Published in 1851, Harriet Beecher-Stowe's novel rapidly became world-famous and remained so. A didactic and sentimental drama set among the slaves of the American South, Uncle Tom's Cabin is nevertheless a lively and forceful story. It made a major contribution to the Emancipationist cause and probably helped to sway the outcome of the Civil War. Given the history of race relations in our time it remains relevant even today.