Daugherty Edition (1929)
If nothing else, these illustrations show how Stowe's novel was
continuously re-"viewed" by American culture in different generations. In the
"designs" by James Daugherty slaves still dance, but to an unmistakably 1920's,
jazz rhythm.
Coward-McCann first published the book for adults, but sometime
during the 1930s it was brought out as part of their ADVENTURE BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS series. The first three
illustrations at left are from the 1929 text (Courtesy the Harriet
Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford CT). These particular designs were omitted
from the children's version, but although Coward-McCann claimed on
THE
COVER that it was "edited especially for use at home and in
school," they made no other changes in Stowe's text or Daugherty's pictures.
His illustrations unquestionably tell a different story than the one
19th century readers were familiar with. On the first page of the front
matter the pictures are described as a
"beautiful and graphic vision of the old South before the war." To The New
York Times (17 November 1929) they "are all very much in the modern manner,
with the exaggerated touches that suggest caricature."
As part of the
ADVENTURE BOOKS series this edition was kept in print at least
until the 1940s, when this "Eleventh Impression" appeared. On the copyright
page is a notice that reads:
"The illustrations appearing herein were specially drawn for UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by James Daugherty
and reproduction in any form
is forbidden without the permission of the publisher."
I requested permission to reproduce these drawings from
Putnam-Penguin (who now owns Coward-McCann's titles) in October, 2000, but have
received no reply. Their reproduction here is thus unauthorized, but I think
the story they help us see and tell belongs to the vexed history of race in the
United States, not a publisher. You can see any
of the illustrations by clicking on
the icons at left, or you can use the site's search engine to
look at the drawings of specific characters.
Uncle Tom's Cabin. By
Harriet Beecher Stowe, with designs by James Daugherty. (New York:
Coward-McCann, 1929)