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    The Children's Book Review

    Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell | Book Review

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze3 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Animal Books Best Kids Stories Novels for Kids and Teens Teens: Young Adults
    Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Book Review
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    Book Review of Black Beauty
    The Children’s Book Review

    Black Beauty: Book Cover

    Black Beauty

    Written by Anna Sewell

    Ages 10+ | 288 Pages

    Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd | ISBN-13: 9781840227871

    What to Expect: Horses, Animal Welfare, Kindness, and Classic Literature

    Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of young and old readers for over a century. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Sewell’s masterful storytelling and the poignant message at the novel’s heart.

    Through the eyes of Black Beauty, readers are transported to a world filled with hardship, compassion, and hope. Sewell’s choice to tell the story from the horse’s perspective was a groundbreaking literary approach that paved the way for future writers to explore the interior lives of animals. The themes explored in the novel are just as relevant today as they were in the Victorian era, as we continue to grapple with issues of animal welfare.

    Black Beauty is a lovely black horse that begins his career as a carriage horse, but when he is injured, his wealthy owner decides that he is no longer good enough to be a carriage horse. From that moment, he is passed from owner to owner and endures lots of hard work. Even though many inhumane things happen to Black Beauty at the hands of unkind humans, he lives up to his name both outside and inside, remaining a kind and respectful horse.

    This story of his life from birth to old age is so beautifully descriptive that everything from his sprightly days as a colt in a farm pasture to a hard life pulling taxicabs on cobblestone paths in London can be readily envisioned. Each chapter carries an important message about animal welfare, kindness, and respect—and is filled with plenty of page-turning suspense, including a stable fire, a dangerous bridge, and a slew of memorable characters.

    This Collector’s Edition of Black Beauty pays tribute to the beauty and elegance of this beloved classic. Every detail of the book has been carefully considered. From the bespoke illustrations on the cloth-bound cover to the embossed gold and colored blocking, this edition is truly one-of-a-kind. The matching colored endpapers add an extra touch of luxury, making these books the perfect addition to any collector’s library and an excellent opportunity to experience this well-bred story that will reach your heart and stay with you forever.

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    About the Author

    Born into a deeply devout Quaker family, English author Anna Sewell is best known for her childhood classic Black Beauty. Critically injured as a child, Sewell was unable to walk without aid and became highly skilled at driving horse-drawn carriages. These close interactions with horses led to an interest in their ethical treatment and inspired Black Beauty, which was written in declining health late in her life, and which remains her only novel. Sewell died of hepatitis in 1878.

    Anna Sewell: author head-shot

    What to Read Next If You Love Black Beauty

    • The Black Stallion, by Walter Farley
    • Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry
    • My Friend Flicka, by Mary O’Hara
    • The Georges and the Jewels, by Jane Smiley
    • A Books About Horses List
    • Kids’ Book For Horse Lovers

    Bianca Schulze reviewed Black Beauty. Discover more books like Black Beauty by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Animals and Classics.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH | Book Review
    2. The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, by Victoria Williamson | Book Review
    3. A Home for Goddesses and Dogs, by Leslie Connor | Dedicated Review
    4. The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Book Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Animal Rights Animals Anna Sewell Classics Horses Middle Grade Books Penguin Classics
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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