* Accuracy of Depiction: Critics argued that the novel exaggerated the cruelty of slavery and misrepresented the lives of both slaves and slaveholders.
* Realism and Sentimentality: Some critics felt that the novel relied too heavily on melodrama and sentimentality, sacrificing realism for emotional impact.
Stowe, however, did not directly respond to these criticisms with primary documents. Instead, she defended her work through:
* Public Lectures: Stowe gave numerous lectures throughout the United States and Europe, arguing for the truth of her depiction of slavery and its horrors.
* Letters to the Editor: She wrote letters to newspapers and magazines, clarifying her intentions and defending her portrayal of slavery.
* Later Works: She later published several other works, including *A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin*, which provided additional details about the real-life individuals and events that inspired the novel.
* Personal Testimony: Stowe relied heavily on personal accounts of slavery, including her own experiences with slavery and her interactions with fugitive slaves.
While she used personal testimonies and other sources, she did not rely on primary documents in the modern sense to defend the validity of her novel. Instead, she engaged in a public dialogue, relying on her own experiences, observations, and the testimonies of others to counter criticism.