First published in October 1948 by Charles Skilton Ltd, London,[1] the third in a series of post-WWII hardback novels, it was subsequently reprinted by them in 1950, and by Hawk in April 1994.

After the closure of The Magnet in May 1940 due to wartime paper shortages, author Charles Hamilton was contractually barred by the publisher, Amalgamated Press, from continuing to write Greyfriars stories.

Bob gets six of the best and, outraged at being unjustly punished for something he didn't do, leaves the school in temper instead of doing Quelch's imposition.

Thirsting for his own revenge against Bob Cherry, Bunter places a booby trap of soot and ink over the door of Study No.

The boys immediately barricade themselves into the Rag, which they stoutly defend against attacks from the Sixth Form Prefects, their teachers and the water hose of Gosling the caretaker.