The Autobiography of a Horse (Classic Reprint) - Black Beauty

I'm not a big fan of talking animal books, so maybe my opinion shouldn't count, but I didn't really like it. I understand the message of the book, but it just wasn't for me. It was well written, but I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of the characters.

I didn't pay close enough attention, this is a very YOUNG scaled down version of this classic story. I wanted it for my nine year old, but it's too simple for her. If you have a younger reader it would be a good option though.

BLACK BEAUTY.A inspiring book.this book told me how i should treat horses.also there is a great plot some places good some bad some owners good some bad.some good companios whi are sold or seperated or killed.and alot of adventures.a great taste of Old England and has literally changed my lifr

I am a sub teacher and carry this book on my kindle. Most of the time the children have the word the teacher left and they finish early therefore I have my book on my kindle and read a few chapters of the book.

I hate to give a mediocre rating on a great story. The rating is for the version itself. While there are illustrations, there was no indication that this was an Abridged version. Apparently it is, because there are passages missing from this Kindle book which are included on the Unabridged audio version from Audible.

My daughter was dying to find Black Beauty and since bookstores in our county all went bust we couldn't find it anywhere. She cried after we struck out at the thrift stores and libraries. Thank goodness this seller was quick with delivery and the book is in excellent condition. Phew. Crisis averted.

This is a beautiful book with wonderful original illustrations but it was not what I expected. I wanted my granddaughter, age 7, to hear the story that I had loved as a child. This is the original version using Old English spelling etc. and the Print is very small. I will be ordering a version that is more child friendly.

This is a great printing of black beauty. It is very nice to have the cd for those children or adult who enjoy this wonderful story to listen to black beauty tell his life's tale of being a horse and the different owners he ran into along the way.

Being a classic there is no need to review the story, I think.

Like so many of the the store free classics, this book is not really optimised for an ereader. The table of contents does not link to the chapters, each new chapter begins in mid page and the chapter heading is in plain text so the whole thing feels like one massive block of text. Granted, it is free, so one should not complain, but it seems like the store is missing out on an opportunity here.

However, in the end I opted for the Project Gutenberg version [gutenberg.org] which is also free and much more attractive in layout and formatting.

I bought this for my budding reader to read on her own. But it's impossible b/c about 1/2 of the words in the book are smashed together with no spaces. It makes it difficult for even ME to read it! I wouldn't bother spending the money on it! Get the free classic instead!

This is an awesome book to read, I had trouble putting it down. The book gives you an insight of how a horse feels by the way that they are treated, it certainly makes you think. No matter what age you are, it is a great read for all ages.

It is very good book. I like that book was easy - read. I recomend it for those who are beginners in english. This book is understandable and interesting. When I started to read I wanted to know how it will end.

I bought this for my budding reader to read on her own. But it's impossible b/c about 1/2 of the words in the book are smashed together with no spaces. It makes it difficult for even ME to read it! I wouldn't bother spending the money on it! Get the free classic instead!

This is an awesome book to read, I had trouble putting it down. The book gives you an insight of how a horse feels by the way that they are treated, it certainly makes you think. No matter what age you are, it is a great read for all ages.

It is very good book. I like that book was easy - read. I recomend it for those who are beginners in english. This book is understandable and interesting. When I started to read I wanted to know how it will end.

I was disappointed in this edition of the classic for children. It's a story from another time and very hard for some children to visualize. Illustrations would help mightily in reading this worthwhile classic.

Was advertised as new. Looks new overall. It may have been the packaging. It was sent in a soft bubble envelope but should have been packaged in a cardboard box. All the corners of the book were bent and some of the blue color rubbed off. So, you can see why I made the comment that it was supposed to be new but doesn't quite appear that way. Will still keep it... it's a Christmas gift. Not time to get another.

This "collector" version is far too small. Looks like a dime novel. I'm in the process of locating a full-sized version for my 7 year old granddaughter.

Would not recommend purchase of this book.

This is a classic and I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it if they want. This review is just a warning that this is not a happy book! As a kid I saw the movie, and all I remembered was a scene where Black Beauty was happy and running free. Apparently that was just at the beginning of the book! It's beautifully written and really grabs you as a reader, but if you're a compassionate animal lover and expecting a happy book a beautiful animal and his happy life, you'll want to put this book down.

was not aware of who the author was. but i remeber this book from my childhood, and many others recommended reading it. but it was too childish for my tastes in literature. i didnt even finish reading it.

In a nutshell, Black Beauty's overarching story is about a single horse's experiences though it's life and the accounts that it hears from other horses. But, the underlying (and very repetative) message is this. Alcohol is the ruin of all creatures (aka the "Devil's drink"), Bearing reins (or "the fashion") is terrible for horses, overworking yourself (and the horse) will do you more harm than good, and people should be more thoughtful of others (humans and horses).

Going into this book, I thought this was going to be an adventure; something akin to Homeward Bound or Benji. But instead, I was subjected to each chapter being a moral lesson in itself. Here is a rundown of how almost every chapter (of which there are nearly 40 -broken into 4 parts-) plays out.

1.) An injustice is done to a horse and is either witnessed or detected by another person.
2.) Said witness/detector confronts the person committing the injustice and speaks to them about it.
3.) Either the person hearing this advice takes heed and makes a commitment to change for the better, suffers some kind of misfortune for continuing their wretched ways, or is reported by the authorities and is fined or jailed.

I'm only guessing here, but I think the author possibly designed this book to be read in chapter bites. I only suggest this because reading this book straight through is a grind (to say the least). I seemed to continuously run across the exact same moral lessons being played out in different settings (or by other horses).

So would I recommend this book to someone else. No.

There is almost nothing redeeming about it.

It makes you feel like people -for the most part- are either ignorate, irresponsible, awful, and/or inconsiderate, the repetition of the messages that it's trying to get across is a chore (and in the case of the bearing rein, almost irrelevant), and there isn't really much of a story to even get out of it in the end.

Sadly, this is just another "Classic" that has confused me as to why it's as highly regarded as it is.

Black Beauty is a British novel published in 1877. The novel is essentially a fictional autobiography as spoken by Black Beauty. Black Beauty changes hands many times and is exposed to many situations and conditions.

The writing style is Victorian and as such there is no crass or vulgar language. The vocabulary is not overly advanced. The chapters are short and a youth with some reading experience and ability could easily read a chapter a day.

Anna Sewell is clearly attempting to educate the reader about animal rights and animal abuses. She depicts many examples of the mistreatment of horses and animal cruelty. As such, I think that some of the situations depicted could upset some youthful readers. As an parent, or grandparent, I would read this story carefully along with my child or grandchild and carefully discuss issues of animal rights.

In summary, I was glad to have found and read this novel. I am grateful that it is free on Kindle. I enjoyed reading it, but will probably not read it again unless it is as accompaniment for a child. Thank You...

This is a beautiful chapter book for a child who is reading at around a 5th grade level to read alone. Black Beauty is a classic. We all know that it tells the life story of an English riding horse from his own point of view. What can be harder to remember is how deftly it teaches children about the importance of kindness to their fellow creatures.

During the course of his lifetime, Beauty experiences the best and the worst humanity has to offer its companion animals. Children old enough to read this book will just be developing the kind of empathy skills necessary to understand how important kindness is, even, and perhaps especially, to those who cannot verbalize their gratitude.

The book teaches kids to notice how they and their peers treat others, and I have been buying it for all of the kids in my life for as long as I can remember.

I particularly like this edition because it is unabridged (the story is perfect), and because the illustrations are enchanting. I'd give it a hundred stars if I could.

So many of my favorite books growing up were about horses, and far and away the one I read the most was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I basically had that book memorized, and when I saw not one, but two, gorgeous vintage copies at a book sale recently, I bought them both! It was time to reread my favorite childhood horse story…delicately.

Black Beauty was just as I remembered–and I still have it memorized. There wasn’t one moment that I had forgotten. The only thing that has changed is that now I understand the themes a little better.

This is very much a children’s story, so it’s simple, sweet, and has a happy ending. The main character and narrator, Beauty himself, is sweet and kind and gentle–as a child’s horse should be. The themes of this book are about how to treat man and beast with respect, don’t drink to excess, and always practice what you preach. You can learn a lot from this steady black horse, and I love seeing that my beloved favorite still holds up after so many years.

“Good luck is rather particular who she rides with, and mostly prefers those who have got common sense and a good heart.”

Black Beauty is a book of anthropomorphic animals. Highly intelligent animals. While told in the language of its time (roughly the 1870s-1880s), it still has an appeal to anyone with a love of animals and an even slight interest in history. The details included are absolutely fascinating and paint a exquisite picture of England and London at that time. I love books that give such perfect, clear pictures of their time – without it feeling like an info dump. Of course, we can only hope that the author gave accurate descriptions, but even today the world Black Beauty lives in feels very real.

“Do you know why this world is as bad as it is? Because people won’t trouble to stand up for the oppressed.”

Some words are as true today as over 100 years ago. This book is 20 times better than the last anthropomorphic animal book I tried (Smoky the Cowhorse…which earned a BIG FAT NO). The animals are all different, with their own experiences and personalities – and so are the humans! Of course the reader’s first loyalties lie with Black Beauty and his friends, but he has some genuinely kind, good owners that are good characters in their own right. Ginger, another horse with whom he becomes friends early on, truly stole my heart.

There are some beautiful quotes, even if the prose occasionally descends to a bit of a preachy tone when it comes to how we treat animals and our fellow man. That is my only real complaint about this lovely story, which, despite having a few notes of sadness (as any good story ought, in my opinion), is a completely worthy addition to any reading program or library.

“Don’t you know that [ignorance] is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness?”

Black Beauty was the only book written by Anna Sewell. It was published in 1877 and Anna died a year later. Early in her life she had a serious fall that left her unable to ride. She wrote Black Beauty because she thought that people were often cruel to horses and she wanted to bring attention to the bad treatment of animals.This is a story about the life of a horse, told in the view of the horse. The setting is Yarmouth England in 1800's. Black Beauty is born in good condition and lives happily for four years. Then his owner says that he will be sold because he is of age. This begins his life of being bought and sold like property instead of a living being. Some of the people mistreated him and some were very kind to him. It also tells clips of the other horses lives that he meets along the way. The book actually made me feel sympathetic toward the animals because it made me feel like the horses had feelings like humans. In the end he is sold to 3 nice old ladies and he meets and old friend that he remembers from his childhood when his life was happy. I'd recommend this book to fourth grade kids and older that love animals.

Anna Sewell was crippled by polio as a girl, and lay near a window where she could watch the horses in the street. She became acutely aware of their working conditions and wrote Black Beauty to tell it from a horse's point of view. This coincided with compulsory education, so for the first time the working class children could read. They read this book to their parents and this raised awareness of the problems at the time, from overwork to a lack of drinking troughs on the streets, to the cruel bearing reins on carriage horses - including those driven by members of the RSPCA. The fact that working people were so dependent on their horses was another factor.

Black Beauty starts life on a farm with his mother Duchess where he is broken in and sold for hunting and carriage driving. He has a fine life but he and his friends Ginger and Merrylegs are sold when the family moves. Beauty and Ginger are sold together but poor Ginger has trouble accepting the tight bearing rein which holds her head high. She is sold off. A boy named Joe Green looks after Beauty at this time and sometimes gets his treatment wrong as he is only learning, so Beauty gets a chill and is very ill. Later in life Beauty becomes a cab horse and the London family are utterly dependent on him for a living. He works six days a week but some horses worked seven. The winter nights see Beauty standing outside a house where a card party is in place, waiting and waiting for their customer. Rich people gave no thought to anyone serving them.
Beauty is finally sold to be a carthorse and meets the worn-out Ginger one more time. He is expected to work until he drops, literally. But a chance meeting with Joe Green who recognises him after all these years by his markings, is enough to save him and he is brought to a kind home once more.
If ever a book deserved reading, this one does.

This has been filmed a few times and to my mind the best and most faithful treatment was the 1994 version directed by Caroline Thompson, starring Sean Bean (briefly) and David Thewlis. This includes a glimpse of 'Anna Sewell' at the very end. Another version starred Mark Lester.
The horse-mad Pullein-Thompson sisters wrote Black Beauty's Clan and Black Beauty's Family, each three tales of horses' lives. Phyliis Briggs also wrote Son of Black Beauty, about a gypsy's horse. Vian Smith referred to Black Beauty in his own homage to working horses he had known, called Parade of Horses (Carousel Books) printed in hardback as Horses In The Green Valley.
Anna Sewell's gravestone was destroyed to make space in the graveyard not many years ago.
A cartoon published in a national newspaper showed a child sitting reading Black Beauty. The caption was - "The monument to Anna Sewell that they cannot destroy."

Black Beauty Black beauty is a good heartbreaking, adventurous story. It is told from the perspective of a horse named Black Beauty. This horse travels from place to place, owner to owner. It sucks you in, and you will be immersed in the pages, catching yourself not knowing where you are when you get so tired you can’t read anymore because you are almost bored!! The author Anna Sewell writes so well that when something not-so-good happens you actually care about the main character. Some themes in this book are the need for change, love, and beating the odds. This book is a book that you will look back to after you read it. The book is a good book once you pick it up and read the first chapter and then put it down but you come back to it over and over again until you finish it.

This review is written by my 9 year old daughter. Black Beauty is the story of a majestic horse. He was born in a beautiful meadow. Black Beauty had many owners, one of them memorable. He lived with Ginger the mare, who true to her name, had a fiery temper. At first, Black Beauty did not at all get along with Ginger, but they slowly warmed up to each other. Enjoy the heart warming story of Black Beauty.
I like horses, so I enjoyed this story. It was told from Black Beauty’s perspective, which I liked.
If you like horses, this book is for you. I would also recommend it if you like books from animal’s point of view. This book tells you a horse’s real feelings.

I hadn't read this since grade school and purchased it for a friend's daughter. I decided to read it first so we could discuss the story together. It is a complex story about circumstances and how they change during ones lifetime, showing how we adjust and grow from negative experiences. It takes place in a much earlier time period before automobiles, and for that it will be interesting to new young readers. Regardless, the depiction and characterization of the good and bad nature of humans and the treatment of animals remains the same.

Animal books that are told from the creature's point of view (whether cat, dog, horse, or some other species entirely) are a dime a dozen these days, but "Black Beauty," was the first book of its kind to use this technique and thus the forerunner to all animal stories that came after it. Most people are unaware that Anna Sewell broke new literary ground when she wrote "Black Beauty" in the style of an autobiography, though ironically she never meant it to be a children's story at all. Instead she intended that it would be read by those that work with horses: "to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses."

Beauty is one of several names given to the horse that grows throughout the story from a young colt in a farmyard to an elderly stallion enjoying his retirement, chronicling all his experiences, both good and bad, in between. These include being the horse of a squire, a cabby, a gentleman and a cart driver among others, as well as events that are probably known even to those who haven't read the book, such as the fire in the barn and the washed-out bridge.

Throughout his life he meets several other horses such as cheerful Merrylegs and feisty Ginger who recount their stories to him; and it's difficult not to get a little choked up when it comes to Ginger and her tragic tale, especially when she tells Beauty at their final meeting: "you are the only friend I ever had." For many children, Ginger's story may well have been their first experience with the portrayal of death in a story - I know it was mine, and I never forgot it.

Since being published in 1877, the story has lost none of its power, and the image of a black horse with a white star on his forehead is universally recognized as the iconic Black Beauty. Not only this, but the novel is credited with driving the bearing rein out of fashion, a device that was popular in the Victorian age but which damaged horses' necks by forcing them upright at an unnatural angle, and is also believed to have made a difference in reducing the taxicab licence fee of the time, (something that was often exploited by those that hired out cabbies to drivers), not to mention heightening the awareness of animal cruelty at a time when animal welfare simply didn't exist.

As such "Black Beauty" can be described as the first animal rights book, told in first-person narrative from the (literal) horse's mouth, criticizing things such as docking (that is, cutting off horse's tails), the aforementioned bearing reins, and the long, hard hours of work that horses had to endure. The trick of it though, is that the issues never seem particularly moralizing or heavy-handed because it's all told by the horses themselves. It doesn't take much of a stretch of the imagination to assume that if horses were capable of talking to each other, they would discuss the cruelties and kindnesses that human beings mete out upon them.

This is effectively portrayed by the sheer confusion of the animals as to why humans act in certain ways; such as Beauty pondering why human beings endanger both themselves and their horses in fox hunting, or why so much pain is inflicted on animals for the sake of fashion, asking: "What right have they to torment and disfigure God's creatures?"

Likewise, the first-person narrative gives a perspective on the life of a horse that had probably never occurred to Sewell's original audience (or indeed, her contemporary readers), has when Beauty discusses how it feels to wear a bit:

"Those who have never had a bit in their mouths cannot think how bad it feels. A great piece of cold hard steel as thick as a man's finger is pushed into one's mouth, between one's teeth and over one's tongue. It ends come out at the corner of your mouth and are held fast there by straps over your head, under your throat, round your nose, and under your chin, so that in no way in the world can you get rid of the nasty hard thing."

Towards the end of the book, it does start to get slightly more preachy, mainly due to the fact that Sewell begins to dwell on issues such as alcohol, elections and religion that have no bearing on the horses at all, but are merely being discussed by the humans around them. However, this aspect is thankfully minor and doesn't detract too much from Beauty's own story.

I have a particular soft-spot for "Black Beauty" considering Anna Sewell is lurking up in my family tree somewhere (on my grandmother's side), and the fact that the memories of reading this book as a child have always stayed with me. This is an essential book for any children's library in order to cultivate empathy for the animal kingdom, but is also valuable reading for an adult as well, not just for the ur-example of an animal tale, but as a thoughtful, bittersweet and well-researched look into the life of man's second-best friend.

this is an edited,shortened version of the original. however, I gave it to my little student, who was struggling with reading, and she read the whole book (while attending school full time and doing her homework as well) and then wrote a report on it which garnered her an A+. How proud everyone was and she had to call and tell me. she loved the book and that's what matters. I do believe that the illustrations, while simple, assisted her, since there are pictures on virtually every other page. I had read the book (in full) when I was a child and had loved the story, so I was so pleased at the positive outcome. The fact that the story is told in first person, by the horse, makes it all the more poignant and real. Black Beauty, goes through so many changes and ends up (spoiler alert!) right where he should be. I am so pleased to be tutoring such an eager young new reader. And I thank Black Beauty for helping us with a very difficult struggle. Now she can't wait to go to the library!

Black Beauty stood close to his mother as she nibbled the grass in the farm field. Horses galloped freely on the farm, a farm where he’d learn some important lessons from his mother. She taught the young colt that “although it was important to be obedient, it was more important to trust [his] own instincts.” When Black Beauty grew up, he was put to work as a carriage horse. Life was good and it was then he made a special friend, Ginger. She looked at him from her stall as a groom led him into the barn, but she was a nervous horse who “trusted no one.” A catastrophic fire nearly put an end to the friendship, but fortunately they were both led to safety.

Lessons learned as a young colt stuck with Black Beauty, a horse who fortunately did know how to trust those instincts. Unfortunately, his new groom, Joe Green, “nearly killed him with kindness” bringing him a “huge bucket of water to drink” after a hard gallop. Joe too, had lessons to learn. Life soon took an unfortunate turn when his master moved, yet there was some good in is as “Ginger and [Black Beauty] were sold together.” An unkind groom “rode him at a gallop over rough ground,” bringing great pain to the horse. The injuries were disabling and once again, Black Beauty was sold. Would he ever see his beloved Ginger again? Would his new master be a kind one or was there more misfortune ahead?

This a beautifully retold tale of the classic, Black Beauty, young and old will love. One thing that really makes this tale special, is the stunning artwork. The combination of the artwork and the lyrical retelling of Anna Sewell’s classic horse, Black Beauty makes this book a special one. The picture book format allows the youngest readers, or non-readers as the case may be, discover this classic tale. Confident readers can read this tale with some assistance with words such as instinctively and recognize. There’s a foreword that discusses the impact of Sewell’s work and in the back readers will learn a bit more about the author. A wonderful book that would be perfect for circle or storytime!

Ages 4 - 9

This book courtesy of the publisher.

Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse, by Anna Sewell is a spellbinding story of a horse's life in nineteenth century England. This novel is especially interesting because Sewell anthropromorphizes Black Beauty and makes him the first person narrator. The plot of Black Beauty revolves around Beauty's life and interaction with other human and nonhuman animals as well as his sale from one owner to the next. Most importantly, Sewell wrote this novel to call attention to the treatment of animals in nineteenth century England.
Sewell organizes this book into four sections. In the first section, Beauty tells the story of his youth with his first two masters: Farmer Grey and Squire Gordon. The author describes Farmer Grey as a man who gave his horses "good food, good lodging, and kind words." After Beauty turned four, Farmer Grey sold him to Squire Gordon. Beauty led a relatively comfortable life with Squire Gordon. The only exception was when a new stable boy forgot to cover Beauty with a blanket on a cold night and he became very ill. The first section of the book ends when Gordon is forced to sell Beauty because of his sick wife.
In the second section of this book, Beauty's health begins to rapidly deteriorate due to inept owners as well as indolent, corrupt, and abusive grooms. Beauty's first owner after Squire Gordon is a nobleman referred to as the Earl of W-----, who is indifferent to his horses. Beauty's bad situation is made worse after his regular groom leaves and a man by the name of Rueben Smith is left in charge. The climax of this section occurs when Smith drunkenly rides Beauty over a freshly paved road of "large sharp stones, over which no horse could be driven quickly without risk of danger." As a result, Beauty's front knees and one hoof were injured and Smith was thrown from the saddle and killed. Due to Beauty's injuries, the Earl of W----- sold him and for the rest of this section, he is passed from one incompetent owner to another.
Beauty's luck improves in the third section, after he is purchased by a London cab driver by the name of Jeremiah Barker. Barker is portrayed as a religious, kind, and attentive owner who cares greatly for his horses as well as other people. At one point, Barker even refuses two paying customers to give a free ride to a woman with a sick child. By portraying Barker as both a religious man and a kind owner, Sewell makes the implicit argument that the cruel treatment of animals conflicts with Christianity. However, when Barker becomes ill after waiting on a fare in extremely cold weather, he is forced to sell his cab and all of his horses.
In the final section, Beauty's fortunes are mixed. Beauty's first owner in this section was a baker who knew very little about horses or how to care for them. Worse still, this owner's foreman had no empathy for Beauty and persistently overloaded his cart. This was especially difficult because the foreman also put the check-rein up, which prevented Beauty from putting his full power into pulling the cart. Sadly, when Beauty was unable to pull these heavy loads, he was insulted and abused. It is also during this section that Beauty experienced the worst treatment yet at the hands of man named Nicholas Skinner. This Simon Legree-esque character used horses like machines, and when they could no longer work, he sold or killed them. Luckily, Beauty was eventually sold to three older women. In the last paragraph of this book, Beauty stated, "My troubles are all over, and I am at home."
Sewell's choice to anthropomorphize Black Beauty allows her to present his story in a very personal manner. As Beauty is sold from one owner to the next, the reader feels Beauty's fear and apprehension. When Beauty is mistreated, neglected, and abused, the reader is forced to feel his pain. Had Sewell chosen to write this from a human's perspective, this would not have been possible. Therefore, Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse presents a persuasive argument that humans should reconsider the way they interact with animals.

"Black Beauty" was the book I grabbed for, my mother said, when I was ready to read by myself at age three (!). She had read the book to me dozens of times since I was a tiny baby. Naturally, I couldn't read it, but I carried it around because it was my favorite. And it was because of this book that I grew up both loving horses and loving reading. We lived on a farm and tended to all sorts of animals, so brutality to horses and other animals was something I because sensitive to at a very young age.

I've shared this wonderful book with many young readers, through the years, but no one was as taken with it as I was. Oh, well. "Black Beauty" is a timeless and priceless story because it's told from the horse's point of view. I think that sharpened my attention to the plight of farm animals and all beasts of burden long before PETA and the Humane Society reached my consciousness, and I joined the cause for animal rights. God bless Anna Sewell for writing such a splendidly perfect book! I'm almost 50 and I still love horses and I re-read this book at least once a year. My idea of the perfect horse remains a majestic black horse! I never found one to buy, but a friend has a black Morgan mare that I privately call, "Beauty." Sigh...it's all because of this magical book!

I recall reading this book when I was about 12 years old
and it made me sad to see the horrible way some humans
treat animals. As I read it again 30 years later,I felt the same
way-sad but angry because,this is STILL going on all over the
world-today-the 21st century. For those who have never read
Black Beauty by anna sewell,it was written in 1877 and I believe
the author wanted to expose animal cruelty and make a lasting
impression on the reader. This is a wonderfully written story
told from the point of view of the horse. We read all the feelings
and thoughts of Black Beauty(a black horse)and the same from the
other horses that Black Beauty comes in contact with. Black Beauty
was born happy but soon discovered that his life was not one of freedom,
for his happiness and well being depended on what "type" of human he was
owned by. Some of the humans were very kind and seem to understand
horses and some of the humans were very cruel:whipping,forcing horses
to wear blinders or a "check-rein"(a torture instrument used to yank a horses
head back to keep the head up high-all for the sake of "appearance/fashion"),
not being fed properly, being worked too hard and finally breaking down and
then-if lucky-merciful death. black beauty sees it all-the good and the bad but,
he does find the happiness he desires at the end. It makes me wish this is how
it could be for all animals but,this is not so because we live in an imperfect world.

Animal books that are told from the creature's point of view (whether cat, dog, horse, or some other species entirely) are a dime a dozen these days, but "Black Beauty," was the first book of its kind to use this technique and thus the forerunner to all animal stories that came after it. Most people are unaware that Anna Sewell broke new literary ground when she wrote "Black Beauty" in the style of an autobiography, though ironically she never meant it to be a children's story at all. Instead she intended that it would be read by those that work with horses: "to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses."

Beauty is one of several names given to the horse that grows throughout the story from a young colt in a farmyard to an elderly stallion enjoying his retirement, chronicling all his experiences, both good and bad, in between. These include being the horse of a squire, a cabby, a gentleman and a cart driver among others, as well as events that are probably known even to those who haven't read the book, such as the fire in the barn and the washed-out bridge.

Throughout his life he meets several other horses such as cheerful Merrylegs and feisty Ginger who recount their stories to him; and it's difficult not to get a little choked up when it comes to Ginger and her tragic tale, especially when she tells Beauty at their final meeting: "you are the only friend I ever had." For many children, Ginger's story may well have been their first experience with the portrayal of death in a story - I know it was mine, and I never forgot it.

Since being published in 1877, the story has lost none of its power, and the image of a black horse with a white star on his forehead is universally recognized as the iconic Black Beauty. Not only this, but the novel is credited with driving the bearing rein out of fashion, a device that was popular in the Victorian age but which damaged horses' necks by forcing them upright at an unnatural angle, and is also believed to have made a difference in reducing the taxicab licence fee of the time, (something that was often exploited by those that hired out cabbies to drivers), not to mention heightening the awareness of animal cruelty at a time when animal welfare simply didn't exist.

As such "Black Beauty" can be described as the first animal rights book, told in first-person narrative from the (literal) horse's mouth, criticizing things such as docking (that is, cutting off horse's tails), the aforementioned bearing reins, and the long, hard hours of work that horses had to endure. The trick of it though, is that the issues never seem particularly moralizing or heavy-handed because it's all told by the horses themselves. It doesn't take much of a stretch of the imagination to assume that if horses were capable of talking to each other, they would discuss the cruelties and kindnesses that human beings mete out upon them.

This is effectively portrayed by the sheer confusion of the animals as to why humans act in certain ways; such as Beauty pondering why human beings endanger both themselves and their horses in fox hunting, or why so much pain is inflicted on animals for the sake of fashion, asking: "What right have they to torment and disfigure God's creatures?"

Likewise, the first-person narrative gives a perspective on the life of a horse that had probably never occurred to Sewell's original audience (or indeed, her contemporary readers), has when Beauty discusses how it feels to wear a bit:

"Those who have never had a bit in their mouths cannot think how bad it feels. A great piece of cold hard steel as thick as a man's finger is pushed into one's mouth, between one's teeth and over one's tongue. It ends come out at the corner of your mouth and are held fast there by straps over your head, under your throat, round your nose, and under your chin, so that in no way in the world can you get rid of the nasty hard thing."

Towards the end of the book, it does start to get slightly more preachy, mainly due to the fact that Sewell begins to dwell on issues such as alcohol, elections and religion that have no bearing on the horses at all, but are merely being discussed by the humans around them. However, this aspect is thankfully minor and doesn't detract too much from Beauty's own story.

I have a particular soft-spot for "Black Beauty" considering Anna Sewell is lurking up in my family tree somewhere (on my grandmother's side), and the fact that the memories of reading this book as a child have always stayed with me. This is an essential book for any children's library in order to cultivate empathy for the animal kingdom, but is also valuable reading for an adult as well, not just for the ur-example of an animal tale, but as a thoughtful, bittersweet and well-researched look into the life of man's second-best friend.

Black Beauty is a novel about the tough lives of horses. The main character, who is also a horse, is Black Beauty. He grew up on a large meadow with his mother always by his side to teach him wrong from right. His mother was the one who brought him up well, and taught him to treat his masters with manners. The first place he was raised, his master knew each horse's feelings, and was affectionate towards them so that they would treat him well also. This great man, though, had to leave due to family matters. Black Beauty was sold to a new man. This master kept his horses in stalls, but yet also knew exactly what his horses wanted, but Black Beauty soon came to realize that not every master is perfect.
Black Beauty was lent by to a drunkard. This man did not realize that the horse's shoe was coming off, causing him to go slower, and more cautiously. The drunkard whipped Black Beauty continuously, until they came to a stone side road. The horse's shoe became wedged between two stones, and was pulled off. Next, a sharp stone became shoved into Black Beauty's hoof. His reaction was an intense buck to leave the rider in front of him on the stone road. The man was dead! People came near, but did not blame Black Beauty, because they already knew of the poor judgment of the rider. Black Beauty was pleased with the others' reactions, but felt a tiny bit of remorse. He was able to tell his neighboring horses of his great stories, but was surprised when the others had even more dramatic events occur in their lifetimes. This book is about the events that happen in horses lives, and actually bored me quite a bit. I would not recommend this book as a gift for kids, because they would have a lack of interest for the not-needed details.

This book should be a prerequisite for anyone owning a horse as it acts in some ways as kind of owners manual. Since horses are no longer used for everyday transportation and labor however, the book loses some impact, but it is still a very well written and insightful book which captures a period in history where steam engines are just starting to replace horses. The country is on the verge of an industrial revolution and you can feel man's pressure from society to go faster, longer, and harder. Anna Sewell seems troubled that this increased pace may ruin and wear out men as easily as it starts to wear out the horses. The effects on the horses are only a warning to what is to come for man unless something is done. She shows the effects of working 7 day weeks without a rest, as well as 14 hour days. Sewell also mentions many other topics which animal rights supporters have picked up in later years. An example of this would be a few shots she takes at people who do harm to animals out of the sake of fashion without any regard for the animals. She also mentions several scenarios of animal abuse and makes comparisons to child abuse. She believes people who do not stand up when they see injustices are just as guilty as the perpetrators. The horse 'Black Beauty' is given many human qualities which is very effective. I do not know if a modern day book about love of cars would be as effective as the love that is shown in this book for a living animal. On a side note, I'd be curious what Anna Sewell's opinion would have been on euthanasia. Whenever she mentions horses getting old and unable to do their work, several times she says it would be better for them to be put out of their misery with a bullet to the head. This is a little disturbing to me since these horses all have such human characteristics. Overall though the thing that comes through the most is Anna Sewell's sincere love of these animals.

I didn't read the audio book but I read the novel. This book was excellent, it definatly belongs up there with all the classic novels. It makes you think about all the horrible things some horses go through in their lifetimes(like my own horse). No animal deserves abuse or mistreatment no matter how intelligent(horses) or not.

FYI, Orrin C. Judd, horses are NOT STUPID!!!! Scientific research has recently discovered that horses' intelligence is the same as dolphins' and chimps' and we all know that dolphins' and chimps' intelligence is extremely close to our own. Research also suggests that horses may actually be smarter and more intelligent and have a more complex reasoning system than could have ever been thought. Of course, horses don't think exactly like humans: they don't judge, they don't hate, they don't lie, they don't cheat; they are honest, loyal, loving and brave-provided they have a person who cares about them, they are all these things and more. It doesn't take a genius to see that horses have very complex personalities and emotions. Sometimes I think my own horse's personality and emotions mirror my own.
And all you kids out there who have read or want to read this book, don't listen to this guy. Take it seriously, because mistreatment of any animal is no joke, its a very sesious problem, because people who hurt other people usually start by hurting an animal.

P.S. Obviously, Orrin C. Judd never even read the summary for The Black Stallion, because it's about a BOY and a horse, written by Walter Farley, a man who LOVED horses.

I recommend ANY horse or animal lover who cares at all about the abuse animals suffer to READ THIS BOOK!!! The abuse animals and people suffer everyday is a very, VERY serious problem, and one we need to think more about. Animals are such innocent creatures, why should they have to suffer for our own ignorance and superior feelings of ourselves?

I first read this book when I was ten or eleven, and, although I cried at the sad, sad parts, I still loved the book. One reason I loved it was because it was told from the point of view of the horse, Black Beauty. The things that the horse observed and narrated seemed very real to me: the kind of things a horse would observe and be concerned about. By the time I read this book I was already reading a junior edition of the Sherlock Holmes stories, set in the same Victorian time period (although Holmes was a bit later), so I enjoyed being in that world and learning more about the horses who pulled cabs, the drivers, people who owned horses, the abuse of horses, and their rescue. Many other reviewers of this book have observed that Sewell taught people to be kind to others, gentle, and patient, through this story. I agree.

I read this book again as an adult and was struck not only by the beauty of Black Beauty's story, but also by the writing, which flows effortlessly. A good way to introduce tweens and teens to horses, to empathy, and to doing the right thing in life.

A trot down memory lane as I re-read (well, re-listened to in this case) a childhood beloved book! It was nice to revisit Black Beauty and his friends. However, I have to say that reading it as an adult who is attuned to animal cruelty is much different than reading it as a child with limited knowledge of the world. I loved this book both times around, though for different reasons. It is a well told story, albeit heartbreaking at times. For some reason, I had forgotten over the years that the story was told from the perspective of Black Beauty and not a third person narrator.

This unusual novel for children has 'aged' surprisingly well. I have been reading the story from my 1897 copy, described as a "new illustrated edition ... sure to command attention." The life of a horse told in the first person is not on every child's reading list these days. It wasn't on mine years ago. This was my first reading. Perhaps I missed this classic because I didn't have the typical young girl's 'love affair with horses'.

*BLACK BEAUTY* was written by Anna Sewell, an English invalid whose Quaker beliefs permeate every page. IF kids will read it, I guarantee the preachiness won't injure them! I was surprised to be so moved by the wrongs done to animals -- all the suggestions for treating horses more humanely translate into decent human relations now, as it did then.

the store.com states the reading level for *Black Beauty* is ages 4-8; maybe only prodigies are to atempt it? Listening to an adult read this story may help children bridge the years since "progress" brought us the motor car. Black Beauty talks with other horses about good and bad handlers and owners, and discusses all aspects of life (except mating) with friends Ginger and Merrylegs. He mulls over their temperments and his own, and the good influences of reasoning and praise. Unfortunate events caused by cruel check reins, and bits, whips, or being knocked about are part of this story. There are also exciting times of racing for the doctor, being saved from a stable in flames, or a broken bridge, becoming lame from the loss of a horseshoe.

I hope you won't avoid this 'classis' but will allow yourself to do some time-traveling by adventuring into the late 1800s. Listen to a horse's wise thoughts over the clatter of hooves in the streets. Later you can look up the LISTMANIA titled "You've never heard of a talking horse?" and ask with Reviewer mcHAIKU: Did the legendary "horse whisperer" grow up reading *Black Beauty*?

Because it is a well-known classic and a children's perennial favorite, many people do not realize that "Black Beauty" is an impassioned plea for animal rights, written at a time when such a notion was dismissed as ridiculous. And because it is what it is, sensitive children may need a parent to explain that, thankfully, most of the abuses described in the book are long gone, thanks in part to crusaders like Anna Sewell.
In a story that takes place in 19th century England, a gorgeous glossy black colt, who comes to be known as Black Beauty, is born into a life of comfort and kindness. His life is a kind of horsey paradise, until the fortunes of his owners turn...and Black Beauty is sold.
Sold to a cruel owner as a cab horse, Beauty is now treated as so many hapless animals were in his day...he is virtually tortured. He is in constant pain. His knees are sore. He is made to wear a "check rein," a device that no longer exists, but which scares me to this day because of the impression its description made upon me as a child. It was a type of rein that forced the horse to keep his head up extremely high at an unnatural angle, the more to look "elegant." The pain that this rein inflicts upon Beauty is heartbreaking, and it did indeed break my heart to read it.
Along the way, Beauty meets other horses, and keeps a lifelong friend, Ginger, who also suffers. Everything comes out alright in the end, in a story that is so tender and yet meaningful at the same time, that it is a shame it is relegated by reputation to the backwaters of so-called "children's literature." It was pure muckracking, in the style of the great American muckrakers who came shortly thereafter. Will a child realize this? It's hard to know, but I know that as a child I was simply haunted by the described cruelty to this horse. And of course heartened by the ending. But I have to say that, many decades later, some of the cruelty in this book still upsets me.
Therefore, I recommend the book with a caveat: If you have a particularly sensitive or thoughtful child, please warn him or her that Black Beauty is mistreated in the story, but that because of the book, and others like it, such mistreatment of animals no longer exists. And then let your child enjoy the sheer wealth of detail in what really is, in the end, a beautiful story.

Black Beauty was originally published in 1877, nine years before the automobile was invented by Henry Ford. At that point in time, it was much easier for horses to find work. Nowadays it is virtually impossible for a horse to find work. This is because automobiles have made horses obsolete.

Nevertheless, Black Beauty is a charming novel about a hard working and well mannered horse (Black Beauty) who understands and speaks English. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get inside the mind of a well mannered horse who lived in a time before automobiles were invented by Henry Ford.

Merrylegs is one of Black Beauty's friends. He is a pony who, like Black Beauty, speaks English. Upon meeting Black Beauty, Merrylegs says, "My name is Merrylegs. I am very handsome."

If you enjoy reading books about animals who speak English, I also recommend George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Being a typical horse-loving 10 year old girl (way, way back in the day..), it almost goes without saying that of course I read Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. The story of the gentle black horse in Victorian England is simple and perfect. It's a true classic for kids, proven over several generations that have grown up reading it just as I did. With this in mind, I went looking to buy a copy at a bookstore yesterday as a birthday present for a 10 year old young lady.

Now as far as I know, kids today are no less intelligent, and they do still teach them to read starting in Kindergarten. So imagine my horror at discovering that the attractively bound, hardback of Black Beauty that I picked up was, uh, *paraphrased* (actually there are more accurate terms for it, but for the sake of the the store censors I'd better stick to the less graphic ones). Comparing selections of this version side by side with the original, the so-called "Classic Starts" Black Beauty plot is stripped down; worse, the lovely language of the original has been replaced with, ahem, simplified text and dialog that could have been written by the author of the Judy Moody books. This left little sense of the turn of the century England setting, and completely obliterated the spirit and style of Anna Sewell. Is this the publisher's idea of a quality introduction to children's lit?

What I really want to know is, why change it at all? As I said, kids today aren't less smart, they should be able to read the real Black Beauty well enough by the time they are in the 9-12 suggested age range. The reason it's a classic is because IT WORKED JUST AS IT WAS. Sorry, I had to put that in large type for the publishers, who evidently believe that the rest of the population matches their literary fluency.

I hope other parents who are planning on purchasing this and other classics for their kids will catch the difference between the CS paraphrased/heavily edited/oh what the heck, dumbed down versions and the real books. Apparently the School Library Journal agrees with me on this, if you care to read their review above the customer reviews on the product page.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

Animal books that are told from the creature's point of view (whether cat, dog, horse, or some other species entirely) are a dime a dozen these days, but "Black Beauty," was the first book of its kind to use this technique and thus the forerunner to all animal stories that came after it. Most people are unaware that Anna Sewell broke new literary ground when she wrote "Black Beauty" in the style of an autobiography, though ironically she never meant it to be a children's story at all. Instead she intended that it would be read by those that work with horses: "to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses."

Beauty is one of several names given to the horse that grows throughout the story from a young colt in a farmyard to an elderly stallion enjoying his retirement, chronicling all his experiences, both good and bad, in between. These include being the horse of a squire, a cabby, a gentleman and a cart driver among others, as well as events that are probably known even to those who haven't read the book, such as the fire in the barn and the washed-out bridge.

Throughout his life he meets several other horses such as cheerful Merrylegs and feisty Ginger who recount their stories to him; and it's difficult not to get a little choked up when it comes to Ginger and her tragic tale, especially when she tells Beauty at their final meeting: "you are the only friend I ever had." For many children, Ginger's story may well have been their first experience with the portrayal of death in a story - I know it was mine, and I never forgot it.

Since being published in 1877, the story has lost none of its power, and the image of a black horse with a white star on his forehead is universally recognized as the iconic Black Beauty. Not only this, but the novel is credited with driving the bearing rein out of fashion, a device that was popular in the Victorian age but which damaged horses' necks by forcing them upright at an unnatural angle, and is also believed to have made a difference in reducing the taxicab licence fee of the time, (something that was often exploited by those that hired out cabbies to drivers), not to mention heightening the awareness of animal cruelty at a time when animal welfare simply didn't exist.

As such "Black Beauty" can be described as the first animal rights book, told in first-person narrative from the (literal) horse's mouth, criticizing things such as docking (that is, cutting off horse's tails), the aforementioned bearing reins, and the long, hard hours of work that horses had to endure. The trick of it though, is that the issues never seem particularly moralizing or heavy-handed because it's all told by the horses themselves. It doesn't take much of a stretch of the imagination to assume that if horses were capable of talking to each other, they would discuss the cruelties and kindnesses that human beings mete out upon them.

This is effectively portrayed by the sheer confusion of the animals as to why humans act in certain ways; such as Beauty pondering why human beings endanger both themselves and their horses in fox hunting, or why so much pain is inflicted on animals for the sake of fashion, asking: "What right have they to torment and disfigure God's creatures?"

Likewise, the first-person narrative gives a perspective on the life of a horse that had probably never occurred to Sewell's original audience (or indeed, her contemporary readers), has when Beauty discusses how it feels to wear a bit:

"Those who have never had a bit in their mouths cannot think how bad it feels. A great piece of cold hard steel as thick as a man's finger is pushed into one's mouth, between one's teeth and over one's tongue. It ends come out at the corner of your mouth and are held fast there by straps over your head, under your throat, round your nose, and under your chin, so that in no way in the world can you get rid of the nasty hard thing."

Towards the end of the book, it does start to get slightly more preachy, mainly due to the fact that Sewell begins to dwell on issues such as alcohol, elections and religion that have no bearing on the horses at all, but are merely being discussed by the humans around them. However, this aspect is thankfully minor and doesn't detract too much from Beauty's own story.

I have a particular soft-spot for "Black Beauty" considering Anna Sewell is lurking up in my family tree somewhere (on my grandmother's side), and the fact that the memories of reading this book as a child have always stayed with me. This is an essential book for any children's library in order to cultivate empathy for the animal kingdom, but is also valuable reading for an adult as well, not just for the ur-example of an animal tale, but as a thoughtful, bittersweet and well-researched look into the life of man's second-best friend.

My wife and I just finished reading this to our children (four and five years old) and they loved it. Although it is thought of as a childrens book, it has a lot of things to offer. One of the quotes that grabbed my attention was the one where Sewell wrote, "Not knowing the right thing to do often does more harm in this world than wickedness itself." It is little gems like this that make this a worthwhile read for both a parent and child. Sewell no doubt understood a lot about life that she, thankfully, left behind for others to discover in her one and only book. My wife and I are finding there is a lot to learn from all of the books that were not part of either of our childhoods. I am grateful to be able to able to be learning about them now, and to be able to share them with our children.

This book is easy to read, not too long, and easy for little ones to follow along with. It also has a lot of little gems in it that are there if you pay attention to them. Although it is a story about horses that children will most likely love, there is a lot for the adult reader to gain by reading it, too.

I read Black Beauty 41 years ago, when I was in the 6th grade. There was no the store.com then, but this book was so wonderful to me, that it deserves a review, 41 years later. (I have chosen a random edition of it to review.) Black Beauty was the first book I ever loved to read. It was the first novel that I ever found to be exciting, captivating, and fun. I loved the first-person narration by the horse herself! So, 41 years later, thank you, Anna Sewell!

Anna Sewell's beloved classic about a beautiful black horse
has charmed children and adults for over a century. Choosing to personalize her equine protagonist Sewell opted to tell his life story from his own viewpoint instead of from that of an omniscient narrator. Beauty's life starts off well, born to a loving owner and receiving good care from conscientious grooms. But tragedy strikes one stormy night when the mistress falls gravely ill and the heavy doctor needs to ride back home on the already exhausted horse. Never the same handsome strong horse again Black Beauty is sold and becomes a work horse.

Gone are his days of luxurious grass, solicitous grooming and loving pats and occasional treats. He is sold repeatedly into increasingly degrading circumstances. Strained and ruined by heard work of pulling cabs he is ultimately reduced to hauling a milk wagon. His health also declines to due to neglect and sometimes even outright cruelty from drunk or callous men. Left to stand in dirty straw, cheated of his ration of oats, his coat left unkempt, his hooves soft from neglect, he becomes a shadow of his former, glorious self--an aged nag whom no ones notices.

During his career as a work house BB survives a deadly stable fire
and a dangerous bridge--often demonstrating more horse sense than his masters. He does make friends with one horse named Ginger, but among his human companions he likes best Jerry, a young cabby. (Of course this book inspired various movie versions; one B/W one had a young lady as the human star who loved him.) But this book represents much more than a mere Horse story--which abound in children's literature. Herein Sewell incorporates a humane theme along with the plot: that mankind is responsible to treat dumb animals with kindness, and consideration for their care, health, and safety--even appreciation. The life of cab horses in early 20th century London was often deplorable, so this book may have served to raise public awareness for working animals who could be proactive in their defense. BLACK BEAUTY may have inspired ASPCA aims and objectives.

Best of all: this gentle story is recounted with simple dignity--devoid of accharine, moralistic commentary. Young readers will innately recognize that it is our duty to show concern for the patient creatures that help our daily lives. Dominion over the animals does not mean a license to abuse or neglect them. There is nothing preachy about Beauty's adventures as he experiences the best and the worst of humankind. A captivating read no matter where you are on your life's journey.

Since pictures & illustrations are as much a part of a child's imagination as the written word, then this book beautifully combines both, with the abundant B&W line illustrations by illustrator Lucy Kemp-Welch, in addition to the 12 colour plates included - all in keeping with the time period this novel is set in. A wonderful edition to any child's library.
I've been reading horse-topic related books for as long as I can remember; but the very 1st horse story that left an indelible impression on me was ANNA SEWELL's " BLACK BEAUTY ".
It really openend my eyes as to the abuse and cruelty - and majestic fraility - that these wonderful creatures suffer at the hands of their human counterparts.
Ms Sewell opted to write this book from " the horse's point of view " and she was one of the very few authors that was able to pull this off with such great success.
This book also, laid the cornerstone for the ASPCA aims and goals, and brought to light the conditions and treatment of working horses in 20th century London, England ( and elsewhere ).
The story is such a wonderful tale of a horse's life from start to finish; told with a quiet dignity and warmth - and serves as a successful analogy also, as to how humans should interact with one another.
This book also laid the cornerstone for my interest and love of horses, and further spurred my interest in reading about all things Equine.
From there, and I went on to read all of Walter Farley's "The Black Stallion" series ( I used to collect the hardcover editions), and Marguerite Henry's books, and National Velvet(which really wasn't about a horse per se, but more about a little girl who's dreams come true), and anything else I could get my horsey-hungry hands on!
I now keep a copy of Anna Sewell's "Black Beauty" in my library at home, and have given a copy to my daughter to read.
This is a tale that sensitizes the reader to the plight of horses at the hands of their human caregivers, trainers, etc - all told from the horse's mouth ( so to speak )..!
And lest we think that the inhumane treatment of horses has abided since this book was written - one only has to follow the controversy surrounding the use of "Premarin", or abusive training methods of gaited horses, or the Thoroughbred racing industry, or rodeo...etc.
There is still much to be gleaned about the exploitation and abuse of animals from this book - which will always remain a timeless classic.
Kim C. Montreal, 05/2000

We often talk about teaching children values, but in most cases children's literature is insipid and of no lasting value. BLACK BEAUTY, however, is both valuable as art and valuable for the virtues it teaches: kindness, common sense, and helping those who cannot help themselves. The book is well written in clean prose. It does not over reach the "reading child," nor does it talk down to him. And although it is touching and occasionally sad, it is not in the least sentimental.

The story, of course, is about Black Beauty, a handsome horse who is born and raised in happy circumstances. But in Victorian England horses were used much as we use cars today: they were things to be bought and sold and then gotten rid of when they were no longer useful. Black Beauty is first sold to a good home, but as time passes he is sold again and again--and not always to people who treat him kindly or even to those who give him common care.

There are adventures aplenty, like a stable fire and a dangerous bridge; there are many memorable characters, like the horse Ginger and the kind cabbie Jerry. All of them are seen from Black Beauty's point of view, and beautifully, perfectly described. My mother read this book to me, and as soon as I could I was anxious to read it myself; now, some thirty years later I have stumbled once more upon it. And I can honestly say that it lives up to my memory: it is a fine book, and one that every parent should place in the hands of their children. Strongly recommended.

GFT, the store Reviewer

This is one of the most enjoyable stories I've ever known. The story of a beautiful horse who undergoes life in almost every imaginable capacity that a horse might enjoy, or endure. The story is in the first person; told by Black Beauty himself. It is not only Black Beauty's story, but the story of different kinds of men, good and bad.

This book is one of my very favorites. Although it was written many years ago, it stands the test of time, and will be a book that you will think about again and again.
Black Beauty tells the story of a horse, and his descent into hard times and mistreatment at the hands of man. Throughout this truly touching book we see things from the point of view of the horse. We meet men, both good and bad. We see selfishness, abuse and neglect. We see that the horse wants little more than to be treated decently. Luckily for Beauty he is reunited with a kind man from his early days.
This story is recommended for all ages. While there are some harsh lessons, I feel that this book teaches us to see things from all points of view, including animals.

The life of a horse told from a horse's point of view. The horse seemed to accept that his life was to be controlled by humans (he never longed for days of roaming the wild prairie, for example) but he always wished that his masters be kind.

Some were. Some were not. Sewell saw lots of cruelty toward horses and part of her reason for writing the book (as it says in the forward to this book) was to show the torment that many horses faced.

I especially liked this version of the book, filled with illustrations of horse terms and places in London and depictions of complicated events in the story.

I love this story so much! The audiobook that was narrated by Simon Vance was great! He did a wonderful job (I believe) in narrating and making the characters interesting. This is a great story that I feel everyone should read. It has great values, such as kindness, respect for all living creatures, and love. I am quite certain that I will listen to Black Beauty again in the future.

What a wonderful book! Sandy Ransford has retold Anna Sewell's story in about 24 pages (including illustrations)- in clear and simple text that will be easy for a young reader to read and enjoy. The age level for the book is 4-8 and I think this book will be perfect for a parent to read to pre-schoolers too!

The little silver horse charm on a necklace chain is well, charming (please pardon the pun). I bought this book and 5 other Charm Book Classic books for my niece for Christmas this year. I plan to suggest to her that she can add a charm to the chain when she starts a new book. (The charms are too big for a charm bracelet). She will end up with a special reminder of her early reading years. I actually think it could make a great looking necklace that she can wear as a teen/adult.

There is a bookplate, the illustrations are wonderful, and the quality of the book is great. I think it's a fabulous way to introduce children to the classics!

This book was really great! I'm a horse lover, so this book was a perfect example of the way horses were treated back then. It made me sad to think that when "masters" thought that the horses were not able to work, they shot them! Black Beauty was a beautifully written book. Anna Sewell has a great word hand and she makes you feel how Black Beauty felt. I really enjoyed how Ms.Sewell Invites you into the past, and tells you the story of Black Beauty... Black Beauty truly is beautiful from his beautiful mane and tail to his
special story... Beauty and Anna Sewell are one in her writing. And you will become one with the book...

This is the special Book-of-the-month Club edition of Black Beauty. It is a very beautiful version of the book, with a turquoise cloth boards, grey spine binding and gold gilt lettering. The pictorial dust jacket is very classy looking. And it has the illustrations by artist Lucy Kemp-Welch illustrations, 18 full color plates plus the black and white illustrations on almost every page. By far the nicest version of this book ever made. This children's classic by Ann Sewell was first published in 1877, and its popularity has never faded. It is essentially an autobiography of a horse, told in the horses words. As the horse suffers one bad owner after another, the hose meets other horses along the way before finding the owner that will love her.

It's no wonder this book is still a best seller. Sewell has written a timeless book. It is an unusual book in that the main character is a talking horse, yet it's not positioned in the somewhat cartoon-ish manner that so many children's books with talking animals are. Sewell attempts to place a subtle moral tale within each chapter. She uses man's cruelty or kindness to animals as a lesson for how we humans should treat each other. The overall message, essentially, is that if we are kind to animals, presumably, we will be kind to each other. While the plotline moves at a gentle pace, there is enough action embodied within the overall story that it kept the attention of my two sons throughout. A wonderful escapist read at any age.

I believe that I first read this story, by myself, during the summer after third grade. It is a beautiful story. There are a few places in this story where, to this day, I cry.

It is a story about a beautiful black horse. At first, Black Beauty has a very good life. Then, things do go towards worse situations. But, the ending is wonderful!

If your child is tired of rabbits and bears and fairy tales, forget about Tom and Jane and Spot! I think he or she may be ready for Black Beauty.

I am retired. I still remember (and sometimes re-read) Black Beauty.

What girlhood would be complete without reading this tearjerker classic? As a child, there wasn't much I loved more than books, horses and a good cry -- and this provided all three.
For those of you who don't know the story, Black Beauty is horse in England during the 19th century. He begins life with a loving master, but due to circumstances is sold several times -- to owners both kind and cruel.
Sewell, a Quaker woman, wrote this book (first published in 1877) to enlighten the public. Horses at the time were often beaten, starved and overloaded. Sewell's book, however, became a catalyst for change and ushered in a new way of thinking about the treatment of animals.

My father gave me his copy of this book when I was in second grade. He had received it in 1910 when he was only five years old. I've treasured it ever since. It's still on my bookshelf, a little worse for the wear, but still readable. Ironically, where there were typographical errors in the text, Dad had penciled in corrections, presaging, perhaps, his future as a newspaper reporter, editor, and eventually owner and publisher. He told me that if he was given the book as a five-year-old, he read it as a five-year-old. (Probably there aren't many five-year-olds who could or would read it.)

This was probably the first book I read that started me on my love for horses. There is a lot of information in it that will resonate with a horse-lover for the rest of his/her life. It also made me want to have a black horse with a white star. My first horse was black with a white star. She was also my last as I had her for 30 years while dozens of others came and went.

Recommended for everyone of all ages. There is a reason this book is still popular well over a century after it was written.

One of the great unanswered questions of life is the mysterious attraction that horses hold for young girls. Sure, we all know that there's some kind of psychosexual component, but why horses in particular? At any rate, Black Beauty & the rest of those equine tales (Black Stallion, National Velvet, etc.) were never central to my childhood reading, but my wife fondly recalls her father reading it to her--a topic I feel it is best to avoid commenting on.
Anna Sewell was left crippled by a childhood accident and depended on horses to get around. A Quaker, she was apparently extremely sensitive about any violence towards animals. As the quote above indicates, she even used prompting rather than prodding to guide her own rides . In the closing years of her life, suffering intense pain herself, she wrote this book to call attention to the mistreatment of horses and it became a genuine publishing phenomenon. She uses a first person (first horse?) narrative to completely anthropomorphize Black Beauty, a well bred and even tempered stallion who passes from owner to owner. Over the course of the book, Beauty's owners display varying standards of treatment from kindness to neglect to open brutality. But Beauty perseveres and happily ends up back with his original owners. Along the way, Sewell also gets the opportunity to take some potshots at hunting, drinking, poverty and the like.
It's easy to see how the story became a classic, thanks to its sympathetic portrayal of Beauty and his fellow horses. But it is fundamentally based on a lie. Animals aren't human and horses aren't even particularly intelligent by animal standards. We shouldn't mistreat them because to do so is unnecessary and counterproductive. But to pretend that they have complex personalities and emotions does them no service and sort of cheapens the dialogue about what "rights" animals should have. The book makes for a pleasant read, provided you don't let kids take it to seriously.
GRADE: B-

Having read the book, "Black Beauty" seemed to lose a lot of charm and warmth when told on the audio version.
Still the same, great horse with incredible feelings and sensitivity, -- still the same first person narrative, -- but somehow I felt I was losing the tremendous input that pictures can provide.
Always the children's classic, always a great story, Black Beauty on tape was not my favorite forum for this timeless story. If I had the choice, I would definitely read the book and show the pictures to children for their fullest enjoyment and appreciation of a wonderful, black horse...Black Beauty.

I read this book a while back when my husband, a horse lover, introduced me to it. A great tale of the life of a horse that teaches values to anyone who reads it. I have learned much about these beautiful animals and can see why my husband loves them. Strongly recommended for your children, you and they will love it.

Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
and "Trouble in the Elf City"
The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)

I started reading this fine story many years ago...never completed it - so glad it did. Though it may be a bit dated the message is inspiring. Having horses, we can definitely identify with many aspects. It is a delightful read.

One of the best known books, almost everyone has heard of Black Beauty. The story is told from Black Beauty's point of view giving a totally different view of the world. He has to endure some cruel owners but remains hopeful that someday things will turn out better. One of the sad parts is the death of his over-worked friend 'Ginger'.

The hero horse is eventually saved by a kind boy and his grandfather who care for him and restore him to health. It is quite sad in part but does have a happy ending and in its day would have had an effect on the treatment suffered by working horses.

Other really good books:

Godstone - The Kairos Boxes

Tales of Angria (Penguin Classics)

A beautiful story for all ages. I originally read Black Beauty when I was about 10 and loved it. I've started reading it to my 3 year-old and he loves it, and I'm enjoying reading it for a second time. The writing is beautiful, and the story comes alive to readers young and old. A classic

remember the days when you were a little kid? Those hot summers when the ice cream truck drove by and you sat there licking you frozen ice pop? And then, your mind began to imgaine things. You saw a dreamy black horse, cantering across the meadow with a small white welsh pony and a mare a tad smaller than the black horse. And they galloped as one, through lush green meadows, occasionally lapping at a nearby crystal clear spring fed pond. You will once again be invited back to these scenes as you read Ann Sewell's Classic, Black Beauty.

This masterpiece paints a picture of a horse's seemingly nine lives. Always changing from one place to another. Some are gentle and know just how to treat the horse; others just try to get the money's worth out of him. Black Beauty's best friends, a mean-tempered chestnut mare named Ginger and a spunky littl;e welsh named Merrylegs team up to take on their dreams together. Through becoming a carriage horse to take a lady to tea, to being rented out, to recovering in a young farmer's son's hands, Black Beauty is something that we won't see in a long, long time. Forget Heartland and Chestnut Hill-one book can say a lot of powerful things.

I have rated this story 5 stars because it is one of the best things I have ever read. Did you know that the author was paralyzed waist down? Or that for her funeral, the horses had it easy? Find out more about Anna's mind when you get inside her head by reading Black Beauty. I promise, you won't regret it!

This is another of my favorite books from childhood. It's been 30 years since I've read it and it still holds up for me. Lately I've been somewhat disappointed when rereading childhood favorites. I'm glad to find this one remains untarnished for me.

"Black Beauty" was written in the late eighteen hundreds by Anna Sewell, one of the best authors at the time. At the time that "Black Beauty" was written the owners were abusing the animals in any way you can think of. Anna Sewell sure did not think that way, she felt that animals should be taken care of like a family members. Anna Sewell heard the cries of the animals and decided to get the word out to the people. Anna Sewell decided to write a book about an animal, she decided to write a book about a strong young horse named Black Beauty. Anna Sewell titled the book "Black Beauty". Black Beauty is a novel about a gorgeous black horse. Black Beauty is described as being a young, solid, black houses that is kind and loving on the inside. From the beginning Black Beauty is abused by it's owners. Every time Black Beauty tries to show its owner respect and that the fact that it loves its owner Black Beauty gets punished for something that no one understands. Black beauty is treated like nothing more than a peace of dirt. Its owner does not care what so ever happens to the horse, they hardly give the horse food and somewhat a little bit of water. Every now and than Black Beauty gets sold to a different owner no better then the last one before. Second owner seemed to be a little more open minded and actually bothered to give the horse food and water every day, but as old times the horse began to be abused by the new owner and the family member s as well. Only people who could afford a horse at the time were the very rich people who are known to care less then others most of the time. So after a while the owners seemed to get tired of the and just care less for it. As time passed Black Beauty became tired and began the habit of throwing off amateur riders. Because of that habit Black Beauty was sold again. This time to a lovely lady who really wonted to help the horse. She took care of Black Beauty like it was one of her own family members. She brushed Black Beauty every day and never kept it cold, she also never kept Black Beauty in hunger and loneliness. Black Beauty was promised never to be sold again, and has nothing to fear of. All the troubles were over for him now. Now he could stand under the apple trees with his old friends and not have to think about what is going to happen next tomorrow in its life. Recommendation: I recommend this book to teenagers because it is a very interesting book to read, it can also teach a few lessons about life.

Black Beauty is the story about a horse's life and struggles. Beautygoes through many masters before she finds her real home. What happens is that sometimes either her master or mistress get very ill or her master travels a lot and does not have enough time to care for her, so they are forced to sell Beauty. Sometimes she ends up with nice masters that treat her fairly and are kind to her, but sometimes she ends up with mean masters that do not care for her and make her work; even when she is not in the conditions to work.Then her second to last master has to sell her, because he bacame very ill (even though he was good to her and loved her very much), but he made sure that Beauty was sold to kind people. Beauty was sold to 3 old ladies. There she was reaquanted with one of her old caretakers, who loved her very much. Beauty was very happy and knew that she was here to stay and that that was her real home now.
I thought this was a vey sad story. It explained how a horse's life kept going from better to worse and then back again to better.It tells how even when things are down they can get better.
I would reccomend this book to anyone and everyone.It is a very moving story and will be enjoyed by children as wll as grownups.It sends out a very good message: treat others as you would want to be treated.

This book is very informative and accurate on the time in which it is set. The detail of human relationships and modes of travel, etc. in the time period are an enjoyable bit of history.

The hero is most admirable, undergoing difficulty and responding correctly. Whereas White Fang would tear to pieces anyone who mistreated him, Black Beauty suffers in silence as a true hero should--because it takes more courage to accept wrongful blows than it does to stand up for yourself whether you deserve the treatment or not. Black Beauty teaches other excellent principles about the treatment of animals in general and was probably very influential on people who stand up for the "rights" of animals these days; they have missed the point of Black Beauty. Beauty himself was taught by his mother that a horse should submit to even a bad master, and others in the book make the point that animals should be treated kindly not because they have rights, but because they belong to God.

Black Beauty shows the importance of having sympathy for suffering friends, joy for fortunate ones, and of holding onto one's hopes. Though the gentle protagonist loses many friends, he is reunited with others, reinforcing the traditional ideas of good triumphs over evil.

This book is appropriate for all those who are old enough to read literature more advanced than See Spot Run. I would recommend it to anyone.

Black Beauty is a black horse that is sold to many horse owners. He lives a horrible and also an exciting life. He was born in a wealthy enviroment. However, his mistress becomes seriously ill, and Black Beauty is sold. He goes along well until he is resold again. Unfortunately, this owner is cruel. Eventhough Black Beauty was born from a kind master, he soon realizes that not all people are like that. He finds out that some are careless and cruel masters. He finally lands into cart-pulling in the streets of London. FOr the final time, he is sold to a young man named Joe Green. This was his recent master that Black Beauty met when Joe was just 13 years old. Black Beauty stays there for the rest of his life.
I actually really liked and enjoyed this book. I liked it because I think that it teaches us about life somtimes. Like Black Beauty, sometimes when we have a roof over our heads with plenty of food, we do not realize how hard and difficult it is when we are poor. Black Beauty learned this when he was sold to a cruel master other then a kind master. Some of the masters are so cruel, but no matter what, Black Beauty always tries his hardest to accomplish it. This is somewhat related to our life. Eventhough it writes about a life of a horse, I really think that this book teaches many morals that can really relate to our everyday life.
My favorite part is when he is at the auction. It gave me a cliff hanger that wanted me to read on. At the auction, he is at the broken down and trodden part of the fair. Black Beauty looks around and sees all these old horses, he pities him and he thinks that he does not belong here. This part made me realize that sometimes people do that at school. At the auction Black Beauty is bought by a farmer that sees that Black Beauty was born from a good breeding ground. I think that Black Beauty well deserved this special and kind family.

I've read this book several times since I was a little girl, and it never gets old. It contains so many wise words about dealing with adversity and treating animals well--everyone should read it at least once. Black Beauty learned from his wise old mother that others' poor behavior is no excuse to behave poorly himself. He gets plenty of opportunities to test this advice, and comes across others who weren't so fortunate to learn it at a young age.

This story is about a horse living in the 19th century. The horse, Black Beauty, lives in England. The story is told through the eyes of the horse. Black Beauty shares his life experiences and friendships. During his life, he is sold many times, and he encounters some cruel and good owners.

I think this book accomplished the task the author set out to complete. She wanted to alert people to the cruel treatment of horses. The description of the bit in a horse's mouth was eye opening to me. It had to be strange to have an object inserted into one's mouth for the first time. I am not fond of horses. I was thrown off of one as a child. I had tears in my eyes in some parts of this story due to the cruel treatment of the horses.

I first read this book a long time ago - frankly, I don't remember when. It has been several years since then, but it touched me all the same. Currently, I am in the process of re-reading it. That's how good it is! You will want to read it over and over.
It begins with Black Beauty as a young colt, born into a good bloodline with racing blood running through his veins. His master was a good one and made sure that the horse became an obedient, noble steed. Unlike many other horses, he was broken in gently to insure years of the loyal service of a beautiful animal.
Unfortunately, Black Beauty's life is not all good; like any other horse, he came into the hands of both kind, cold, and simply ignorant masters. Though fiction, it really could've been any horse that went through the life of Black Beauty, and some probably did. At least, horses lived the lives of some in the book, such as those abused or beaten for doing things natural to a horse.
This novel was most definately touching and inspiring. It presented several important moral issues. A few include always doing your best, how to NOT "look out for number one,". and thoughts on how kindness can change a horse... and a person too.
Of course, I am somewhat biased, being a Horse in the Chinese Zodiac and a special fan of stories about horses, but all the same - I have taken many of the themes in this book to heart, and truly believe that the world might be a bit nicer if a few others picked up this classic tale of a horse's journey though the harsh reality of life.
Read it once! If you don't like it, then that's understandable, I guess.
But chances are, you'll love it.
And then you'll want to read it again.

No child should grow up without reading the classics and this is one of the books I mean.
Black Beauty is a classic story of a life of a horse called Black beaty, from the day it is born, and we read through the ups and down he face every single day as he grows up.
This book would end with each reader to begin respecting other creatures as well as their friends and family. The book contains morals of which would leads a reader to think and rethink what actions would lead to what.

I love this book.It is the most touching book. I'v never read such a wonderful and heart warming story ever. I think this is the best story to show and make people relize about horse abuse and animal abuse! I really think you should recmmend this book. In the end I did cry but still it is a great book to read if you love horses.

BLACK BEAUTY is a stimulating, gripping novel with lots of suspense and joy. This classic could be placed in the category of one of the most thrilling and adventurous books of all time. The author Anne Sewell, who has so much compassion towards horses, shows in this novel how cruel men can be towards them or on the other hand how people can understand horses and treat them well.

After his birth, Black Beauty learned how to be a fine horse and to do his work properly. At a certain age, like all horses, he was sold. With sadness he left his mother and his first master, but he knew it was time for him to go to work. With his mother's advice "Do your work with a good will and lift your feet up well when you trot" he walked off with his new master. This was his second of many.

Over the years Black Beauty endured mean masters as well as good ones, but he never failed. He kept beautiful souvenirs in his mind while he grew up and grew stronger. Black Beauty became a handsome black horse.

One day, during his stay with his second master, the grange where Black Beauty and the other horses lived caught fire. Huge flames roared through the grange threatening all of the horses. Will Back Beauty survive the flames, all of those harsh, cruel, severe owners and all the hard work? Will he, one day, go back to his first home and be reunited with all his friends?

This book is suitable for children of ages 9 to 12 and even adults could read and enjoy it. Since I just finished reading the book, for me, Anne Sewell is the author of the year 2005.

Anna Sewell�s novel Black Beauty is a timeless classic for readers of all ages, but has a main demographic of females from the age 9 to 16.
The story takes place in 19th century England. IT follows the life and experience of a horse named Black Beauty. The horse is born on a farm and sold at the age of four. His first owner Squire Gordon is a great loving man. Black Beauty is treated with respect and dignity. The story follows the horse as he is then sold from owner to owner. He becomes neglected and abused by carriage owners. A loving and gentle man finally purchases Black Beauty. He cares about the horses and treats them well. Black Beauty is finally happy as a carriage horse when tragedy strikes. His owner is struck with illness and is forced to sell the horse. Black Beauty is sold to a poor owner and is neglected. He longs to go back home to squire Gordon�s farm and live a happy life once again.
The book is uniquely enough from the horse�s point of view. This helps children connect with the horse, and makes the book more interesting and easy to follow along with. The heart breaking tale of a horse�s life that will readers leave on the edge of their seat wanting to keep reading, dying to find out what happens next. The book goes into detail about how animal abuse used to be in the early 1900�s. Older children have and will continue to enjoy this book for generations to come.

I bought this book for my almost 5-year old coloring fanatic, based on the store's age-rating of 4-8, but I'd rate it more appropriate for at least 5 or 6 year olds. The story is too advanced and detailed to hold my daughter's interest, even though she loves the story of Black Beauty. The pictures are smaller and more intricate than I'd like, most covering just portions of pages rather than full pages (although there are some full-page pictures), but she still enjoys coloring them. Since she loves the story, she was very excited to have the book; though it's slightly frustrating for her sometimes, she brings it out often and keeps trying - at least she'll have it for years to come!

I first read this book a long time ago - frankly, I don't remember when. It has been several years since then, but it touched me all the same. Currently, I am in the process of re-reading it. That's how good it is! You will want to read it over and over.
It begins with Black Beauty as a young colt, born into a good bloodline with racing blood running through his veins. His master was a good one and made sure that the horse became an obedient, noble steed. Unlike many other horses, he was broken in gently to insure years of the loyal service of a beautiful animal.
Unfortunately, Black Beauty's life is not all good; like any other horse, he came into the hands of both kind, cold, and simply ignorant masters. Though fiction, it really could've been any horse that went through the life of Black Beauty, and some probably did. At least, horses lived the lives of some in the book, such as those abused or beaten for doing things natural to a horse.
This novel was most definately touching and inspiring. It presented several important moral issues. A few include always doing your best, how to NOT "look out for number one,". and thoughts on how kindness can change a horse... and a person too.
Of course, I am somewhat biased, being a Horse in the Chinese Zodiac and a special fan of stories about horses, but all the same - I have taken many of the themes in this book to heart, and truly believe that the world might be a bit nicer if a few others picked up this classic tale of a horse's journey though the harsh reality of life.
Read it once! If you don't like it, then that's understandable, I guess.
But chances are, you'll love it.
And then you'll want to read it again.

No child should grow up without reading the classics and this is one of the books I mean.
Black Beauty is a classic story of a life of a horse called Black beaty, from the day it is born, and we read through the ups and down he face every single day as he grows up.
This book would end with each reader to begin respecting other creatures as well as their friends and family. The book contains morals of which would leads a reader to think and rethink what actions would lead to what.

I love this book.It is the most touching book. I'v never read such a wonderful and heart warming story ever. I think this is the best story to show and make people relize about horse abuse and animal abuse! I really think you should recmmend this book. In the end I did cry but still it is a great book to read if you love horses.

BLACK BEAUTY is a stimulating, gripping novel with lots of suspense and joy. This classic could be placed in the category of one of the most thrilling and adventurous books of all time. The author Anne Sewell, who has so much compassion towards horses, shows in this novel how cruel men can be towards them or on the other hand how people can understand horses and treat them well.

After his birth, Black Beauty learned how to be a fine horse and to do his work properly. At a certain age, like all horses, he was sold. With sadness he left his mother and his first master, but he knew it was time for him to go to work. With his mother's advice "Do your work with a good will and lift your feet up well when you trot" he walked off with his new master. This was his second of many.

Over the years Black Beauty endured mean masters as well as good ones, but he never failed. He kept beautiful souvenirs in his mind while he grew up and grew stronger. Black Beauty became a handsome black horse.

One day, during his stay with his second master, the grange where Black Beauty and the other horses lived caught fire. Huge flames roared through the grange threatening all of the horses. Will Back Beauty survive the flames, all of those harsh, cruel, severe owners and all the hard work? Will he, one day, go back to his first home and be reunited with all his friends?

This book is suitable for children of ages 9 to 12 and even adults could read and enjoy it. Since I just finished reading the book, for me, Anne Sewell is the author of the year 2005.

Anna Sewell�s novel Black Beauty is a timeless classic for readers of all ages, but has a main demographic of females from the age 9 to 16.
The story takes place in 19th century England. IT follows the life and experience of a horse named Black Beauty. The horse is born on a farm and sold at the age of four. His first owner Squire Gordon is a great loving man. Black Beauty is treated with respect and dignity. The story follows the horse as he is then sold from owner to owner. He becomes neglected and abused by carriage owners. A loving and gentle man finally purchases Black Beauty. He cares about the horses and treats them well. Black Beauty is finally happy as a carriage horse when tragedy strikes. His owner is struck with illness and is forced to sell the horse. Black Beauty is sold to a poor owner and is neglected. He longs to go back home to squire Gordon�s farm and live a happy life once again.
The book is uniquely enough from the horse�s point of view. This helps children connect with the horse, and makes the book more interesting and easy to follow along with. The heart breaking tale of a horse�s life that will readers leave on the edge of their seat wanting to keep reading, dying to find out what happens next. The book goes into detail about how animal abuse used to be in the early 1900�s. Older children have and will continue to enjoy this book for generations to come.

I bought this book for my almost 5-year old coloring fanatic, based on the store's age-rating of 4-8, but I'd rate it more appropriate for at least 5 or 6 year olds. The story is too advanced and detailed to hold my daughter's interest, even though she loves the story of Black Beauty. The pictures are smaller and more intricate than I'd like, most covering just portions of pages rather than full pages (although there are some full-page pictures), but she still enjoys coloring them. Since she loves the story, she was very excited to have the book; though it's slightly frustrating for her sometimes, she brings it out often and keeps trying - at least she'll have it for years to come!

Black Beauty
BY: Holly Campbell

Adventures. Friendship. Laughs and cries. Observe all of life's amazing experiences from the perspective of a young loving horse, "Black Beauty." Anna Sewell describes this story perfectly as you see all the different lifestyles and troubles that this horse experiences. Black Beauty started life as a young beautiful horse that was born into a family that did not treat him well. His mother was a large, wise horse who taught Black Beauty to always treat his master with loyalty and respect. This horse shows us that this task was not as easy as it sounded.

About the time Black Beauty was 2 years old, he is well broken in and well mannered. He is then separated from his mother and sold to another family who lives in Birtwick Park. Here he meets two new friends Merrylegs (stocky gray pony) and Ginger (sassy chestnut mare). Black Beauty grew very fond of these two horses and takes there advice many times. From then on, he takes everything he had learned at his old homes with him throughout his twisted life journey in search of a happy secure home. Along the paths of his life Black Beauty is used as a riding horse, carriage horse, fair horse, and a town horse that ends up being mistreated. Black Beauty expresses his emotions and thoughts as he tries to deal with unexpected turns that life throws his way.

Through all the misery and joyfulness that Black Beauty goes through, he still respects and honors all of his masters just as his mother had done, even when they ill-used himself and his friends. After being sent away to a home where the masters are hateful and living conditions are dreadful, Black Beauty isn't sure how much more he can handle. He has a lack of food, no rest, swollen joints, and torn flesh from whip slashes. He has basically given up on life. This once healthy, good tempered horse just might have now been pushed to the limit. Will Black Beauty's life adventure end here or will he go on living life in misery? Can the knowledge and character that his mother has instilled in him overcome the crisis that he is facing now?

This thrilling story will touch the reader's heart as well as take them on many exciting and sorrowful adventures. You will come to learn the true passion this book shows of this amazing creature's life and determination. This story will help the reader realize that you must build life on experiences and live life to its fullest while you have the chance because you never know what lies ahead.

"THIS WILL CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVER WORK IS COMLETELY ORIGINAL"

This is a total ripoff. Although listed as an unabridged version, it's definitely not -- it's some kind of rewrite that's been shoddily and cheaply done. Even the cover looks like it was done on a cheap version of someone's home computer. DO NOT BUY THIS.

Black Beauty is with out a doubt a truly classic book. One that no child, or any one else for that matter, should ever be deprived of. This book could warm the heart of even the hardest, and make every one an animal lover. From child to adult this book can teach us all a lesson about life, and what true friendship really is. Told through the eyes of a horse during a time that was hard to be any creature, especailly a horse

This book was a great, telling about an horse's good and bad life. I thought that Black Beauty was very inspiring, especially in animal cruelty. All the things that said how some people could really treat animals is unbelieveable. The part I like best of this is when he was born and how he always stayed by his mother when he was a colt until he was old enough to hang out with the other colts.Another part that I liked about this book is at the end where he finally found peace in the pasture from his bitter hard life that he had that wore him down. The worst part I disliked about this book was how Ginger(black beauty's obsession)died from being over worked and beaten so many times, that it killed her. Also when a drucken man rode him, and knew that his shoe was falling off, still did and made him go faster so the nail dug into his hoof and knew that it hurted him so badly, and it got so harsh that he fell to the ground on his knees, and cut them up badly. During all the brutality of this book, it was still outstanding.

This book was great! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a classic tale, with a really original idea. It was really amazing to read about the different hardships Black Beauty had to face during his lifetime, and to realise the cruel treatment that a lot of horses had to endure during the times when everyone used horse and carriage to get around. I thought this was a very powerful novel, and you don't have to be a horse-lover to enjoy it. There wasn't a single boring bit in it! An amazing read!

Black Beauty is a story written as if it is being told by a horse named Black Beauty. Parts of it are sad but at the end, you have a good feeling that makes you proud of Black Beauty. He always needed to work hard and he didn’t give up. When he got older he didn’t want to be alive anymore because of all the hard work he had to do. People kept selling him for more money to other people who needed a horse because he worked hard. At the end he was sold to a family where he found his friend who had worked with him for a long time in cleaning his stable and he was very happy. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to other readers. By Tziporah, 9

"Black beauty," by author Anna Sewell. First published in 1877, "Black Beauty" is a story
about a horse who faced different kind of trials, and sold to different owners with
different attitudes. Back in the 1800's Horses are the only way of transportation in London,
England. The owners treat their horses not very far from how they treat their automobiles
nowadays. For example, they made horses work nonstop, riding them and not making the horse rest, treating it not like a living thing but a machine. Sewell, cleverly wrote this book
"Black Beauty" before she passed away, hoping that the story will touch the reader and to anyone who owns a pet. The story has a lot of moral values that readers will surely learn.
I love this book very much, as it came to be my sons favorite bedtime story.

One of the best known books, almost everyone has heard of Black Beauty. The story is told from Black Beauty's point of view giving a totally different view of the world. He has to endure some cruel owners but remains hopeful that someday things will turn out better. One of the sad parts is the death of his over-worked friend 'Ginger'.

The hero horse is eventually saved by a kind boy and his grandfather who care for him and restore him to health. It is quite sad in part but does have a happy ending and in its day would have had an effect on the treatment suffered by working horses.

Another brilliant book:

GODSTONE - THE KAIROS BOXES

I originally read this classic story as a child and recently re-purchased and read it. I still love it, it is as well written and endearing as I remember it. Interestingly though, I found it more interesting to read now as a horse owner. So many of the things that I read as a youngster who only dreamed of horses, now had a whole new context as a rider and horse owner.

A pretty easy read but it took me a while to get into the story. Overall, a good book, but I'm not sure what I got out of it other than the knowledge of how badly horses were treated in the 1800's. I'm glad that there are laws to protect animals today.

Black Beauty is a classic novel told through the eyes of a horse. Black Beauty's story is one of happy times, cruel owners, a frightning fire, and how some speical people can bond with animals. The book takes you from Black Beautys foalhood, through his training, being sold and resold untll he finds a home for keeps. This book teaches the virtue of being strong throug misundestandings, and bad times alike. But under the first artfully crafted layer of the story comes another meaning. This book is about british society, with its flaws and good parts too. Black Beauty, not geting to pick who he is sold to, is bought by people from all over the range of social status. He finds that the rich aren't always good nor the poor bad. When he finnally finds the right home though, he just knows.

This book is at the top of my listmania list: For Horse-Crazy Kids. I read every horse book I could get my hands on when I was a girl but this is the one I came back to year after year - even now! Beautiful color illustrations are a big bonus for any horse book. This edition has some very special artwork by Scott McKowen.

This book is probably partially responsible for my love of horses. My mother used to read it to me as a child. By the time I got into kindergarten, I could read it on my own. Over the years, I'd read every book about horses that I could get my hands on.
The author made me feel what Beauty felt. The pain, the neglect, the love, the compassion. Something that children should learn about before they get cynical.

I read this book for the first time when I was 12. I still love it, and I still cry when I read it. No, it is not the best crafted book I have ever read. But it still teaches us great things about love, and caring, and fate and suffering. I can't wait my daughter to grow up for us to read "Black Beauty" together.

I read this book when I was very small, and found the description and the livelyness of the charecters amazing. Its hard to believe its nearly a hundred years old! Anna Sewell was an excellent writer, who is my inspiration. She uses imagery and personification so well to get her (very valid) point across, in a wonderfully encapsualting way.

Black Beauty is a kind, gentle and well-mannered horse who struggles in the harsh victorian world. This book has made me cry many a time, out of despair and sorrow for the charecters, and at the loveleyness of all the horses and some of the human charecters. It shows the way Victorians lived, and treated their animals and teaches us a lot of very important lessons. A must read for anyone, of any age.

'' I have never forgotten my mother's advice; I knew she was a wise old horse, and our master thought a great deal of her. Her name was Duchess, but he often called her pet.''
So begins the story of Black Beauty. A young, handsome horse Black Beauty gets his name from his dark color and the one white star on his forehead. His journey starts on a plantation with his loving mother, Duchess and kind owner. At first Black Beauty is a colt spending his lazy days in the pasture sleeping by the shade of trees and munching on grass, but as Black Beauty gets older and he gets sold for the first time leaving his mother and old friends behind he begins on a journey filed with adventure, friendships, and hardships.
Black Beauty is a wonderful classic fit for any age. this book is filled with great writing and loveable characters. You won't ever want to put it down. I know I didn't.

When I read the reviews, I thought, "Awesome! I book that will catch my intrest." But sadly it has nothing really good about it. I mean all it taks about is "Oh, the hay tonight was splendid!" Or, "I really dislike this brittle it bites into my mouth to much." No action, love story, or even educational things. It has no story line that really sticks with the whole book, I don't feel any emotional bonding with the charectors (horses). And everything happens too fast.

And it has no illistrations. Exactly zero. I mean, pay extra to get "Colorful, bright, detailed illistrations!" But no. I really don't know what the point of the story is. I was expecting something a little bit more. This, this isn't a good book. And the print! Wow! It was almost as if a mouse had written in it's most smallest handwriting. I wouldn't waste your money quite yet . . . .

This is a very charming book indeed. The narrative rings true and exemplifies Sewell's love for and knowledge of horses.
Besides, Sewell is evidently grounded in Scripture and I found myself almost wanting to say "Amen" to some of the narrative, a rare find in today's literature.

Of all the books I read when I was a child, Black Beauty stands out as one of the most inspiring and most remembered. Every child should have an opportunity to read it for within its pages so many things are taught and experienced. It is one book that allows a child to live and understand and consider the world through the eyes of an animal. To read it is to allow development of compassion for others and animals. Buy this one for your child. They will love it.

This was a fun addition to my library as it was a childhood favorite. This was a lovely edition, beautifully printed and bound. The seller packed to be sure it arrived in the same great shape it was in when it was sold too. I am very pleased with the book and the seller.

Black Beauty is an excellent book. It's about a horse that is telling the reader about his life. You learn about his friends, owners, and struggles. This book's lesson is that you should always be loyal to those who you love. Black Beauty is a book that everyone should read.

I grew up on Black Beauty, but this publisher (Wilder) produces trash that abounds in typos, misprints, gross printing errors, and other distracting lapses that destroy the enjoyment of a wonderful story.

Brings back memories of Mao's Chinese paperbacks in the forties and fifties -- they were shabby and fell apart quickly -- they even stank of cheap ink.

I recommend the great story from another publisher.

Great book for my youth book club. I do wish it had illustrations to help my readers visualize the story. When purchasing our next book I will make sure there are illustrations. Arrived quickly and in excellent condition.

Told from the viewpoint of the horse ("Black Beauty"), this is a story about the trials and travails of an English horse. "Black Beauty" has a very hard life, but the book has a happy ending of sorts. My only criticism is that, from time to time, other horses get to tell their stories too, and it is difficult to tell which one is speaking. This makes the book hard to follow, particularly if the reader is a child. The book also makes overmuch use of the flashback. I am told that the book did as much as anything to discourage the use of the bearing rein (check rein) in England; if that is true, it accomplished a good deal indeed.

This wonderful story full of emotions and feelings of a magnificent animal brings to life what must be going through a horses mind. The authors passion for horses is expressed through the inspiring content that is presented. As a reader you get the sense that you are in the shoes of one of these particular animals and can almost feel the anxiety that they tend to feel from time to time. Black Beauty is a book full of loving creatures that are just dying to be loved and you wish that you could do something to help. This story is indeed a classic, for it entales the most wonderful vision of how animals view us. Black Beauty is a book that every child should read.

this book was a great book. i relly enjoyed it. if you are a horse luver like me than this book is recommended just for you. it explains from a horses way of life what horses like and waht they dont like. for exp. they live for rubdowns and they just hate and rather die than to waer check reins. this book highlights important things for you too. i really think that you would enjoy it even if you are not as interested in horses. this book is very exiting. so read it and review it too. thank you, by: sarah williams

A story written to appeal to all those young readers, especially girls, that develop a thing for horses to the point of fascination beyond their use as work animals, transportation or betting objects.

It aims to show how the animals themselves can suffer because of what humans do to them, being somewhat fragile creatures for all their size. A fairly sentimental book.

This edition of Black Beauty is told with wonderful illustrations which accentuate the classic horse story. It is a definite must for any child's library and will become a treasured heirloom for generations to come.

this book is good for any horse owner, horse groomer, cruel horse owners, nice horse owners, its good for anyone i've read it about 100 times, and have sevreal copies of it its a good book read it if you like horses!

From a fourth grade reader
The greatest book of all time! Starter of the Humane Society, Anna Sewell really captivates readers feelings with this autobiography of a beautiful, friendly, loving black stallion's life. By the time I had finished reading Black Beauty, I started really thinking about my four horse's well being. Anna Sewell really expresses a horse's feelings from a horse's perspective. I learned to really think about animals that cannot speak for themselves. This book is my #1 book in my entire horse story collection.

Black Beauty is a great book about a horse and his life. from good masters to bad, happy moments to sad, this book tells it all. I couldn't stop reading it!!! This is a fantastic book that all horse lovers will like.

There are several problems with this book in regards to young people, but the most obvious is the antiquated vocabulary, which is almost impossible to understand through context.
My daughter is 9, and though she has an average plus reading level, this book gave her no end of problems. As a consequence, I was forced to listen to her read and then translate the vocabulary, diction, tone, etc. She was, in most cases, completely in the dark. And no wonder! "Roan cob, bearing rein, phaeton,carter, drayer," etc.--all words used with no reference points for my bewildered little lady, and several of them gave me pause as well. I am a high school English teacher, and I guarantee that my students would not understand half the book as well.
The book was completely impossible for her to fathom by herself. When I asked her to read by herself and then tell me what she read, she couldn't explain what she had read because she didn't understand half of the terminology used.
Although I am sure the book was a fine example of a classic children's book when it was published, it is a drudgery to read now. I liked the idea of the horse speaking directly to its audience, but the constant prosying on about the condition of horses and their owners became so tedious. I do understand that the book teaches about kindness to all people, human or otherwise, but any message repeated continually throughout 197 pages becomes a cliche and loses its impact after the tenth repetition.
I am so happy to have this book read and the book report done. I believe that children under 12 will not understand it, and I think that only good readers who are in love with horses should attempt this book by themselves!

The title says this Kindle edition is illustrated but it has no illustrations. However, the text itself is as charming as ever and continues to provide good advice on the care of not just horses but of all animals including our fellow human beings.

This is the first book of considerable length I ever read. (I first read it when I was under ten years old.) I remember each detail as vividly today as I did after I first read it - it is that outstanding. I love this beautiful horse. He taught me honor, justice, fortitude, and, most of all, compassion.

This book was about a horse who goes from one home to another.He gets treated good at the begining then people buy him and treat him badly. He wishes he was back in the pastures with his mother when he was young. What I liked about the book was the horse was telling the story instead of people. What I did not like about the book was how they treated the horse. I recommend this book to people who like horses,because my grandma recommended it to me. By Alexa Pattison

At first I thought that this was more of a girly book, but as I started to read it I changed my mind. It got better and better, and happier and happier, and made me want to be in the book with Black Beauty. A great classic, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good old fashioned read. Loved it!!!!!

Ben Gunstone
Age 11 :)

When Black Beauty is just a young colt, his mother warns him that a horse's life is often difficult. And this strong, handsome horse soon meets with many adventures and all types of people -- some kind and caring, others cruel and indifferent. But no matter what circumstances he encounters, nothing can break Black Beauty's spirit. Discover one of the most moving horse stories of all time in Anna Sewell's beloved novel.

Anna Sewell's book "Black Beauty" shows us the life of a Horse. It tells us the life of Black Beauty, a Horse. It tells us the Hardships and the good times it went through. It also has descriptions of how cruel some people treated their Horses back in the 1800's. I recommend it for horse lovers only, as it wasn't that great.