Uncle Tom's Cabin

Book: Uncle Tom's Cabin
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Publication Date: 1852

Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best selling novel of the 19th century and influenced opinions of slavery in profound ways. In fact, some people credit the massive readership of this book for pushing the Civil War into being. Stowe was an abolitionist from Connecticut who was inspired by another book, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, as Narrated by Himself and used it as an inspiration for her story of Tom, the long-suffering slave in her story. 

Like any other story written almost 200 years ago, scholars and critics have a lot to say about Stowe and Uncle Tom's Cabin. Some people argue that Tom instead sold out to his white owners to save himself. But, no matter what people read into it, Stowe wanted Tom to be a character that challenged how people viewed slaves and gave them some humanity.

On a personal note, I remember reading this book in high school and, even so many years removed from slavery, felt an emotional and visceral reaction to Tom and his story. It just goes to show that you can find things you identify with in any book. Although fiction, I find this Book as Knowledge an important look at the social interactions of the day and how the fight to abolish slavery took root. 








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