Uncle Tom's Cabin

I recently read Harriet Beecher Stowe's book and found it to be different from what I expected.  Although written in the rather complicated and flowery language of the period (published in 1852), it was a good read and vividly portrayed her views on the lives of slaves at that time.  Instead of a story focused on a single plantation, it was wide ranging and covered incidents in Ohio, Canada, Kentucky, and further south to New Orleans. I also found that the author was especially skillful at character development--the cruel slave owner Simon Legree being a good example.  It would be interesting to find out if  my Civil War ancestor Private Hiram Terman had read this book before enlisting in the Union Army.