Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The most influential American novel of the nineteenth century.
“So this is the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”
Why It Matters
The most influential American novel of the nineteenth century. Stowe's book galvanized the abolitionist movement, infuriated the South, and — as Lincoln reportedly said when he met her — helped start the Civil War. Its sentimentality has aged badly with critics, but its political force was unprecedented and its claim that slavery was incompatible with Christianity reshaped public moral argument.
The 
Take
Personal reviewSuper interesting historical artifact. Keeping exact theory and portrayal of the political aspect aside, it’s just an impassioned narrative painting many different types of characters with a sense of hope both for this world and the next. The plot is a bit simple and as a whole, it’s a little heavy handed and overly sentimental, but it makes sense it would be so given the goal of the book
Notable Quotes
“The longest way must have its close — the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning.”
“I'd rather be sent to the bottom of the Mississippi than be sold from my wife and children.”