Black Beauty - Anna Sewell

A heart-wrenching, beautiful, educational classic.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:Anna Sewell
  • # of pages: 275
  • Publisher:Penguin Putnam Inc.
  • Original Publication Date: 01/01/1877
  • Genre: Fiction - Literary Fiction
  • Hardcover: $6.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 9-12
  • Read Aloud: 8-9
  • Read Alone: 10+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the writing is elegant and the story a page-turner. But if animals or Victoriana are not your child's interest, it may not please.

Families can talk about treatment of animals. How has the treatment of horses changed since this book was written?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

The book describes the cruelties that animals suffer at the hands of humans. Horses are mistreated.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Amy Brotman

Heartwrenching, beautiful and educational, this morality tale and animal autobiography gives a majestic horse a voice that is believable and unsentimental. An animal rights classic that is also a great read, BLACK BEAUTY follows the life of an ebony horse from birth to old age, from pasture to cobblestone streets of 19th century England.



Is it any good?

4

The first full-length book told from a horse's viewpoint is a heartbreaking tale of the cruelties, both malicious and inadvertent, that animals suffer at the hands of humans. It's also a book of sensuous writing which can take the reader from the beauty of a spring country evening to the coal-coated world of Victorian London. In between there are moments of real excitement.

Anna Sewell was a devout Quaker, and there is a spare Quaker ethic running through the novel, encouraging the value of hard work without complaint, as well as a humble countenance. She was also crippled and in ill heath, and her own horse and carriage served as her legs. A friend was so impressed with the wordless bond between Sewell and her horse that she passed on an early animal rights essay to her, which Sewell used as a source of inspiration in writing this book.

This book eventually influenced the abolition of the cruel bearing rein, kicked off the animal-rights movement, and forced more humane treatment of London's human cabbies.

While the book is beloved by animal-loving children around the world, some 21st-century children may find the gentle sermons on the humane treatment of animals, as well as Beauty's loyal attitude to even the most cruel human, a bit out of date. But most kids will feel like one ten-year-old, who whispered, "I learned what it feels like to be an animal ... and I cried."

Other choices

For another horse story, readers should check out The King of the Wind. The Little Princess echoes BLACK BEAUTY in setting and its morality tale about abuses of power.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

5


Posted on 11/12/07 by apuddy Kid contributor, age 14

i loved it!

it was the best book i have ever read!
5


Posted on 08/07/07 by moviegeek Kid contributor, age 15

I couldn't put it down!

I was fully expecting to hate this novel, but I found that I couldn't put it down. For some reason, the thoughts of a horse captivated me and I was totally engrossed in the story. It really teaches a lesson about animal cruelty and everyone should at least give it a try. Even if you don't think you'll like it, you may be surprised.
0

Posted on 08/12/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 06/30/05 by PinkGirl4Life1 Adult contributor
5

Posted on 06/30/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

At first it starts off slow but it gets better...it is a must read!!!

Its a great book but like i said it starts off slow and somewhat boring but it definately gets better and i totally reccomend it.I even grew to love Black Beauty and his friend Ginger...infact when she died a cried.this is a great book showing how some foolish idiots misuse their animals and over-work then and i for one am a horse lover so hearing this made me think about it.today we don't see as much with horses because times have changed but it still happens among other animals.anyway this book is a definate must read! i totally suggest it for people ages 8-100.Its awesome!!!
4


Posted on 03/16/05 by heatherfeather Adult contributor

See all 11 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 9 reviews.

0

Posted on 08/12/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

0

Posted on 07/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 06/30/05 by PinkGirl4Life1 Adult contributor
5

Posted on 06/30/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

At first it starts off slow but it gets better...it is a must read!!!

Its a great book but like i said it starts off slow and somewhat boring but it definately gets better and i totally reccomend it.I even grew to love Black Beauty and his friend Ginger...infact when she died a cried.this is a great book showing how some foolish idiots misuse their animals and over-work then and i for one am a horse lover so hearing this made me think about it.today we don't see as much with horses because times have changed but it still happens among other animals.anyway this book is a definate must read! i totally suggest it for people ages 8-100.Its awesome!!!
4


Posted on 03/16/05 by heatherfeather Adult contributor
3


Posted on 03/10/05 by frogger Adult contributor
See all 9 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 11/12/07 by apuddy Kid contributor, age 14

i loved it!

it was the best book i have ever read!
5


Posted on 08/07/07 by moviegeek Kid contributor, age 15

I couldn't put it down!

I was fully expecting to hate this novel, but I found that I couldn't put it down. For some reason, the thoughts of a horse captivated me and I was totally engrossed in the story. It really teaches a lesson about animal cruelty and everyone should at least give it a try. Even if you don't think you'll like it, you may be surprised.
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