Name: Black Beauty
Author: Anna Sewell
ISBN: 9780191635786

Black Beauty

Anna Sewell

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Author Description

'I have heard men say, that seeing is believing; but I should say that feeling is believing.' Anna Sewell's famous 'Autobiography of a Horse, published in 1877, is one of the bestselling novels in English. It was written not for children, but to expose and prevent cruelty to horses, and is a classic of Victorian literature that continues to captivate readers young and old. Black Beauty's moving story recounts his idyllic colthood and his experiences at the hands of a variety of owners, good and bad. Describing his life as a horse in Victorian England, he tells of his equine companions and human carers, and of the unthinking brutality to which horses were often subjected. A sympathetic hero who faces danger and excitement, Black Beauty never wavers in his principles, and the powerful lessons he teaches influenced animal welfare in England and America. This edition restores the original 1877 text and explores the multiple ways in which the novel has been read: as accessible horse-care manual, protest novel, feminist text, autobiography, slave narrative, and classic animal story. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

The life of a horse named Black Beauty is transformed by the shifting hands of human owners, forcing him to navigate a world of both kindness and systemic cruelty. As the protagonist, Black Beauty recounts his life from his early days in a lush meadow to his grueling labor in the streets of London. He faces the physical constraints of his equine form and the logical limitations of his inability to communicate directly with his human masters. The narrative is presented as an autobiography, providing a unique perspective on the Victorian era's treatment of working animals through the eyes of the creature itself.

INSIDE THE PAGES

First-person equine perspective
Episodic narrative structure
Social critique of Victorian animal welfare
Moralistic tone regarding kindness and duty
Detailed depiction of 19th-century horse management
Contrast between idyllic and harsh environments
Character-driven vignettes of various human owners
Advocacy for humane treatment of animals

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the effectiveness of the narrative voice in fostering empathy for the animal protagonist. Discussion often centers on the book's dual identity as both a compelling story and a deliberate piece of social activism. Many observers note that while the prose is accessible to younger readers, the underlying themes regarding cruelty and class struggle offer significant depth for adults. The pacing is often described as steady, moving through various stages of the horse's life to illustrate the broader societal attitudes of the time. Readers consistently appreciate how the author balances the horse's internal moral code with the external realities of his difficult existence.

Page Count:
182

Publication Date:
2012-01-01

Publisher:
OUP Oxford

ISBN-10:
0191635782

ISBN-13:
9780191635786

English & College Success

English

classic

Animal

Historical

Social Commentary

Victorian