Book 17 - A classic
Although this book, strangely enough, does not appear on my 100 classic novels list, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet
Beecher Stowe, has been referenced in media and history more than any other book I'm aware of, except the Bible of course.
As a white, Canadian woman in my mid 30's, I'd like to believe that I know more about slavery, abolition of such, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, Emancipation, etc. then the average person of my genre. I was a history major in University (where did that get me?) and I took a special interest in that period in history.
Although quite disturbing, because it's true, I've found that time in history fascinating, and I feel a bit more rounded now that I've completed 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. I realize that Harriet Beecher Stowe had never actually been on a plantation, or in a Southern state for that matter, and her stories were based on accounts from escaped slaves, one in particular that lived (and there is now a museum) about an hour away from me in Dresden, Ontario. Also of particular interest to me, is that the slaves escaped to Amherstburg Ontario, a town about 20 minutes away, which I love (my grandparents lived there and I worked there for 4 summers). My mom said that her and my dad used to go parking at the well known boat access area for the underground railroad. It's not one of those places marked with a plaque, but just something everyone knows... (I'm going to check that out next time I'm in that area...) It's funny to me that this seemingly unimportant area I live is so important historically. It makes me proud to be a Canadian...
It's interesting to note that this was the number one seller of the entire 19th century and number 2 in the 20th century, only behind the Bible.
I read it knowing that it was used as propaganda for the Abolitionist movement of that time, and occasionally I laughed out loud at some of the sterotypes of the African Americans and Christians alike.
It was a good story, and I truly wanted to reach into the novel and slowly drown one particular character, and I found myself bawling at times as well (what else is new?).
I will say that I HATE when the author uses phonetical spelling, especially with accents and slang thrown in. It is like reading another language.
I would recommend this book to anyone! I am definately going to read an anti-Tom book, and more local history about the underground movement!
In my nearby city of Windsor Ontario, directly south of Detroit Michigan, there is a powerful memorial statue near the river, with a fugitive slave looking back to the US, as her party proceeds into Canada.... please excuse this crappy picture, but I couldn't find another...
This is the best, you can feel their emotion!
There is another memorial directly across the river in Detroit... slaves looking to their freedom, across the river... this is a better picture...
Very cool stuff...
