Classic
Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell
Summary
The horse Black Beauty narrates his own life, passing from a gentle upbringing in an English meadow through a succession of owners kind and cruel, including grinding service as a London cab horse. Sewell uses his voice to expose casual cruelties, from the fashionable bearing rein to overwork, and to argue for simple decency toward working animals. The novel effectively invented the animal autobiography and changed how readers thought about the creatures that powered their world.
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Historical Context & Significance
Sewell wrote the book while an invalid and died months after its publication in 1877, living just long enough to see its success begin. It sold millions of copies and directly influenced animal welfare reforms in Britain and America.