Black Beauty

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Author(s)

Anna Sewell

Genre(s)

General Fiction

Age Range

ISBN

0517189585

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When his beloved owners are forced to sell him, Black Beauty leaves his life as a young, care-free colt behind him and embarks on a working life of misery. Cruelly treated by his new masters, Anna Sewell rails against animal mistreatment in this poignant tale of a horse whose spirit can not be broken.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A Sweeping Saga

January 31, 2012

Overall rating

4.5

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This is the story of Black Beauty, a gorgeous colt with so much promise, he is the apple of his owner's eye until something happens and Black Beauty must be sold. Thus begins the sometimes exhilarating, sometimes scary and often sad journey of Black Beauty through the world. He changes owners several times, and some treat him better than others. In the end, he finds redemption and peace.

It's a lovely story, though sad in many places. I really enjoyed that the story is told from Black Beauty's perspective. I think the style of writing might be overly detailed for what today's modern reader is used to (It IS a classic ...), but it's a story worth reading nonetheless. As a horse lover, I ate this up, and I highly recommend it to any young reader.

CJ Redwine, Site and Staff Manager Top 10 Reviewer 406 reviews

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6 reviews

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Black Beauty Summary/Review

October 29, 2012

Overall rating

5.0

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Black Beauty is about the life of a handsome black horse. Black Beauty’s life story is full of ups, downs, horrible grooms, gentle masters, and amazing friends. The story starts with his first home and ends with his last. In the adventure in between we see his hardships and his luck. We see an ancient world through the eyes of a gentle stallion. We see the viciousness of the world around Beauty, and all the good people can bring if they go against it. Beauty learns to be a loyal companion. Even when his masters mistreat him; Beauty somehow finds a someplace in his heart to forgive them.

Good Points

This book is very good. It’s not full of action, but it’s an adventure just the same. Black Beauty has it’s thrilling moments as well as boring moments. It’s the perfect book to just settle down on the couch with. Anna Sewell had created a beautiful, classical, novel. Black Beauty was wonderful and I couldn’t put it down. A definite must read.

Lexi

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Summary/Review of a Classic!

October 09, 2012

Overall rating

5.0

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Black Beauty is a novel about the life of a horse told in his own eyes. The story follows Black Beauty’s hard life where he wasn’t always treated kindly. As he goes through the hands of different owners, he learns how to be loyal even if he is not treated nicely. When Black Beauty goes through all these experiences, he encounters illness and injury as well as having a good home and a good life. When you read this book, you will experience all these things and ride right along Black Beauty’s side!

Good Points

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I loved how Anna Sewell makes you feel what Black Beauty feels at that moment. I also liked how she explains all of the gear the horses have to wear. She describes their feelings about the gear, like if they prefer a special type of rein and things similar to that. The last thing I liked was that she explained things that happened around that time. For example, it says that almost every man drank and then rode their horses too hard. These are many things that made me love this book!

Chloe

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Beautiful!

April 07, 2009

Overall rating

5.0

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Reader reviewed by Jessica

Very Beautiful and touching in so many ways. I am a huge horse lover and if you are one just as I am, then this book will definately touch your heart. It did the first time I read it which was about two years ago. I think the book was wonderful. Yes, it was sad in some parts, but very beautiful and very touching. And, another reason I think it was cool is because it was actually told in the horses point of view. And, it is kind of sad because it seems like no one wants this horse because it is getting passed around from family to family. I think it was told in a wonderful way though.

Guest #1 Reviewer

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Moving

March 20, 2008

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Jennifer

Black Beauty is a different kind of book. It tells the story of a horse throughout his life. The twist is that the horse,Black Beauty, will be telling it. He tells of his childhood, to being ridden, to being sold to many different people. He meets friends, and they eventually leave him. This is an very sad book that will wretch your heart if your a horse lover like I am. I loved the book many times, though I did cry the first time I read it. It is good for anyone who loves horses, and heart wrentching stories.

Guest #1 Reviewer

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a classic, of course

December 04, 2007

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by joanne

I read Black Beauty when I was very young. It instantly became one of my favorite books of all time. Black Beauty is a touching story of a horses life...told from a horses point of view! This story is interesting; it grips you from the first. A treasure in itself, this book has a simple plot, but is both beautiful and wonderful.

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An animal story

August 11, 2006

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Marietta

Black Beauty is handsome and spirited, with a sweet temper.
When he is four years old he is sold to a new owner who gently breaks him in. He is no longer free to gallop around the fields yet there is happiness and adventure among the hardship as his situation changes from being a carriage horse on a country estate to a cab horse in town. At the same time he is aware that his well-being and future fate depend very much on the kindness or cruelty of his various masters.

Black Beauty is written in a wonderful and touching way, showing the ill-treatment of horses at the hands of their owners. When I read the book I enjoyed it very much, but felt sad and sorry that such things really have happened to these beautiful and noble animals.

Guest #1 Reviewer