Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852, is an abolitionist novel that follows Uncle Tom, a devout and kind-hearted enslaved man. The story depicts the brutalities of slavery and its impact on families, while also portraying Tom's resilience and Christian faith. The novel was inspired by books about the experiences of formerly enslaved individuals and passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Uncle Tom's Cabin was an immediate bestseller and is often credited with helping to galvanize anti-slavery sentiment in the North.