''The Planter's Northern Bride'' is an

1854 Events January–March * January 4 – The McDonald Islands are discovered by Captain William McDonald aboard the ''Samarang''. * January 6 – The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is perhaps born. * January 9 – The Teut ...

novel written by Caroline Lee Hentz, in response to the publication of '' Uncle Tom's Cabin'' by

Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (; June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American author and abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and became best known for her novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1852), which depicts the harsh ...

1852 Events January–March * January 14 – President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte proclaims a new constitution for the French Second Republic. * January 15 – Nine men representing various Jewish charitable organizations come tog ...

Overview

Unlike other examples of

anti-Tom literature Anti-Tom literature consists of the 19th century pro-slavery novels and other literary works written in response to Harriet Beecher Stowe's ''Uncle Tom's Cabin''. Also called plantation literature, these writings were generally written by author ...

(aka "plantation literature"), the title ''The Planter's Northern Bride'' is not a pun on '' Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (as was the case with ''

Uncle Robin, in His Cabin in Virginia, and Tom Without One in Boston ''Uncle Robin, in His Cabin in Virginia, and Tom Without One in Boston'' (sometimes shortened to simply ''Uncle Robin's Cabin'') is an 1853 novel written by J.W. Page and released by J. W. Randolph Publishers of Richmond, Virginia. Overview '' ...

'' (1853)). The novel, unlike previous examples of plantation literature, criticized abolitionism in the United States and how easily anti-slavery organisations such as the Underground Railroad could be manipulated by pro-slavery superiors – a concept previously discussed in Rev. Baynard Rush Hall's earlier anti-Tom novel, ''

Frank Freeman's Barber Shop ''Frank Freeman's Barber Shop'' is an 1852 plantation fiction novel written by Baynard Rush Hall. Overview ''Frank Freeman's Barber Shop'' is an example of the numerous anti-Tom novels produced in the southern United States in response to t ...

'' (

Plot

The book's main character is Eulalia, a young daughter of an abolitionist from New England and the wife of a plantation owner named Moreland. At first indoctrinated by her father's views on abolitionism, Eulalia initially condemns her husband's use of slaves on his plantation – even though he is behaving benignly towards them – but she soon realises how well off Moreland's slaves truly are. As time passes, Eulalia also discovers a plot by a group of local abolitionists to stage a large-scale

slave rebellion A slave rebellion is an armed uprising by enslaved people, as a way of fighting for their freedom. Rebellions of enslaved people have occurred in nearly all societies that practice slavery or have practiced slavery in the past. A desire for freedo ...

, with aims to "free" the otherwise-content slaves of the plantation and to murder both Moreland and Eulalia, despite their kindness to their slaves.

Publication history

Hentz's novel was first published in novelised form by T.B. Peterson Ltd. in 1854. The publishers of Hentz's novel had been responsible for the release of another anti-Tom novel two years previously: ''

The Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' by

Charles Jacobs Peterson Charles Jacobs Peterson (July 20, 1818 - March 4, 1887) was an American author and publisher. Biography Peterson was born in Philadelphia and studied law at the University of Pennsylvania, but never practiced law. He became an owner and partner in ...

(1852).

References

External links

''The Planter's Northern Bride'' at the University of Virginia
1854 American novels Abolitionism in the United States Anti-Tom novels {{1850s-novel-stub