the works of Charles Dickens, devouring Nicholas Nickleby and The Pickwick Papers. From his First Communion at age 12, Francis began to desire to become a Jesuit priest; but then his fervor cooled, his grades dropped, and his vocation might have been lost except for Fr. Charles Coppens. Fr. Coppens urged Francis to apply himself to his Latin, to improve it by using an all-Latin prayerbook, and to read good Catholic books. Fr. Finn credited the saving of his vocation to this advice and to his membership in the Sodality of Our Lady.
After graduating from St. Louis University, he became a Jesuit and was ordained a priest in 1893. He had already begun writing his debut novel Tom Playfair prior to this, as he was assigned to St. Mary s College in Kansas and dealt with unruly boys on a daily basis. He went on to write twenty-seven other books, and his novels for children were very successful. The books contain fun stories, likeable characters and themes that remain current in today's world. Each story conveys an important moral precept. He was much loved by young people, and thousands of them gathered to honor his death in 1928.
As a boy, Francis was deeply impressed with Cardinal Wiseman’s famous novel of the early Christian martyrs, Fabiola. After that, religion really began to mean something to him. Eleven-year-old Francis was a voracious reader; he read the works of Charles Dickens, devouring Nicholas Nickleby and The Pickwick Papers. From his First Communion at age 12, Francis began to desire to become a Jesuit priest; but then his fervor cooled, his grades dropped, and his vocation might have been lost except for Fr. Charles Coppens. Fr. Coppens urged Francis to apply himself to his Latin, to improve it by using an all-Latin prayerbook, and to read good Catholic books. Fr. Finn credited the saving of his vocation to this advice and to his membership in the Sodality of Our Lady.
After graduating from St. Louis University, he became a Jesuit and was ordained a priest in 1893. He had already begun writing his debut novel Tom Playfair prior to this, as he was assigned to St. Mary s College in Kansas and dealt with unruly boys on a daily basis. He went on to write twenty-seven other books, and his novels for children were very successful. The books contain fun stories, likeable characters and themes that remain current in today's world. Each story conveys an important moral precept. He was much loved by young people, and thousands of them gathered to honor his death in 1928.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 16, 2012
Originally published in 1891, Tom Playfair is sort of a Catholic "Tom Sawyer meets Tom Brown's School Day's." The author, Fr. Francis J. Finn, S.J., wrote 27 Catholic novels for young people which were apparently quite popular in their day. Although modern kids might find the language rather quaint*, once they get used to it I think they will enjoy Tom's exploits. Thanks to his clever mind and good heart, Tom always seems to come out on top whether he's lost in the big city, struck by lightning, plotting a way for the younger boys to best the older ones at baseball, or outwitting a desperate murderer. But my favorite chapter is the one in which Tom decides that the best way to deal with the school bully is to exorcise him while he's asleep.
Further adventures of Tom and his friends can be found in Percy Wynn: or Making a Boy of Him and Harry Dee: or Working it Out.
*I hasten to assure young readers that the perception of quaintness will probably depend on whether or not they have read any books written before the 20th century. The language used in Tom Playfair is actually pretty colloquial for its time, even including some slang. So it does not have preachy, Sunday school tone of some 19th century books for children.
Further adventures of Tom and his friends can be found in Percy Wynn: or Making a Boy of Him and Harry Dee: or Working it Out.
*I hasten to assure young readers that the perception of quaintness will probably depend on whether or not they have read any books written before the 20th century. The language used in Tom Playfair is actually pretty colloquial for its time, even including some slang. So it does not have preachy, Sunday school tone of some 19th century books for children.
December 23, 2013
We need more books like this for our Catholic boys!
September 6, 2016
Not perfect in many respects, but Tom is one of the most intersting characters I've seen in literature. At one point, Tom makes a significant sacrifice that I find very interesting. Although he wants to receive his first communion this year, his father does not think that he is ready and advises the schoolmaster to pull him from the First Communion class, though he leaves it to the schoolmaster's judgment. Tom willingly (though painfully) chooses to wait a year: "'Father, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give it up for this year.' He did not explain his reasons, but for the Father no explanation was needed. Tom had taken the side of strrict obedience and of sacrifice" (200). The giving up of something objectively good and subjectively desired for the sake of filial obedience; that's true sacrifice.
November 1, 2013
J loved this book and is eager to read the rest of the series. I read it years ago and pulled it out when we were looking for some boy-friendly reads. Since then, I recall Tacy's father in one of the Betsy-Tacy books talked about having Father Finn books for the kids to read. A fun connection with one of my favorite book series.
Completely annoying how poorly made these books are. Unfortunately, a problem with Tan Books (at least at the time I got this one, many years ago).
Completely annoying how poorly made these books are. Unfortunately, a problem with Tan Books (at least at the time I got this one, many years ago).
Read
April 25, 2012Loved the story! Could not put it down!
April 9, 2021
91/100 (= 5.4/6) ≈ 5 Stars
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3rd Read: Read aloud to Peter as preparation for First Holy Communion. Awesome. Definitely hit the mark. He was asking for the second book before we even closed the book.
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2nd Read (now as a young dad): Blown away again! I was brought to tears quite a few times. There are many moving scenes of sacrifice, moments of grace, changes of heart, etc.
Last time I read it I said it was unfortunate that the language was a little outdated and hard to understand. Now, I would say that’s something that sets his writing apart. It’s beautiful English (his use of slang is also instructive). Noble and witty. Many people speak of him as a master of storytelling. Dickens seems to have rubbed off on him.
There’s also a ton of great tidbits for adults tucked into the pages. Observations and commentary on character development, the spiritual life, etc.. I was greatly disappointed while skimming through the German translation (which should actually be called a re-telling) to find that all of these "adult comments" were removed, and the remainder was simply the bare bones story, readable directly by kids. That’s a real shame, as those elements are certainly part of what sets his books apart.
Seems like it’d be an absolutely perfect preparation for First Holy Communion. Planning to try it out as a read-aloud this spring.
Quite simply, this book is a gem.
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1st Read (11 years ago, as a young adult. Some of my comments then were):
"One of the best childhood stories ever. Perfect for young boys to learn charity, bravery, honesty. Riveting stories. The English is a bit old, so it's unfortunately not easy for very young boys to read and understand, even though it's meant for them. But excellent!"
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3rd Read: Read aloud to Peter as preparation for First Holy Communion. Awesome. Definitely hit the mark. He was asking for the second book before we even closed the book.
-----------------------------------------
2nd Read (now as a young dad): Blown away again! I was brought to tears quite a few times. There are many moving scenes of sacrifice, moments of grace, changes of heart, etc.
Last time I read it I said it was unfortunate that the language was a little outdated and hard to understand. Now, I would say that’s something that sets his writing apart. It’s beautiful English (his use of slang is also instructive). Noble and witty. Many people speak of him as a master of storytelling. Dickens seems to have rubbed off on him.
There’s also a ton of great tidbits for adults tucked into the pages. Observations and commentary on character development, the spiritual life, etc.. I was greatly disappointed while skimming through the German translation (which should actually be called a re-telling) to find that all of these "adult comments" were removed, and the remainder was simply the bare bones story, readable directly by kids. That’s a real shame, as those elements are certainly part of what sets his books apart.
Seems like it’d be an absolutely perfect preparation for First Holy Communion. Planning to try it out as a read-aloud this spring.
Quite simply, this book is a gem.
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1st Read (11 years ago, as a young adult. Some of my comments then were):
"One of the best childhood stories ever. Perfect for young boys to learn charity, bravery, honesty. Riveting stories. The English is a bit old, so it's unfortunately not easy for very young boys to read and understand, even though it's meant for them. But excellent!"
October 16, 2025
I bought Father Finn's books when my oldest boys were in their upper elementary/ middle school years but never was able to get them to read them. When I picked up Tom Playfair and started reading it aloud to my 5th grader and was a little worried that he'd find the language too difficult. I know he would not have continued on his own, but was pleased that he was interested in the story and wanted me to continue reading it to him.
He was surprised by the death(s) of some boys in this story - this is the first book we've read where something like that happens - and I'm glad these tragedies were told within the context of a Catholic worldview.
He was surprised by the death(s) of some boys in this story - this is the first book we've read where something like that happens - and I'm glad these tragedies were told within the context of a Catholic worldview.
September 15, 2025
I read this book as a child, 50 years ago. Tom Playfair, Percy Winn and Harry Dee provided me with role models and ideals that were extremely important during my childhood. Nowadays they look quaint and pre-vatican, but they are still full of valuable insights on education and character formation on christian values. I am looking forward to read them to my grandchildren, if I start having them!
January 22, 2024
Now that I am old and graduated from college (…not St. Maure’s), I recognize that this novel is quite sentimental in the popular style of its day. This brings me no small measure of satisfaction. I feel very savvy.
But more importantly: ‘tis a genuinely good book.
Even if I am a little salty with Fr. Finn for killing the characters he kills.
But more importantly: ‘tis a genuinely good book.
Even if I am a little salty with Fr. Finn for killing the characters he kills.
dnf
May 9, 2019Dnf. Not a fan of the Librivox narrator.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews