A review by jerihurd
Mightier Than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America by David S. Reynolds

3.0

I wish GR had half stars. This was better than a 3, if not so good as a 4. So, 3.5. An interesting look at Uncle Tom's influence in causing the Civil War, and its impact after. It drags interminably in parts, but nevertheless does a good job in showing the spread and intensity of Uncle Tom fervor, not just in the ante-bellum US, but also internationally.

It was also an interesting comparison in book mania then and today: who knew that, just as today, marketing madness accompanies a literary phenomenon: Uncle Tom jigsaw puzzles, Topsy/Little Eva dolls, Simon Legree commemorative plates. Bizarre.