“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.”
Rarely does an entertaining children’s book also bring about significant societal change, but Black Beauty, a touching story following the tumultuous life of a young colt, forced Victorian England to take notice of the mistreatment of horses and seek to improve their welfare. Anna Sewell’s novel was an immediate success and has since sold more than fifty million copies.
Narrated by the well-bred colt himself, Black Beauty begins with his idyllic early years pulling carriages for a wealthy family in the English countryside. After they move away, Black Beauty is sold and hard times ensue forthwith. He encounters both cruelty and kindness from his various owners and caretakers, and he eventually lands in London, working as a cab horse for three years in the bustling streets before arriving at a pleasant final home where he finds some familiar faces.
Anna Sewell (1820-1878) was an English novelist best known for this timeless classic. Despite being her only published work, it left a profound impact, advocating for animal welfare and inspiring generations with its poignant narrative and advocacy for kindness and empathy towards animals.
208 pages.
Black Beauty is in the following collections:
