Fiction, Fiction - Animals, Children - Fiction & Literature, Fiction - People, Places & Cultures

Black Beauty

Name: Black Beauty
Author: Anna Sewell
ISBN: 9780099572930

by Anna Sewell

Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Overview

A handsome horse with a glossy black coat and a pretty white star on his forehead, Black Beauty seems to lead a charmed life. Although his mother warns him that there are 'bad, cruel men' in the world, he begins his life in a happy home, with a friendly groom to look after him and plenty to eat. However, when a change of circumstances means that he is sold, he soon discovers the truth of his mother's words. Anna Sewell's moving story is one of the best-loved animal adventures ever written.

About the Author, Anna Sewell

About the Author - Anna Sewell was an invalid who was dependent on horse-powered transport, and this gave her an intense appreciation for the horses and their plight. "Black Beauty" was largely born out of this concern, and became an effective treatise to improve working conditions for transport animals. Especially charming is the fact that the story is told from Beauty's point of view, a literary technique which was groundbreaking at the time. About the Illustrator - Bren is blessed to share her life with her awesome husband, Shon. Together they manage a children's camp in Carroll County, Maryland. They both work for Carroll County Public Library to support themselves, then return home to work at camp and make books and art. Bren also illustrated the captivating DragonTree series, with more installments to come from Old Line Publishing. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication/Photography from Towson University, and worked in the graphics field for eighteen years. Black Beauty is her fourth published illustrated book.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

From the Publisher

"One of the greatest books ever narrated by a horse, with a fine message: be kind to animals, and they'll be kind to you." —Michael Morpurgo, author, War Horse

VOYA

The historical sidebars in Black Beauty mostly deal with what English life in the nineteenth century was like, but a few specifically deal with horses. They can be distracting if you're trying to follow the story. Unless you're really interested in details of that time period, don't think that this book is any better than another version, although the illustrations might make it easier for younger readers to enjoy, $17.99 Trade pb. Illus. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P M (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2000, Viking/Penguin Putnam, 208p, $25.99. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer: Kristen Moreland, Teen Reviewer SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002 (Vol. 24, No.6)

Children's Literature

This summary of the Black Beauty story is profusely illustrated with full-color drawings of horses, clothing, and artifacts of Victorian England. An introduction explains the context of the story and its impact on the care and treatment of horses. Ten short chapters follow, carefully capturing the essence of the original book. Sidebars feature photographs and illustrations with descriptions of words and terms that may not be familiar to young readers. A glossary in the back contributes to further understanding. Some biographical information about Sewell is included. This is a good introduction to both the study of horses and the enjoyment of horse stories. 2000, DK, Ages 7 to 10, $12.95 and $3.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Anna Sewell's classic novel begins with Black Beauty's early days as a colt at his mother's side and follows him through each of his masters and jobs. It is written in a charmingly sophisticated voice that is easier for listeners to understand than to read; the language, tone, and sentence structure are a bit antiquated, suiting the time period in which the story was first published in 1877. Moral lessons are abundant in this tale told from the horse's point of view. A great deal of information about the nature and abilities of horses is imparted in a surprisingly grim first person narrative. The casual cruelty of man toward beast is expounded throughout the captivating story. Each character, man or horse, is compellingly and earnestly voiced by narrator Simon Vance. Sure to be popular with horse lovers.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.