Black Beauty

Anna Sewell, Lisa R. Church — 2013

Black Beauty is the classic horse story, a beautiful and touching tale told by the title character himself. Set in Victorian London, it follows Beauty's life and changing fortunes as he moves from owner to owner. As the horse encounters new experiences and new friends who reveal their own histories, the story quietly paints a fascinating portrait of how animals were treated during that era.

Reviews

Michal Stone@michal

Aug 11, 2022

I love this book!! I've read it twice, and I loved it each time!!!!

Margaret Sh.@wasurenagusa

May 24, 2022

Re-read for Sofie

Barbara Williford@barbarawilliford

May 7, 2022

“If we see cruelty and wrong that we have the power to stop and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.” ~Black Beauty I’m embarrassed to say that I have never read Black Beauty until now. What an emotional book. Written from the view point of a horse, you take a journey into his long life and the lives of other horses. From loving owners to cruel abusers. It does make you think about how we treat animals. It was a wholesome book with situations that make you go hmmm.

Margaret Sh.@wasurenagusa

Feb 3, 2022

Re-read for Sofie

Georgia Carr@greatgatsbys

Jan 16, 2022

I have so many editions of this book and I absolutely adore it. A beautiful, heartwarming story.

Harriet Moar-Smith@derigibleplums

Dec 22, 2021

I had this read to me as a child and when I went on holiday I forgot this book and I had to get my dad (who stayed at home) to read it down the phone so I could go to sleep. I loved it. It was amazing.

Nicole Lucy O'Loughlin@narrpip

Nov 18, 2021

I listened to this book on audiobook and it's the first audiobook I've listened to and been able to maintain my focus. And you know what? I'm glad I did! This was a great story, perfect for children but written in such a way that it can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter what your age may be. I loved the story and I was so scared for Beauty in some parts. As an animal lover this book angered me in parts, hated hearing how creatures were mistreated and unfairly used but the book also gave me hope, that the world is filled with good and caring people who will help wherever they can, whether it is man or beast that needs their help.

Judy Hudgins@knottyneedle

Oct 18, 2021

One of the first books I remember reading and owning. My copy fell apart over the years. I just found the exact same edition I originally read in the used book store. Now to share with my grand daughter.

Mina@violet_austen

Sep 21, 2021

Black Beauty is a classical novel written by Anna Sewell from the perspective of a horse telling about the different stages of his life; as a young colt being broken in and then being sold to different owners and going to different places. The horse talks about his occupations that he has had to do throughout his life and the joys and struggles that came with it. We learn how different horses are affected by certain methods and come to see the sad truth of how often these creatures are mistreated and sometimes downright abused. Black Beauty is a rather calm horse that had the fortune of starting his life under much better conditions than most horses. Whenever he is in the care of a good person that understands horses well we see him thrive and be very willing to give his best to do his job right and please his master. And even at other times when he is cruelly being overworked he keeps pushing his limits which unfortunately often is unnoticed by the humans. Reading this book will give you a better understanding of what horses had to endure specifically in the 18th century. You will see that many people lacked any sympathy for horses and expected them to function like a machine. One can only imagine how much the popularity of this book has increased the understanding of how horses deserve to be handled over time and the positive influence the book has had.

This review contains a spoiler