Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) was an American writer and abolitionist who became one of the most important literary figures of the 19th century in the United States. Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, she was the daughter of prominent Presbyterian minister Lyman Beecher and sister of Henry Ward Beecher. Her most famous novel, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' (1852), depicted the horrors of slavery in a poignant and emotional way, becoming an international bestseller and a catalyst for the abolitionist movement. The work was credited by Lincoln, according to legend, as the spark that started the American Civil War. Stowe wrote over 30 books, but none achieved the impact of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.