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Summary: Uncle Tom's Must-Read
Review: This is one of the greatest literary works that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The many different view points that are brought into action cause the reader to partially understand reasons of how the evil came to be evil, and the deprived came upon their lowly state.
The story begins on a Kentucky plantation, where the owner, Mr.Shelby, has to sell his two more valuable slaves, Uncle Tom and Harry. Harry is five years old and his mother has to save him from his doomed fate. Tom stays to pay for his masters debt. The story follows Uncle Tom's life after his sale, and Harry's mother, Eliza's, new lives after this life-changing event.
The story of Uncle Tom's Cabin is truly remarkable. What makes the story so powerful is that the views presented are the real thoughts and questions once brought up by people of the era. The story includes all aspects of the slave trade. Everything from the trader himself to the feelings of separated families is explained in detail. If you want a non-history book view of what really happened before the Civil War, it is unthinkable to miss Uncle Tom's Cabin.
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Summary: Despite its flaws, a towering literary landmark
Review: "Uncle Tom's Cabin," the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is one of the most important literary works ever to deal with the disturbing issue of African-American slavery. First published in serial form in 1851 and 1852, UTC is, to a large degree, a book of its time. But it has a compelling power that makes it, in my opinion, an authentic classic that deserves the attention of today's readers, and of future generations.Yes, there are many valid criticisms that can be leveled against Stowe and her book. Is it sentimental? Emotionally manipulative? Is Uncle Tom a problematic character? "Yes" to all these questions. But Stowe also achieves a remarkable sense of balance in the book as a whole. The too-good-to-be-true, long-suffering Tom is complemented by the more militant George. And Stowe achieves some truly incisive cultural criticism. Particularly resonant is her analysis (often through the dialogue of her characters) of the use of both Christianity and the law as tools by which the oppressive slave system was supported. Stowe is up front with her anti-slavery beliefs. UTC is notable for Stowe's many asides to her readers; her omniscient narrator seems to be maintaining a continual "conversation" with the reader. Despite the book's flaws, I found it to be a gripping read, filled with some truly memorable characters. Despite its length, the novel is a very fluid read. I fear that UTC is regarded by many as more of a cultural monument -- a literary "museum piece," if you will -- then as living literature that one would actually read. That's a pity; I think that Stowe's compassion, keen intelligence, and remarkable writerly skill make UTC a classic that is actually worth reading. Like James Fenimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans," UTC is a flawed but monumental novel that represents a serious and thoughtful attempt to portray non-white American characters. And as with Cooper's book, I think that UTC should be read in connection with 18th and 19th century books by ethnic Americans themselves: as companion texts to UTC, I particularly recommend "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." One other note: a number of authors adapted UTC for the stage in the 19th century. One such adaptation, by George L. Aiken, can be found in the excellent anthology "Early American Drama," edited by Jeffrey H. Richards. My final comment: If you haven't read this novel, toss away any preconceptions you may have, and read it with an open mind. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is an extraordinary achievement.
Rating: 
Summary: Uncle Tom's Cabin
Review: The reason why Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin was to let the North know what was going on in the South with slavery . Black families were broken apart and sold, young girls and women were taken advantage of by white owners, some were beaten to death by their owners and slaves could be treated anyway the owner wanted because they were not citizens. The white women characters cared more about the slaves than the white men. They didn't want to sell or break up families.
Uncle Tom was an uncommonly good and honest man and devouted Christian. He was sold when his owner needed money. At first he was sold to a man who was ok, but then he was sold to Simon Legree. Legree was a mean man. When Tom was a slave for Legree he was beaten to the point of death. Everyone should read this book because it gives you an idea of what happened at the time of slavery.
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Summary: One of the best and most moving books I have ever read.
Review: Uncle Tom's Cabin is about the evils of slavery from many different sides of the issue. The main character (Uncle Tom) is a good, always obedient, Christian slave that's master has to sell to pay off a debt. He has several masters, one very kind, one just normal, and one very brutal. It reallly shows how horrible slavery was. After reading it, it became obvious to me why there was a war to put an end to this terrible atrocity. Uncle Tom shows us how it is possible to do the right thing, face horrible punishments (being beaten almost to death), and still love everyone, including his evil master which he also forgave. It was one of the most memorable books I have read. I recommend it to everyone and I think it should be required reading for all schools. I think this book definitely deserves five out of five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading in all United States highschools
Review: The legend goes that when Abraham Lincoln met Harriett Beecher Stowe, he said to her, "So you're the little lady who started this great big war." The impact of this book cannot be overstated. By showing the kind and compassionate slaveholding families, as well as the horrors inflicted upon Uncle Tom by Simon Legree, Stowe illustrates that the institution, by its very nature, can never be kind or compassionate despite the actions of the individual slaveholders.
The book begins as Uncle Tom is sold to a slave trader. Though Mr. Shelby, his master, hates to sell him because he has been loyal and Christian, he recognizes that he has no choice based on large debts he has accumulated. Simultaneously, Mr. Shelby decides to sell a three-year-old boy, Harry. Learning this, Harry's mother, Eliza, escapes with this boy and heads north for Canada. Stowe continues to outline the diverging fates of Eliza and Tom throughout the novel.
Tom is sold to a kind family with a nearly divine daughter, named, aptly, Evangeline, who convinces her father to free his slaves. Before this can happen, her father is killed and Tom is sold to the brutal Simon Legree.
Stowe has been criticized for her racism, which does come through in her storytelling. She often refers to the steadfast faith common to people of African decent and makes other sweeping generalities. However, this story cannot be taken out of context and one cannot disregard the era during which it was written. Stowe was heroic to depict the gamut of possible treatments of slaves, and portray slavery as nearly equally cruel no matter how kind the master. The fact remains that no matter how kind an individual slave holder was, slaves were still subjected to having their families ripped apart when dictated by economic need or by death of their masters. By not depicting all masters as ogres, Stowe's abolitionist message rings more truthfully and convincingly. Lest we ever forget just what it meant to own another person, in all its various vestiges, every high school student in America should be required to read this novel.
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Summary: An Excellent Must Read!
Review: Beautiful book that describes the horrors of slavery and what a mother risked to save her son and what a Christian man did to help his master. Above all, how they managed to keep their faith above and through all the opression of slavery.
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Summary: The real Uncle Tom was a hero not a Quisling !
Review: HOW DID A CHARACTER WHO PREFERRED TO FACE DEATH RATHER THAN TORTURE AND BETRAY OTHER SLAVES BECOME THE SYMBOL OF 'JUDAS-HOOD' FOR BLACK AMERICA ? I wonder how many blacks --then or now-- would refrain from going against other blacks if they knew it could mean their being beaten or killed ? In view of all the black drug dealers willing to sell drugs to black children and run away dads and other betrayers, I don't think many. The original character was a hero of non-violent resistance. But, militants have often seen the such as a weakness; not a strength --attacking Martin and others. And, they are wrong. The name Uncle Tom should be used for blacks of great character and not for blacks of no character. But, many --including myself-- have used it the wrong way.
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Summary: Heatbreaking and Enlightening
Review: I think "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is a book that everyone should read. Unlike some other reviewers, I did not find the slaves' dialogue (as it is written in the dialogue of the times much like Mark Twain's novels) hard to read. The book covers the lives of two slaves: the pious and faithful Tom and the beautiful and loving Eliza. The descritions of the punishments slaves endured make the novel all the more important-- underscoring the inhumaity of such a system. This is a book that once read is not easily forgotten.
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Summary: Uncle Tom's Cabin Review
Review: Uncle Tom's Cabin is a novel that touched many people's lives including my own. It made me realize just how lucky I am to be living like I am today. Harriet Beecher Stowe takes us through the lives of two slaves, Tom and Eliza. We read about their triumphs and hardships that they go through in order to get one thing. Freedom. There are just a few things that I didn't enjoy about this book. The dialogue that takes place in Uncle Tom's Cabin was a little more difficult to understand than what I am normally used too. Another thing that I didn't really like was all the details about the punishments that the slaves had to endure. Overall, I think that this book is a book that everyone should have the opportunity to read. I am very glad that I read this book.
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Summary: Pablos excellent review
Review: Uncle Tom's Cabin is one of the best American novels written to date. It is a wonderful fictional tale about two slaves, Eliza and Tom, who follow two very different paths during their lives as slaves. They both live in Kentucky under the same master. As their master goes in to debt, he is forced to sell them to a slave trader. Fearful of loosing her child, Eliza takes the very dangerous path and runs away with fellow slaves leading to a bloody skirmish with a group of drunken bounty hunters. Tom on the other hand, chooses to follow his master's orders and get sold into the Deep South. By following his faith in God he believes God will guide hi through his life as a slave. Harriet Beecher Stowe uses her descriptive style of writing to capture the reader's imagination, and show them the horrors of slavery. One interesting topic the author brings up all throughout the novel is the idea of how can a southern slave holder feel right even after they have read the bible and how their slaves know passages that describe their right to freedom. Another great thing the author does in this novel is give a great ending by telling what happened to each of the different characters after they have ended their lives as slaves. I think this book is a classic American novel, however I believe its message is shallow and cannot compare to that of the Jungle's or even or some of Jack London's or John Steinbeck's works. For these reasons I giving Uncle Tom's Cabin a 4.5, but it still deserves five stars. This book is a must buy for every American.
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