When Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published in 1852, the anti-slavery novel flew off the shelves. Seventeen printing presses ran 24-hours a day to keep up with demand, making it the best-selling novel of the 19th century.
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s primary inspiration for Uncle Tom was a man named Josiah Henson.
Before he and his family fled from slavery, he heard a preacher share the Gospel: “He said, ‘Jesus Christ, the Son of God, tasted death for every man,'” Henson wrote. “It touched my heart, and I cried out: ‘I wonder if Jesus Christ died for me.’ Again and again, did the preacher reiterate the words ‘for every man.’ Oh, the blessedness and sweetness of feeling that I was LOVED!”
After finally escaping, Henson wrote, “I felt streams of emotion running down in electric courses from head to foot. ‘Yes,’ said I; ‘I’ll use my freedom well; I’ll give my soul to God.'”
FULL STORY: https://cbn.com/news/us/true-story-behind-uncle-toms-cabin-book-rocked-pre-civil-war-america
