Mightier Than the Sword: Uncle Toms Cabin and the Battle for America

In this wide-ranging, brilliantly researched work, David S. Reynolds traces the factors that made Uncle Toms Cabin the most influential novel ever written by an American. Upon its 1852 publication, the novels vivid depiction of slavery polarized its American readership, ultimately widening the rift that led to the Civil War. Reynolds also charts the novels afterlife--including its adaptation into plays, films, and consumer goods--revealing its lasting impact on American entertainment, advertising, and race relations.