Cover image for

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Author Harriet Beecher Stowe
Categories Fiction, Audiobook
Language English
Published 1852
Notes

The story focuses on the tale of Uncle Tom, a long-suffering black slave, the central character around whose life the other characters--both fellow slaves and slave owners--revolve. The novel dramatizes the harsh reality of slavery while also showing that Christian love and faith can overcome even something as evil as enslavement of fellow human beings.

Approx. 183,190 words.

Excerpt

cked their nuts for a season, "what do you say?"

"I'll think the matter over, and talk with my wife," said Mr. Shelby. "Meantime, Haley, if you want the matter carried on in the quiet way you speak of, you'd best not let your business in this neighborhood be known. It will get out among my boys, and it will not be a particularly quiet business getting away any of my fellows, if they know it, I'll promise you."

"O! certainly, by all means, mum! of course. But I'll tell you. I'm in a devil of a hurry, and shall want to know, as soon as possible, what I may depend on," said he, rising and putting on his overcoat.

"Well, call up this evening, between six and seven, and you shall have my answer," said Mr. Shelby, and the trader bowed himself out of the apartment.

"I'd like to have been able to kick the fellow down the steps," said he to himself, as he saw the door fairly closed, "with his impudent assurance; but he knows how much he has me at advantage. If anybody had ever said to me th

ReviewsAdd a review for this title.

2008.03.14
Dinah

I read this book as a teenager, and wanted to revisit it. I loved it once again, and understood so much more about the book and it's message. I remember crying when I read it the first time. The book has always been looked at as causing the beginnings of awareness of the wrongs of slavery. Something I realized as I read the book, is that in today's times, I've heard blacks call other blacks "uncle Toms" when they think they are bowing down to whites. However, if they've ever read this book, I don't think they would look at Uncle Tom as a submissive doormat. He was brave, longsuffering, and very strong in his beliefs, even when put through some mental and physical trials. He always upheld what he believed in. How many of us could do the same? I think he would be a great example to all of us, even today. The book is a wonderful look into life in America's early history. There are some redeeming characters - black and white, in the book, that make this a very good read - and a classic. Ms. Stowe does tend to get a bit preachy in various passages, but we must remember the time period this was written. And....maybe we all need to be preached to sometimes anyway! All in all, I enjoyed it just as much the second time around.