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Uncle Tom's Cabin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1851

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Book Brief

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Harriet Beecher Stowe

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1851
Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Southern United States • 1850s

Publication Year

1851

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe follows the parallel stories of Uncle Tom, a deeply devout enslaved man sold into the brutal hands of a Louisiana plantation owner, and Eliza, a courageous enslaved woman who escapes to seek freedom in Canada with her son Harry. The novel highlights the moral and physical struggles faced by enslaved individuals as they navigate the oppressive system of slavery. The book includes depictions of violence and abuse suffered by enslaved individuals.

Emotional

Inspirational

Informative

Bittersweet

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.2

231,974 ratings

68%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is praised for its powerful anti-slavery message and role in shaping public opinion pre-Civil War. While lauded for empathy and moral insight, it faces criticism for racial stereotypes and melodrama. The novel remains a crucial, though controversial, literary piece in American history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Uncle Tom's Cabin?

Readers who enjoyed 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup or Beloved by Toni Morrison would appreciate Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Ideal for those interested in historical fiction, the antebellum South, and stories on the impact of slavery, emancipation, and human resilience.

4.2

231,974 ratings

68%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Character List

Uncle Tom

A deeply religious and loyal slave on a Kentucky plantation who is known for his incorruptible spirit and moral integrity despite the oppressive system of slavery.

A light-skinned “mulatto” woman and personal servant, known for her beauty and nurturing nature, who is determined to protect her young son from being sold by running away to freedom.

The intelligent and resourceful husband of Eliza Harris, who is determined to escape to Canada and build a life free from slavery for himself and his family.

The kind and loving young daughter of Augustine St. Clare, whose innocence and pious nature make her a beacon of hope and love for others around her.

A brutal and cruel plantation owner known for his desire to "break" his slaves and his proclivity for physical violence against them.

The wife of Arthur Shelby and a compassionate mistress who raises her servants according to Christian values and disapproves of the cruelty of slavery.

A young slave girl who is mischievous and considered incorrigible, yet changes through the love and kindness shown to her by others.

The financially troubled owner of Uncle Tom, who is forced to sell his slaves despite his personal reservations and is seen as a symbol of the flawed and hypocritical "kind" master.

Uncle Tom’s second master, who is a wealthy and indulgent man conflicted about the morality of slavery but too complacent to take significant action against it.

Augustine’s strict, efficient Northern cousin who opposes slavery ideologically and struggles with her own prejudices while learning to love and educate Topsy.

A slave trader who believes himself to be humane, yet is opportunistic and primarily driven by profit in the trading of enslaved people.

A rugged headhunter initially hired to capture runaway slaves who undergoes a personal transformation after an encounter with the fugitives he pursues.

Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Southern United States • 1850s

Publication Year

1851

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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