<P> The book opens with a Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby facing the loss of his farm because of debts . Even though he and his wife Emily Shelby believe that they have a benevolent relationship with their slaves , Shelby decides to raise the needed funds by selling two of them -- Uncle Tom , a middle - aged man with a wife and children , and Harry , the son of Emily Shelby 's maid Eliza -- to a slave trader . Emily Shelby is averse to this idea because she had promised her maid that her child would never be sold ; Emily 's son , George Shelby , hates to see Tom go because he sees the man as his friend and mentor . </P>
<P> The book opens with a Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby facing the loss of his farm because of debts . Even though he and his wife Emily Shelby believe that they have a benevolent relationship with their slaves , Shelby decides to raise the needed funds by selling two of them -- Uncle Tom , a middle - aged man with a wife and children , and Harry , the son of Emily Shelby 's maid Eliza -- to a slave trader . Emily Shelby is averse to this idea because she had promised her maid that her child would never be sold ; Emily 's son , George Shelby , hates to see Tom go because he sees the man as his friend and mentor . </P>
where does uncle tom 's cabin take place
where does uncle tom 's cabin take place
Kentucky
Kentucky