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Black Beauty (Illustrated): The 1877 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations
Experience Anna Sewell's beloved classic exactly as readers first discovered it in 1877—complete, unabridged, and brought to life with Lucy Kemp-Welch's original artwork that captured the nobility and emotion of horses throughout Beauty's journey.
Inside This Edition
20+ Original Lucy Kemp-Welch Illustrations – Beautiful artwork by the celebrated horse painter capturing Beauty's world with authenticity and emotionComplete & Unabridged 1877 Text – Every word as Anna Sewell originally wrote itReader-Friendly Layout – Perfect for animal-loving readers, family read-alouds, and classic literature enthusiastsComprehension Quiz at the End – Test your knowledge of Black Beauty, Ginger, Merrylegs, and their stories after reading
About the Book
Black Beauty tells his own story—from idyllic days as a young colt on an English farm through years of service to many masters, some kind and others cruel. At Birtwick Park, he finds friendship with the spirited Ginger and wise Merrylegs under the care of the compassionate Squire Gordon. But when circumstances force his sale, Beauty endures the painful bearing rein, the brutal streets of London as a cab horse, and the whip of harsh masters. Through it all, he maintains his gentle nature while witnessing the tragic fates of horses less fortunate, until a final chance encounter brings hope for kindness and home.
A treasured edition for animal lovers, classic literature collectors, families seeking meaningful stories, and anyone wanting to experience the groundbreaking novel that changed how the world treats animals.
Inside This Edition
20+ Original Lucy Kemp-Welch Illustrations – Beautiful artwork by the celebrated horse painter capturing Beauty's world with authenticity and emotionComplete & Unabridged 1877 Text – Every word as Anna Sewell originally wrote itReader-Friendly Layout – Perfect for animal-loving readers, family read-alouds, and classic literature enthusiastsComprehension Quiz at the End – Test your knowledge of Black Beauty, Ginger, Merrylegs, and their stories after reading
About the Book
Black Beauty tells his own story—from idyllic days as a young colt on an English farm through years of service to many masters, some kind and others cruel. At Birtwick Park, he finds friendship with the spirited Ginger and wise Merrylegs under the care of the compassionate Squire Gordon. But when circumstances force his sale, Beauty endures the painful bearing rein, the brutal streets of London as a cab horse, and the whip of harsh masters. Through it all, he maintains his gentle nature while witnessing the tragic fates of horses less fortunate, until a final chance encounter brings hope for kindness and home.
A treasured edition for animal lovers, classic literature collectors, families seeking meaningful stories, and anyone wanting to experience the groundbreaking novel that changed how the world treats animals.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2024
60 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Anna Sewell
518 books994 followersAnna Sewell was an English novelist who wrote the 1877 novel Black Beauty, her only published work. It is considered one of the top ten best-selling novels for children, although the author intended it for adults. Sewell died only five months after the publication of Black Beauty, but long enough to see her only novel become a success.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 8, 2024
Timeless Classic
Having read this novel as a child, I was delighted to find it again. Sewell wrote the story to highlight the polar opposites of how horses were treated in a time when they were an everyday necessity. As Black Beauty’s story unfolds, told by the horse itself, it provokes emotions in the reader. This is a classic of English literature, written so beautifully, and the illustrations are a charming addition that harks back to a time when books were so very cherished.
Having read this novel as a child, I was delighted to find it again. Sewell wrote the story to highlight the polar opposites of how horses were treated in a time when they were an everyday necessity. As Black Beauty’s story unfolds, told by the horse itself, it provokes emotions in the reader. This is a classic of English literature, written so beautifully, and the illustrations are a charming addition that harks back to a time when books were so very cherished.
January 26, 2025
All I can say is wow! I honestly did not expect to be able to follow this book as well as I did considering when it was written. I will say that this is a book that is easier to follow compared to some other books written in the time period or close to this time period. This book has caused me to completely rethink how I feel about horses. Yes, I know this is a work of fiction, but there is just something about the way this story is told that really gets through to you. It just makes you question things in general when it comes to the treatment of animals.
While the main theme of this book is encouraging the humane treatment of animals, I did not feel like this book was lecturing me in any way. I think that in large part is because the story is told through Black Beauty's point of view. I also think that is what made it so impactful as well. I am glad that I picked up this book even though it is not something that I typically read. I am willing to admit that when I saw that this book was written in the late 1800s my expectations were low. That is mostly because as I mentioned sometimes the story can be hard to follow because of how different the writing style is. I am happy that this book was easy to follow or I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much.
While the main theme of this book is encouraging the humane treatment of animals, I did not feel like this book was lecturing me in any way. I think that in large part is because the story is told through Black Beauty's point of view. I also think that is what made it so impactful as well. I am glad that I picked up this book even though it is not something that I typically read. I am willing to admit that when I saw that this book was written in the late 1800s my expectations were low. That is mostly because as I mentioned sometimes the story can be hard to follow because of how different the writing style is. I am happy that this book was easy to follow or I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much.
March 27, 2025
Some books stay with you forever. Black Beauty isn’t just a childhood favourite of mine; it’s a book that has woven itself into my life, read and reread so many times that I now own three copies. As a child, I was so obsessed that my parents took me to Anna Sewell’s doll-like house in Great Yarmouth because obsession is the only fitting response to a story this powerful.
Forget what you think you know about Black Beauty. If you’ve never held it in your hands and truly read it, then you don’t understand it at all. This isn’t just a book about a horse; it’s a groundbreaking literary masterpiece, a voice for the voiceless, and one of the most moving accounts of kindness, cruelty, and resilience ever written. Speaking through the eyes of an animal, Sewell shattered the divide between human and beast, forcing us to look at the world and ourselves differently.
I read it again this week because I feel cast adrift after the death of my elderly mum. This book tethers me to her with our enduring love of horses, it’s our book!
Sewell’s book will break your heart. It will fill you with hope. And in a world drowning in hate and political nonsense, it’s a reminder of the power of empathy, the beauty of compassion, and the unbreakable spirit of those who endure.
Forget what you think you know about Black Beauty. If you’ve never held it in your hands and truly read it, then you don’t understand it at all. This isn’t just a book about a horse; it’s a groundbreaking literary masterpiece, a voice for the voiceless, and one of the most moving accounts of kindness, cruelty, and resilience ever written. Speaking through the eyes of an animal, Sewell shattered the divide between human and beast, forcing us to look at the world and ourselves differently.
I read it again this week because I feel cast adrift after the death of my elderly mum. This book tethers me to her with our enduring love of horses, it’s our book!
Sewell’s book will break your heart. It will fill you with hope. And in a world drowning in hate and political nonsense, it’s a reminder of the power of empathy, the beauty of compassion, and the unbreakable spirit of those who endure.
September 3, 2024
Enduring Classic for a reason!
Loved this book as a horse crazy child and after reading it again as an adult I still love it. Tells the story of Black Beauty through his eyes - from a young colt till he is old. All the various owners and the treatment he received from each. I wish anyone that ever owned or wanted to own an animal read this book as it shows how important compassion & treating animals is. Quiz at the end was a nice addition.
Loved this book as a horse crazy child and after reading it again as an adult I still love it. Tells the story of Black Beauty through his eyes - from a young colt till he is old. All the various owners and the treatment he received from each. I wish anyone that ever owned or wanted to own an animal read this book as it shows how important compassion & treating animals is. Quiz at the end was a nice addition.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews