The Planter's Northern Bride
Encyclopedia
The Planter's Northern Bride is an 1854
novel written by Caroline Lee Hentz
, in response to the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
in 1852
.
, The Planter's Northern Bride does not portray white plantation owners behaving benignly towards their loyal black slaves - as had been the case in earlier novels such as Aunt Phillis's Cabin
- and nor is the title 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
(1853)).
The novel, unlike previous examples of plantation literature
, acted as a criticism of 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 an earlier anti-Tom novel, Frank Freeman's Barber Shop
by Rev. Baynard Rush Hall (1852
).
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 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
, with aims to "free" the otherwise-content slaves of the plantation, and to murder both Moreland and Eulalia, despite their kindness to their slaves.
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
by Charles Jacobs Peterson (1852).
The text now resides in the public domain
, and has since been reprinted in modern times by Kessinger Publishing
.
1854 in literature
The year 1854 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:* The Polyglotta Africana, an early classification of African languages based on field work under freed slaves in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is published by Sigismund Wilhelm Koelle....
novel written by Caroline Lee Hentz
Caroline Lee Hentz
Caroline Lee Whiting Hentz was an American novelist and author, most noted for her opposition to the abolitionist movement and her widely-read rebuttal to the popular anti-slavery book, Uncle Tom's Cabin...
, in response to the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
in 1852
1852 in literature
The year 1852 in literature involved some significant new books.-New books:*Manuel Antônio de Almeida - Memoirs of a Police Sergeant*Wilkie Collins - Basil: A Story of Modern Life...
.
Overview
Unlike other examples of plantation literatureAnti-Tom literature
Anti-Tom literature refers to 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 authors from the Southern United States...
, The Planter's Northern Bride does not portray white plantation owners behaving benignly towards their loyal black slaves - as had been the case in earlier novels such as Aunt Phillis's Cabin
Aunt Phillis's Cabin
Aunt Phillis's Cabin; or, Southern Life As It Is by Mary Henderson Eastman is a plantation fiction novel, and is perhaps the most read anti-Tom novel in American literature. It was published by Lippincott, Grambo & Co of Philadelphia in 1852 as a response to Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, published...
- and nor is the title a pun on Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
(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
Uncle Robin, in His Cabin in Virginia, and Tom Without One in Boston is an 1853 novel written by J.W. Page and released by J. W...
(1853)).
The novel, unlike previous examples of plantation literature
Anti-Tom literature
Anti-Tom literature refers to 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 authors from the Southern United States...
, acted as a criticism of Abolitionism
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and how easily anti-slavery organisations such as the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
could be manipulated by pro-slavery superiors - a concept previously discussed in an earlier anti-Tom novel, Frank Freeman's Barber Shop
Frank Freeman's Barber Shop
Frank Freeman's Barber Shop is an 1852 plantation fiction novel written by the Reverend 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 the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet...
by Rev. Baynard Rush Hall (1852
1852 in literature
The year 1852 in literature involved some significant new books.-New books:*Manuel Antônio de Almeida - Memoirs of a Police Sergeant*Wilkie Collins - Basil: A Story of Modern Life...
).
Plot
The book's main character is Eulalia, a young daughter of an abolitionistAbolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and the wife of a plantation owner named Moreland. At first indoctrinated by her father's views on Abolitionism
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
, Eulalia initially condemns her husband's use of slaves on his plantation - even though he is behaving benignly towards them - but 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
Slave rebellion
A slave rebellion is an armed uprising by slaves. Slave rebellions have occurred in nearly all societies that practice slavery, and are amongst the most feared events for slaveholders...
, 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 Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters
The Cabin and Parlor; or, Slaves and Masters is an 1852 novel written by Charles Jacobs Peterson under the pseudonym of J. Thornton Randolph.- Overview :...
by Charles Jacobs Peterson (1852).
The text now resides in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
, and has since been reprinted in modern times by Kessinger Publishing
Kessinger Publishing
Kessinger Publishing is a publisher that offers for reprint rare, out of print and out of copyright books originally issued by other publishers. They are located in Whitefish, Montana.The original dates of publication of the titles are usually prior to ca...
.