斯托夫人編著的《湯姆叔叔的小屋》通過對湯姆和喬治·哈裡斯夫婦這兩種不同性格黑奴的描述，告訴讀者：逆來順受、聽從奴隸主擺布的湯姆難逃死亡的命運；而敢於反抗敢於鬥爭的喬治夫婦得到了新生。這部小說在啟發民眾反對農奴制的情緒上起了非常重要的作用，被視為美國內戰的起因之一。林肯總統後來接見斯托夫人時戲謔地稱她是《寫了一本書，釀成了一場大戰的小婦人 》。

《湯姆叔叔的小屋》的作者斯陀夫人對美國的蓄奴制所產生的把黑奴當成沒有靈魂的牲畜肆意虐待和進行買賣的行為一向深惡痛絕。一八五O年美國聯邦議會又通過了《逃奴法案》，規定任何人不得收留逃奴，自由州的居民如協助逃奴，將受到法律的制裁。這一法律的通過無異於在美國全境以法律的形式承認了黑奴是奴隸主的私有財產，而當時相當一批北方的政界與宗教界的領袖竟然為這一法案辯護，認為為了維護聯邦統一，不致分成南北兩個國家，這個法案是十分必要的。這使得斯陀夫人更為憤怒。她認為隻有不了解蓄奴制的真相及其殘酷性的人纔會為蓄奴制與《逃奴法案》進行辯護，於是決心通過文學的形式，把蓄奴制的種種駭人聽聞的罪惡公這於世。她心目中的讀者主要是北方信奉基督教的白人，她希望通過自己的作品使他們同情並支持廢除奴隸制的鬥爭。

《湯姆叔叔的小屋》是人類歷史上最偉大的作品之一。
——托爾斯泰
“你就是那位寫了一本書，釀成了一場大戰的小婦人。”
——美國總統亞伯拉罕·林肯接見斯托夫人時如是說
《湯姆叔叔的小屋》是描寫美國奴隸制度的最有力、生命力最持久的文學作品。
——艾爾弗雷德·卡津（美國著名文學評論家）

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 TOMS CABIN
CHAPTER 5 SHOWING THE FEELINGS OF LIVING PROPERTY ON CHANGING OWNERS
CHAPTER 6 DISCOVERY
CHAPTER 7 THE MOTHERS STRUGGLE
CHAPTER 8 ELIZAS 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 TOMS NEW MASTER， AND VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS
CHAPTER 16 TOMS MISTRESS AND HER OPINIONS
CHAPTER 17 THE FREEMANS DEFENCE
CHAPTER 18 MISS OPHELIAS EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS
CHAPTER 19 MISS OPHELIAS 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 QUADROONS 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

Ye see， said Marks to Haley， stirring his punch as he did so， ye see， we has justices convenient at all pints along shore that does up any little jobs in our line quite reasonable. Tom， he does the knockin down and that ar;and I come in all dressed up——shining boots——everything first chop， when the swearins to be done. You oughter see me now， said Marks， in a glow of professional pride， how I can tone it off. One day， Im Mr Twickem， from New Orleans; nother day， Im just come from my plantation on Pearl River， where I works seven hundred niggers; then， again， I come out a distant relation of Henry Clay， or some old cock in Kentuck. Talents is different， you know. Now， Toms a roarer when theres any thumping or fighting to be done; but at lying， he ant good， Tom ant——ye see it dont come natural to him; but Lord if thars a feller in the country that can swear to anything and everything， and put in all the circumstances and flourishes with a longer face， and carryt through bettern I can， why， Id like to see him， thats all！ I blieve， my heart， I could get along， and snake through， even if justices were more particular than they is. Sometimes I rather wish they was more particular; twould be a heap more relishin if they was—— more fun， yer know.