Black Beauty

Black Beauty is a perennial children's favourite; one which has never been out of print since its publication in 1877. It is a moralistic tale of the life of the horse related in the form of an autobiography; describing the world through the eyes of the creature. In taking this anthropomorphic approach; the author Anna Sewell broke new literary ground and her effective storytelling ability makes it very easy for the reader to accept the premise that a horse is recounting the exploits in the narrative. The gentle thoroughbred; Black Beauty; is raised with care and is treated well until a vicious groom injures him. The damaged horse is then sold to various masters at whose hands he experiences cruelty and neglect. After many unpleasant episodes; including one where he becomes a painfully overworked cab horse in London; Black Beauty finally canters towards a happy ending. Although Anna Sewell's classic is set firmly in the Victorian period; its message is universal and timeless: animals will serve humans well if they are treated with consideration and kindness. There have been many film and television adaptations of the story; but it is only the novel that captures the authentic voice of the central character.