Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen)

History's Best Selling Products of 1856

1. Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp

   Released in 1856 by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Phillips, Sampson and Company

   Published in 1856, "Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp" arrived at a pivotal moment in American history, just as the nation hurtled towards civil conflict over slavery. Following the phenomenal success of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Harriet Beecher Stowe sought to delve deeper into the systemic injustices and moral corruption inherent in the peculiar institution, particularly focusing on the legal entanglements and the potential for armed resistance. The book's release fueled abolitionist sentiment and further polarized public opinion, forcing readers to confront the stark realities of slavery and the growing impossibility of peaceful resolution to the national crisis. Its timing, amidst escalating tensions over the Kansas-Nebraska Act, made it a potent and provocative literary intervention.