For the next several blogs I will quote portions of a 24-page review (yes, 24 pages!) of Uncle Tom's Cabin: The Possible Amelioration of Slavery which was published in The North American Review in 1853. Besides its length and sharply critical review of the book, it is an amazing political diatribe about slavery and “abolition parties”, some of it considerate of beliefs and opinions we hold today, some of it completely unacceptable in light of the emancipation of slaves, the Civil War, and all that has happened since. It’s fascinating to read what a man of the times had to say about Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the sensibilities of his day. Today’s blog is the opening of the review and the author’s comments on the Eva and Tom characters.
The enthusiastic reception of Mrs. Stowe’s novel is the result of various causes. One is the merit of the book itself. It is, unquestionably, a work of genius. It has defects of conception and style, exhibits a want of artistic skill, is often tame and inadequate in description, and is tinctured with methodistic cant; but, with all its blemishes, thought, imagination, feeling, high moral and religious sentiment, and dramatic power shine in every page. It has the capital excellence of exciting the interest of the reader; this never stops or falters from the beginning to the end. The characters are drawn with spirit and truth.
[The author then describes what he thinks of each of the main characters ending with Eva and Tom.] Eva and Tom are dreams; the one is a saint, the other an angel. But dreams are founded on realities, and we are all such stuff as dreams are made of. These characters are both exaggerated; but to color and idealize is the privilege of romance, provided the picture does not overstep the modesty of nature or contradict nature. There are no Evas or Uncle Toms, but there are some who possess, in a lower degree, their respective virtues.
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