斯托夫人编著的《汤姆叔叔的小屋》通过对汤姆和乔治·哈里斯夫妇这两种不同性格黑奴的描述，告诉读者：逆来顺受、听从奴隶主摆布的汤姆难逃死亡的命运；而敢于反抗敢于斗争的乔治夫妇得到了新生。这部小说在启发民众反对农奴制的情绪上起了非常重要的作用，被视为美国内战的起因之一。林肯总统后来接见斯托夫人时戏谑地称她是“写了一本书，酿成了一场大战的小妇人 ”。

《汤姆叔叔的小屋》的作者斯陀夫人对美国的蓄奴制所产生的把黑奴当成没有灵魂的牲畜肆意虐待和进行买卖的行为一向深恶痛绝。一八五O年美国联邦议会又通过了《逃奴法案》，规定任何人不得收留逃奴，自由州的居民如协助逃奴，将受到法律的制裁。这一法律的通过无异于在美国全境以法律的形式承认了黑奴是奴隶主的私有财产，而当时相当一批北方的政界与宗教界的领袖竟然为这一法案辩护，认为为了维护联邦统一，不致分成南北两个国家，这个法案是十分必要的。这使得斯陀夫人更为愤怒。她认为只有不了解蓄奴制的真相及其残酷性的人才会为蓄奴制与《逃奴法案》进行辩护，于是决心通过文学的形式，把蓄奴制的种种骇人听闻的罪恶公这于世。她心目中的读者主要是北方信奉基督教的白人，她希望通过自己的作品使他们同情并支持废除奴隶制的斗争。

CHAPTER 1 IN WHICH THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO A MAN OF HUMANITY

CHAPTER 2 THE MOTHER

CHAPTER 3 THE HUSBAND AND FATHER

CHAPTER 4 AN EVENING IN UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

CHAPTER 5 SHOWING THE FEELINGS OF LIVING PROPERTY ON CHANGING OWNERS

CHAPTER 6 DISCOVERY

CHAPTER 7 THE MOTHER'S STRUGGLE

CHAPTER 8 ELIZA'S ESCAPE

CHAPTER 9 IN WHICH IT APPEARS THAT A SENATOR IS BUT A MAN

CHAPTER 10 THE PROPERTY IS CARRIED OFF

CHAPTER 11 IN WHICH PROPERTY GETS INTO AN IMPROPER STATE OF MIND

CHAPTER 12 SELECT INCIDENT OF LAWFUL TRADE

CHAPTER 13 THE QUAKER SETTLEMENT

CHAPTER 14 EVANGELINE

CHAPTER 15 OF TOM'S NEW MASTER, AND VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS

CHAPTER 16 TOM'S MISTRESS AND HER OPINIONS

CHAPTER 17 THE FREEMAN'S DEFENCE

CHAPTER 18 MISS OPHELIA'S EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS

CHAPTER 19 MISS OPHELIA'S EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS CONTINUED

CHAPTER 20 TOPSY

CHAPTER 21 KENTUCK

CHAPTER 22 "THE GRASS WITHERETH--THE FLOWER FADETH"

CHAPTER 23 HENRIQUE

CHAPTER 24 FORESHADOWINGS

CHAPTER 25 THE LITTLE EVANGELIST

CHAPTER 26 DEATH

CHAPTER 27 "THIS IS THE LAST OF EARTH

CHAPTER 28 REUNION

CHAPTER 29 THE UNPROTECTED

CHAPTER 30 THE SLAVE WAREHOUSE

CHAPTER 31 THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

CHAPTER 32 DARK PLACES

CHAPTER 33 CASSY

CHAPTER 34 THE QUADROON'S STORY

CHAPTER 35 THE TOKENS

CHAPTER 36 EMMELINE AND CASSY

CHAPTER 37 LIBERTY

CHAPTER 38 THE VICTORY

CHAPTER 39 THE STRATAGEM

CHAPTER 40 THE MARTYR

CHAPTER 41 THE YOUNG MASTER

CHAPTER 42 AN AUTHENTIC GHOST STORY

CHAPTER 43 RESULTS

CHAPTER 44 THE LIBERATOR

CHAPTER 45 CONCLUDING REMARKS

'No, I mean really, Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow. Hegot religion at a camp-meeting, four years ago; and I believe he really didget it. I've trusted him, since then, with everything I have--money, house,horses--and let him come and go round the country; and I always foundhim true and square in everything.'

'Some folks don't believe there is pious niggers, Shelby,' said Haley,with a candid flourish of his hand, 'but I do. I had a fellow, now, in this yerlast lot ! took to Orleans--'twas as good as a meetin' now, really; to hearthat critter pray; and he was quite gentle and quiet like. He fetched me agood sum, too, for I bought him cheap of a man that was 'bliged to sellout; so I realised six hundred on him. Yes, I consider religion a valeyablething in a nigger, when it's the genuine article, and no mistake.'

'Well, Tom's got the real article, if ever a fellow had,' rejoined theother. 'Why, last fall, I let him go to Cincinnati alone, to do business forme, and bring home five hundred dollars. "Tom," says I to him, "I trustyou, because I think you're a Christian--I know you wouldn't cheat." Tomcomes back, sure enough: I knew he would. Some low fellows, they say,said to him: "Tom, why don't you make tracks for Canada? Ah, Mastertrusted me, and I couldn't!" They told me about it. I am sorry to part withTom, I must say. You ought to let him cover the whole balance of the debt;and you would, Haley, if you had any conscience.'

'Well, I've got just as much conscience as any man in business canafford to keep--just a little, you know, to swear by, as 'twere,' said thetrader, jocularly; 'and, then, I'm ready to do anything in reason to 'bligefriends; but this yer, you see, is a leetle too hard on a fellow--a leetle toohard.'

The trader sighed contemplatively, and poured out some more brandy.

'Well, then, Haley, how will you trade?' said Mr Shelby, after anuneasy interval of silence.

'Well, haven't you a boy or gal that you could throw in with Tom?'

'Hum!--none that I could well spare; to tell the truth, it's only hardnecessity makes me willing to sell at all. I don't like parting with any ofmy hands, that's a fact.'

Here the door opened, and a small quadroon boy, between four andfive years of age, entered the room. There was something in his appea-rance remarkably beautiful and engaging. His black hair, fine as floss silk,hung in glossy curls about his round, dimpled face, while a pair of largedark eyes, full of fire and softness, looked out from beneath the rich, longlashes, as he peered curiously into the apartment. A gay robe of scarlet andyellow plaid, carefully made and neatly fitted, set off to advantage the darkand rich style of his beauty; and a certain comic air of assurance, blendedwith bashfulness, showed that he had been not unused to being petted andnoticed by his master.

'Halloa, Jim Crow!' said Mr Shelby, whistling, and snapping a bunchof raisins towards him; 'pick that up, now!'

The child scampered, with all his little strength, after the prize, whilehis master laughed.

'Come here, Jim Crow,' said he.

The child came up, and the master patted the curly head, and chuckedhim under the chin.

'Now, Jim, show this gentleman how you can dance and sing.'

The boy commenced one of those wild, grotesque songs commonamong the negroes, in a rich, clear voice, accompanying his singing withmany comic evolutions of the hands, feet, and whole body, all in perfecttime to the music.

'Bravo!' said Haley, throwing him a quarter of an orange.

'Now, Jim, walk like old Uncle Cudjoe, when he has the rheumatism,'said his master.

Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance ofdeformity and distortion, as, with his back humped up, and his master'sstick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face drawn into adoleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation of an old man.

Both gentlemen laughed uproariously.

'Now, Jim,' said his master, 'show us how old Elder Robbins leads thepsalm.'

The boy drew his chubby face down to a formidable length, andcommenced toning a psalm tune through his nose with imperturbable gravity.

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《汤姆叔叔的小屋》是人类历史上最伟大的作品之一。

——托尔斯泰

“你就是那位写了一本书，酿成了一场大战的小妇人。”

——美国总统亚伯拉罕·林肯接见斯托夫人时如是说

《汤姆叔叔的小屋》是描写美国奴隶制度的最有力、生命力最持久的文学作品。  

——艾尔弗雷德·卡津(美国著名文学评论家)