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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty (1877) (edit title/settings)

The Autobiography of a Horse

by Anna Sewell (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Originally published in 1877, this classic story, told from the animal's perspective, captures the struggles and triumphs of this magnificent creature from his early days as a free colt to an owned creature poorly treated by evil men.

Every child loves a story about a horse, and Black... read more

Summary edit see section history

The story of Black Beauty is written in first person with the narrative voice recalling the life and times of a horse in England in the 1800s. Beginning with Black Beauty's carefree days as a young colt on an idyllic English farm, the story illustrates events and masters throughout his... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The story of Black Beauty is written in first person with the narrative voice recalling the life and times of a horse in England in the 1800s. Beginning with Black Beauty's carefree days as a young colt on an idyllic English farm, the story illustrates events and masters throughout his training and his working life and finally, his retirement. Along the way, Black Beauty experiences both hardships and kindnesses at the hands of his various masters, and his tales illustrate the often difficult lives of working horses of 19th century England.

Characters edit see section history

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “If a thing is right, it CAN be done, and if it is wrong, it CAN BE DONE WITHOUT; and a good man will find a way.”
    Jerry Barker
  • “ONLY ignorance! only IGNORANCE! how can you talk about ONLY ignorance? Don't you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness? -- and which does the most mischief heaven only knows.”
    John Manly
  • “We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words...”
  • “Good Luck is rather particular who she rides with, and mostly prefers those who have got common sense and a good heart; at least that is my experience.”
    Governor Gray
  • “My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the blame.”
    The kind old man
  • “To my mind, fashion is one of the wickedest things in the world. Now look, for instance, at the way they serve dogs, cutting off their tails to make them look plucky, and shearing up their pretty little ears to a point to make them look sharp, forsooth.”
    Sir Oliver
  • “Master said God had given men reason, by which they could find out things for themselves, but He had given animals knowledge which did not depend on reason, and was much more prompt and perfect in this way, and by which they had often saved the lives of men.”
  • “Many folks would have ridden by and said 'twas not their business to interfere. Now, I say that with cruelty and oppression it is everybody's business to interfere when they see it.”

First Sentence edit see section history

"My first home was a large, rolling meadow, where I lived with my mother, a wise old horse named Duchess."

Table of Contents edit see section history

Part 1

1. My Early Home
2. The Hunt
3. My Breaking In
4. Birtwick Park
5. A Fair Start
6. Liberty
7. GInger
8. Ginger's Story Continued
9. Merrylegs
10. A Talk in the Orchard
11. Plain Speaking
12. A Stormy Day
13. The Devil's Trade Mark
14. James Howard
15. The Old Ostler
16. The Fire
17. John Manly's Talk
18. Going for the Doctor
19. Only Ignorance
20. Joe Green
21. The Parting

Part 2

22. Earlshall
23. A Strike for Liverty
24. The Lady Anne
25. Reuben Smith
26. How it Ended
27. Ruined, and Going Down-hill
28. A Job-Horse and his Drivers
29. Cockneys
30. A Thief
31. A Humbug

Part 3

32. A Horse Fair
33. A London Cab Horse
34. An Old War Horse
35. Jerry Barker
36. The Sunday Cab
37. The Golden Rule
38. Dolly and a Real Gentleman
39. Seedy Sam
40. Poor Ginger
41. The Butcher
42. The Election
43. A Friend in need
44. Old Captain and His Successor
45. Jerry's new Year

Part 4

46. Jakes and the lady
47. Hard Times
48. Farmer Thoroughgood and His Grandson Willie
49. My Last Home

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Animal Welfare: From Wikipedia:Sewell's only published work was Black Beauty, written during 1871 to 1877, after she had moved to Old Catton, a village outside the city of Norwich in Norfolk. During this time her health was declining. She was often so weak that she was confined to her bed and writing was a challenge. She dictated the text to her mother and from 1876 began to write on slips of paper which her mother then transcribed.Sewell sold the novel to local publisher Jarrolds on 24 November 1877, when she was 57 years of age. Although now considered a children's classic, she originally wrote it for those who worked with horses. She said "It's a special aim being to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses."

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Azul - Círculo de Leitores. (publisher edition list)
This book is in Illustrated Junior Library. (publisher edition list)
This book is in 100 Fantabulous Book Challenge. (community list)
This is book 399 of 986 in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)
This is book 58 of 200 in BBC 'Big Read' Top 200 Novels, 2003. (authoritative list)
This book is in Junior Deluxe Editions. (publisher edition list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This book is in Parragon Children's Classics. (publisher edition list)
This is book 3 of 13 in Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics. (publisher series)
This book is in Sterling Hardcover Classics. (publisher edition list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Anna Sewell (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Robin McKinley (Adapter)
  2. Caryn Jenner
  3. Betty G. Birney
  4. Cathy East Dubowski
  5. Derick Bown
  6. Lesley Young
  7. Peter Hollindale
  8. Lucy Kemp Welch
  9. Anne Simpson
  10. Caroline Thompson
  11. Kathryn Lindskoog
  12. Lisa R. Church
  13. Laura F. Marsh
  14. (Illustrator) - Edition: Whitman Pub. Co. (Racine, Wi), 1965. 256 p. : col. ill. ; 22 cm. Unabridged
  15. Gordon Laite (Illustrator) - Edition: Western Publishing Company, 1970.

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Jarrold & Sons
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1877
ISBN: 978-0141334882
Page Count: 256

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

a warm, wonderful read for any age

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • My Friend Flicka
  • National Velvet
  • Misty of Chincoteague
  • Justin Morgan Had A Horse
  • King of the Wind
  • The White Stallion
  • Smoky The Cowhorse
  • The Man from Snowy River
  • The Enchanted Horse

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Language Police
  • Books in a Box

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