Uncle Tom, Topsy, Sambo, Simon Legree, little Eva: their names are American bywords, and all of them are characters in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s remarkable novel of the pre-Civil War South. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was revolutionary in 1852 for its passionate indictment of slavery and for its presentation of Tom, “a man of humanity,” as the first black hero in American fiction. Labeled racist and … and condescending by some contemporary critics, it remains a shocking, controversial, and powerful work — exposing the attitudes of white nineteenth-century society toward “the peculiar institution” and documenting, in heartrending detail, the tragic breakup of black Kentucky families “sold down the river.” An immediate international sensation, Uncle Tom’s Cabin sold 300,000 copies in the first year, was translated into thirty-seven languages, and has never gone out of print: its political impact was immense, its emotional influence immeasurable.
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4 out of 5 stars to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. For some reason, we didn’t read this book in high school; possibly an excerpt or two was thrown in front of us, but I honestly don’t really remember reading it until freshman year of college. Prior to reading it, the silly and uneducated man I was thought Ms. Stowe was an African-American telling the story about slavery in America, not all that different from The Underground Railroad stories. Please forgive me, as I had difficulty reading books that showed the harsh slices of life and cruelties people suffered. It just doesn’t cross my mind that I could ever treat someone differently because of what they look like or where they came from… and the immature part of me avoided reading about those who did. But it’s important to read these types of books as sometimes it is the only way to open another’s eyes.
Then it was listed on our syllabus to read in our spring semester for an English course. And I dove in since it was required. As I got into it, I realized how great the book actually was. And you know what, that’s not the story at all. Ms. Stowe came from a Puritanical and religious family. She was an abolitionist. She wanted to fix the situation. And this book was one way she attempted to do so, by showing how any Christian could not believe in slavery. Though some of her ideas were a little too vague, and at times, she may even cross the line by doing a few of the things she tells people not to do…. the book really shines a necessary light on what people were thinking at the time. I feel like we might need to read this book again as a country… to figure out what the hell we’re doing going back 150 years in time. But I don’t get political, so enough of that.
With this book, you need to have some understanding of society, religion and culture in America’s history. I wouldn’t take it on without have a decent background in knowing how things came together from 1776 to 1856. Those 80 years were very strong but also very disparate… two countries were forming, not one in America. Having some knowledge of Puritan life is helpful too. Perhaps reading The Scarlet Letter first might give you some background. Everyone needs to read this book just to see what was going on in some folks’ minds at this time. It may not change your views on the entire situation, but it will give you more to think about when it comes to religion’s place in government, society and daily life. And I mean that as a philosophical and sociological discussion, not placing blame or positives and negatives on different groups of people. It’s just the kind of book to get you talking about something which needed to be radically changed and fixed.
Great historical novel that gives you not only a peek into history but into the hearts and minds of humanity at a crucial time in our country. A powerful read that changes the reader even as it changed history.
I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book. I had a preconceived notion of what Uncle Tom’s Cabin is about, and I was mostly wrong. Yes, it’s a polemic against slavery, but it is also a wonderful collection of interwoven stories filled with characters I fell in love with. Uncle Tom himself, though a slave, is really the freest man in the book, thanks to his unwavering faith in Jesus. Inspiring and thought-provoking.
Many may have read this years ago, but it’s worth repeating. The writing is wonderful and the reality of the story is heart-braking
4 out of 5 stars to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. For some reason, we didn’t read this book in high school; possibly an excerpt or two was thrown in front of us, but I honestly don’t really remember reading it until freshman year of college. Prior to reading it, the silly and uneducated man I was thought Ms. Stowe was an African-American telling the story about slavery in America, not all that different from The Underground Railroad stories. Please forgive me, as I had difficulty reading books that showed the harsh slices of life and cruelties people suffered. It just doesn’t cross my mind that I could ever treat someone differently because of what they look like or where they came from… and the immature part of me avoided reading about those who did. But it’s important to read these types of books as sometimes it is the only way to open another’s eyes.
Then it was listed on our syllabus to read in our spring semester for an English course. And I dove in since it was required. As I got into it, I realized how great the book actually was. And you know what, that’s not the story at all. Ms. Stowe came from a Puritanical and religious family. She was an abolitionist. She wanted to fix the situation. And this book was one way she attempted to do so, by showing how any Christian could not believe in slavery. Though some of her ideas were a little too vague, and at times, she may even cross the line by doing a few of the things she tells people not to do…. the book really shines a necessary light on what people were thinking at the time. I feel like we might need to read this book again as a country… to figure out what the hell we’re doing going back 150 years in time. But I don’t get political, so enough of that.
With this book, you need to have some understanding of society, religion and culture in America’s history. I wouldn’t take it on without have a decent background in knowing how things came together from 1776 to 1856. Those 80 years were very strong but also very disparate… two countries were forming, not one in America. Having some knowledge of Puritan life is helpful too. Perhaps reading The Scarlet Letter first might give you some background. Everyone needs to read this book just to see what was going on in some folks’ minds at this time. It may not change your views on the entire situation, but it will give you more to think about when it comes to religion’s place in government, society and daily life. And I mean that as a philosophical and sociological discussion, not placing blame or positives and negatives on different groups of people. It’s just the kind of book to get you talking about something which needed to be radically changed and fixed.
Great historical novel that gives you not only a peek into history but into the hearts and minds of humanity at a crucial time in our country. A powerful read that changes the reader even as it changed history.
I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book. I had a preconceived notion of what Uncle Tom’s Cabin is about, and I was mostly wrong. Yes, it’s a polemic against slavery, but it is also a wonderful collection of interwoven stories filled with characters I fell in love with. Uncle Tom himself, though a slave, is really the freest man in the book, thanks to his unwavering faith in Jesus. Inspiring and thought-provoking.
Many may have read this years ago, but it’s worth repeating. The writing is wonderful and the reality of the story is heart-braking