rted people like Legree and enslaved people like Uncle Tom. Because of her work, thousands rallied to the anti-slavery cause.Due to popular demand Stowes work was published in book form as Uncle Toms Cabin on March 20th, 1852. It was not the first anti-slavery novel, but it was by far the most successful. The novel sold 10,000 copies in the first week and 30,000by the end of the first year. Within two years Uncle Toms Cabin had sold 2,000,000 copies worldwide. Performances of a play based on the novel drew audiences numbering in the hundreds of thousands. For many Northerners who had no experience with slavery, the novel personalised the evils of slavery. Some Northerners, however, criticised the book, some because they believed it exaggerated slaverys cruelty but some abolitionists because they thought it downplayed slaverys cruelty. Although it created some divisions in Northern society, the boundary lines between North & South were clearer than ever. Abolitionists especially, loved the novel and the way in which it had impact on the North and South. Northern and Southern authors wrote at least 25 proslavery and Anti-Tom novels between 1852 and the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.Anti-slavery writings were significant in the abolitionists fight against slavery. Using books, newspapers, pamphlets, poetry, published sermons, and other forms of literature, abolitionists spread their message. Stowe was perhaps less threatening to white audiences than were black ex-slaves, this could contribute to the success of the book. Stowe being a member of a prominent abolitionist family had spent many years living in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she had witnessed the plight of slaves fleeing from the slave state of Kentucky. She was moved to write the book after hearing Christians debating about slavery which she thought was wrong.Pro- slavery novels were written to counter act these Anti-Slavery novels. These depicted the happy lives of slaves, and ...
