The original text in full of Harriet Beecher Stowe's stirring anti-slavery novel is presented here with notes that tell the story behind its publication and reception. The contribution of this particular volume is its exposition of sources from real life characters and situations of the novel. An introduction by the editor covers the life of the author and relates in particular the writing of the classic and the world-wide response. The novel itself may well surprise the current reader in his own reaction.