“Good Luck is rather particular who she drives with, and mostly prefers those who have got common sense and a good heart…”
Black Beauty was my March read for #classiclitbookclub. 🤎 I’m pretty sure I’ve read this before, but not for many, many years—and definitely not with the same understanding I have now.
Also, how pretty is this Wordsworth Collector’s Edition ? ✨ It’s such a lovely one to have on the shelf and made the whole reading experience feel a bit more special.
Told through Beauty’s own voice, I slipped so easily into his world, starting from his early days as a young colt. 🐎 It’s set in a time when horses were part of everyday life—used for work, travel, and everything in between—and honestly… I wasn’t quite prepared for how differently they were treated.
Some owners showed real kindness and care, but far too many were cruel, pushing them harder and harder just to get more out of them. 💔 It made parts of this really difficult to read at times.
I absolutely loved his kinder owners—the ones who gave him extra straw to sleep on, warm bran mash in the cold, and genuine affection. 🥹 Those moments felt so comforting, especially against the harsher ones where he was overworked or neglected.
It’s such a simple story in a way, but also really powerful. It highlights that bond between humans and animals so beautifully, and just reminds you that kindness and patience go such a long way. 🤍
If you’re an animal lover (especially horses), this one is definitely worth picking up. Just maybe go in expecting a few emotional moments. 🥺✨
About the Book
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Black Beauty is a perennial children's favourite, one which has never been out of print since its publication in 1877. It is a moralistic tale of the life of the horse related in the form of an autobiography, describing the world through the eyes of the creature. In taking this anthropomorphic approach, the author Anna Sewell broke new literary ground and her effective storytelling ability makes it very easy for the reader to accept the premise that a horse is recounting the exploits in the narrative. The gentle thoroughbred, Black Beauty, is raised with care and is treated well until a vicious groom injures him. The damaged horse is then sold to various masters at whose hands he experiences cruelty and neglect. After many unpleasant episodes, including one where he becomes a painfully overworked cab horse in London, Black Beauty finally canters towards a happy ending. Although Anna Sewell's classic is set firmly in the Victorian period, its message is universal and timeless: animals will serve humans well if they are treated with consideration and kindness.
About Anna
Anna Sewell (1820- 1878) is the well-acclaimed author of the children’s novel, Black Beauty which sold over fifty million copies world-wide. Born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England to parents, Mary Wright Sewell and Isaac Phillip Sewell. When Anna was fourteen years old, she suffered a severe ankle injury in a fall which left her unable to walk without crutches for the rest of her life. She directed all her energy and focus towards writing and her love of literature. She began to write poetry and short stories, many of which were published in local newspapers and magazines. The book was finally published in 1877 when Sewell was fifty-seven years old, just a year before her death. While Sewell did not live to see the immense impact and popularity that her book created but she left behind a rich legacy which inspired people to be more compassionate towards animals and advocate for their rights.
