The anti-slavery newspaper serial that became the bestselling novel of the 1800s

The Writing of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in Brunswick

In 1850, Harriet Beecher Stowe sat in her Brunswick, Maine parlor, outraged by the Fugitive Slave Act that forced citizens to help capture runaway slaves.

Stowe grabbed her pen and started writing what would become America’s most powerful anti-slavery novel whilst raising six children.

She finished “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in 1852, producing 300,000 words under a year. Here’s how it happened, and you can visit her home today.

The Fugitive Slave Act That Sparked Her Fury

Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act in September 1850. This law forced all citizens to help catch escaped slaves and made helping them illegal.

Even in free states, people now had to return escaped slaves to their owners. Anyone who helped runaways faced jail time and huge fines.

Stowe watched in anger as the law took effect. Free Black people were kidnapped and sent south without trials.

Personal Tragedy That Shaped The Novel

In 1849, a cholera outbreak hit Cincinnati where Stowe lived. The disease killed thousands, including her eighteen-month-old son, Samuel Charles.

This loss changed Stowe forever. Her pain helped her understand what enslaved mothers felt when their children were sold at auctions.

These mothers endured something even worse, knowing their children lived on but would never be seen again.

The Vision At First Parish Church

During a Sunday service at Brunswick’s First Parish Church, Stowe had an unusual experience while sitting in pew 23.

She later described seeing a vision of a slave being beaten to death for refusing to betray other escaped slaves.

The image stuck with her.

After church, she hurried home and started writing what would become Uncle Tom’s death scene, one of the most powerful parts of her book.

From Short Story To Serial Novel

Stowe wrote to Gamaliel Bailey, editor of the anti-slavery newspaper The National Era, in March 1850.

She felt she had to speak out about slavery. A year later, she offered Bailey a short piece about slavery’s evils.

She thought it would fill just three or four newspaper sections. The story kept growing as she wrote, becoming larger than anticipated.

The Demanding Writing Schedule

The National Era published the first chapter on June 5, 1851.

Stowe then faced weekly deadlines for new chapters. She wrote between cooking, cleaning, and caring for her children in the 1850s.

When she missed deadlines, readers sent angry letters to the newspaper. They couldn’t wait to read what happened next.

Her Writing Room In Brunswick

The Stowes rented a house at 63 Federal Street in Brunswick.

The rent was $125, straining the family’s budget on a professor’s salary. Stowe wrote to help pay their bills.

Their money troubles pushed her to keep writing.

She worked at her desk while running a busy household with young children, turning financial needs into creative energy.

Research Methods And Sources

Having rarely traveled in the South, Stowe relied on careful research to craft her story.

She studied American Slavery as It Is by Theodore Dwight Weld, a collection of newspaper clippings and firsthand accounts.

Josiah Henson’s escape helped shape Uncle Tom’s character. Stowe also gathered stories from friends and read anti-slavery newspapers.

Evening Reading Sessions

After writing all day, Stowe held reading sessions in her home. Neighbors came to hear the newest parts of her story.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Bowdoin student who later became a Civil War hero, often attended with his fiancée Fanny Adams.

These readings helped Stowe improve her writing. She watched how people reacted to different scenes and changed her story based on their responses.

The Final Installment And Book Contract

By the time the last chapter appeared in The National Era on April 1, 1852, publisher John P. Jewett had already asked Stowe about making it a book.

Jewett believed strongly in the novel. He hired artist Hammatt Billings to create six pictures for the first edition alone.

Stowe also registered her copyright in Maine.

Publication And Immediate Impact

Uncle Tom’s Cabin hit bookstores on March 20, 1852.

The book became the biggest publishing event of the century. The first 5,000 copies sold out immediately, followed by 10,000 more in a week.

According to the Library of Congress, Uncle Tom’s Cabin sold 300,000 copies in its first year alone after being published.

Only the Bible had reached more readers.

Visiting Harriet Beecher Stowe House

You’ll find the Harriet Beecher Stowe House at 63 Federal Street in Brunswick, Maine.

This National Historic Landmark contains “Harriet’s Writing Room,” a public exhibit space where you can learn about Stowe’s writing process from 1851 to 1852.

First Parish Church at 217 Maine Street preserves pew 23 with a commemorative plaque marking where Stowe experienced her vision of Uncle Tom.

Both sites offer self-guided tours, connected via a short walking path, allowing you to follow Stowe’s footsteps from church to writing desk.

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