Labeled racist and condescending by some contemporary critics, this novel remains a shocking, controversial, and powerful work that exposes the attitudes of white 19th century society toward the institution of slavery.

Uncle Tom's Cabin charts the progress from slavery to freedom of fugitives who escape the chains of slavery, and of a martyr who transcends all earthly ties. This edition firmly locates the novel within the context of African-American writing, the issues of race, and the role of women. Its appendices include the most important contemporary African-American literary responses to the glorification of Uncle Tom's Christian resignation as well as excerpts from popular slave narratives, quoted by Stowe in her justification of the dramatization of slavery, Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin.