This book was so instrumental in changing the views of Americans and even was credited with leading to the Civil War it is worth a read for that reason alone. Stowe has an expansive vocabulary and some lovely prose passages as well. While many characters are somewhat flat, either glorified perfection or evil incarnate, others are more fully developed. Through her characters, Stowe presents all the arguments of her time both for and against slavery but leaves the reader with the inevitable conclusion that all humans were created by God and thus should be treated with respect and dignity. I was also impressed to learn the events of the novel all took place and were amassed and arranged in fiction form.