Harriet Beecher Stowe

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) was an American writer and opponent of slavery. Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, she was the daughter of theologian Lyman Beecher and received a strong education. She later taught at a girls’ school founded by her sister. From the 1840s onward, she published stories in magazines; her first book, The Mayflower, appeared in 1843. She became internationally famous for Uncle Tom’s Cabin, published in book form in 1852. The novel sharply criticized slavery and had a major influence on public opinion in the United States and Europe. Her wide-ranging body of work also includes novels and short stories, children’s books, advice books, and biographies.