----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- 
 
[Posted on behalf of David Levy. -- RBE] 
 
[On Hard Times and Uncle Tom's Cabin] 
 
Think 1854 ... a novel [HT] comes out 'inscribed to Thomas Carlyle'  
This means what? In 1852 that author when reviewing UTC said:  
 
"We think, too, that it is possible to combine with the duty of  
emancipation the not less important duty of undoing the evil that has  
been to the  slaves' mind and of doing them some good service by way  
of atonement. When we have clipped men's minds and made them  
slavish, it is poor compensation that their bodies should be set at large." 
 
That author goes on to describe how a reformed slavery could make  
the slaves nearly white. This review provoked Denman's attack on  
Dickens' anti-anti-slavery if one can use a modern term of art from the  
cold war days.   
 
If HT is opposed to UTC then we have to read them juxtaposed.  
Consider that wonderful bit in HT when Tom Jr escapes to freedom in  
black face.    
 
Big hint: which direction across the Atlantic were black faces fleeing?  
Isn't that a great joke?   
 
In Dickens' world view all that is necessary is the kindness of    
masters. Orwell told us that 50+ years ago for capitalism. 
 
David Levy 
George Mason University 
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