Published in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel was a powerful indictment of slavery in America. It describes the many trials and the ultimate escape to freedom of the long-suffering, kind-hearted slave Uncle Tom, and aimed to show how Christian love can overcome any human cruelty. Uncle Tom's Cabin remains controversial to this day, viewed either as a pivotal milestone in the anti-slavery movement or as a condescending stereotype of African Americans. Nevertheless, it played a crucial role in the eventual abolition of slavery and remains one of the most important American novels ever written.