Summary
First published in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin is one of the most influential novels in American history, written to expose the inhumanity of slavery. The story follows Uncle Tom, a deeply moral and devout enslaved man, whose faith and dignity remain steadfast despite being sold to increasingly brutal masters.
Alongside his journey, the novel intertwines the struggles of other enslaved people seeking freedom, highlighting the cruelty, family separations, and moral corruption inherent in the institution of slavery.
The book ignited widespread debate across the United States and Europe, galvanizing the abolitionist movement and intensifying sectional tensions leading up to the American Civil War.
Beyond its historical impact, Uncle Tom’s Cabin remains a powerful moral and social critique of oppression, faith, and resilience.