Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (Penguin Classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Harriet Beecher Stowe (Author), Robert S. Levine (Editor, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000 | Series: Penguin Classics

Written partly in response to the criticisms of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, Stowe's second anti-slavery novel is an attempt to record the experience of "those who have bowed down to the yoke, and felt the iron enter their souls". Through the compelling stories of Nina Gordon, the mistress of a slave plantation, and Dred, a black revolutionary, Stowe brings to life the conflicting beliefs about race, slavery, and radical reform that dominated her age.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A powerful novel and a compelling extension of Stowe's critique of slavery illuminated by Levine's judicious and helpful explanatory notes."
Gregg Crane, University of Michigan

"An excellent edition of an important book."
Elizabeth Ammons, Tufts University

"Inspired by a rare genius--rare in both intensity and in range of power."
George Eliot --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Written partly in response to the criticisms of Uncle Tom's Cabin by both white Southerners and black abolitionists, Stowe's second novel, Dred, attempts to explore the issue of slavery from an African American perspective. Through the compelling stories of Nina Gordon, the mistress of a slave plantation, and Dred, a black revolutionary, Stowe brings to life conflicting beliefs about race, the institution of slavery, and the possibilities of violent resistance. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140439048
• ISBN-13: 978-0140439045
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,463,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right On, Harriet, January 13, 2000

By 

Robert L. Fleisher (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dred (Paperback)

A compelling and highly readable indictment of slavery in America, "Dred" takes risks that "Uncle Tom's Cabin" did not. The ending of "Dred" is powerful and strong, unlike that of "Uncle Tom", which seemed to advocate ultimately that the slaves should be freed and encourged to return to Africa. Harriet Beecher Stowe is just as sharp in her criticism of the North and she is to the South. She is quick to condemn the passive profiteers of slavery as she is the slaveholder himself. I throughly enjoyed this book. I will read it a secod time.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The other book by Harriet Beecher Stowe, March 15, 2006

By 

J. Greene (Morgantown, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (Paperback)

While Uncle Tom's Cabin will likely remain Harriet Beecher Stowe's best known work, her 1856 novel Dred should not be overlooked. If you like this time period, you should like Dred. Stowe avoids the heavy-handed authorial commentary that characterizes Uncle Tom's Cabin; in other words, she lets the events of the story speak for themselves. The story is slow-burning plantation drama--again, if you're a fan of 19th century literature, you'll love Dred. Dred compares favorably to Moby-Dick, as both novels turn on gradual plots where the reader's bond to the characters becomes crucial. Because the plot takes awhile to develop, the true reward of the novel comes from watching the characters grow and evolve.

This edition features an introduction and notes by Robert Levine, which do a great job of placing Stowe's work in a historical context. Dred should appeal to students of 19th century literature, and anyone else with an interest in slavery and abolition.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!!, December 4, 2009

By 

Steven M. Taylor-rot - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (Paperback)

I am shocked at how many of the "modern" views were actually in writing over an hundred years before I became acquainted with them. A great bit of liberal understanding.

She presents the arguments pro and con about slavery.