The most famous novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, written in 1852 and published in parts in an abolitionist newspaper, sparked an energetic debate over slavery, achieving the sale of half a million copies in a span of five years. Uncle Tom's cabin materializes the feelings of the abolitionists of his time, his narrative tells scenes of daily life and his reading awakens very strong emotions. The irradiation of this work was one of the triggers that precipitated the American civil war.

Uncle Tom's cabin was quickly considered worldwide as a masterpiece, and although it was initially published in volumes, it achieved total success only when it was published as a book. It was translated into more than twenty languages. Beyond its irregular structure, like all works of Stowe, the reading of Uncle Tom's cabin is absolutely captivating. The main theme of this book is slavery, but communicated in a crude and realistic way, thus, the reader is involved in such a way in the story that vividly records the hardships that the characters endure. The main protagonist, Tom, is a black slave of advanced age and charming person. His "owner" - in the novel emphasizes how slaves were treated as objects - Mr. Shelby, is forced to sell an execrable slave trader, Mr. Haley to Tom and the son of his wife's slave , little Harry, because for them two will pay you a good amount of money that will save you from economic ruin. Tom and his relatives will be left to their fate.