Black Beauty(Illustrated)

By Anna Sewell

• Illustrated Edition: Embellished with 15 exquisite illustrations, revitalizing this timeless tale.
• Inclusive Components: Accompanied by a summary, detailed characters list, and an enriching author biography.

Gallop through the vibrant, yet often unseen meadows and dark valleys of the 19th-century equine world with "Black Beauty," exquisitely brought to life in this unique illustrated edition. Anna Sewell’s literary classic, transcending generations and cultures, unveils the hauntingly beautiful and tumultuous life journey of a handsome horse, whose spirit remains unbroken despite the challenges fate trots his way.

Black Beauty, with his shimmering black coat and star-marked forehead, narrates his own life story, from the gentle breezes of his youthful days to the turbulent storms encountered in his varied roles under different masters. His path trots from the loving Farmer Grey, the kind Squire Gordon of Birtwick Hall, to cab drivers in bustling London – revealing an array of human characters through the innocent eyes of an animal. From genuine kindness to stark cruelty, the tales unfold, nurturing seeds of empathy, love, and respect towards all sentient beings in the heart of every reader.

As Beauty encounters companions like the fiery Ginger and jovial Merrylegs, he unravels stories within stories, providing not just a window but a mirror into our own humanity and moral choices. This illustrated edition immerses you into Beauty’s world with visuals that enhance and elevate the timeless narrative, ensuring a rich, evocative reading experience.

In addition to the enchanting tale, this edition serves as a comprehensive companion to "Black Beauty" enthusiasts, featuring a concise summary, a detailed character list, and an insightful biography of Anna Sewell, offering readers a panoramic view of the context and the woman behind this immortal narrative.

Journey through an epoch where the tales of a single horse whisper eternal truths about humanity, ethics, and the boundless landscapes of kindness and empathy. Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian, a classic literature lover, or a young reader embarking on your first literary adventure, "Black Beauty" promises a ride through emotions, experiences, and enlightenment, which will echo in the corridors of your conscience long after the last page is turned.

Steer your way into a world where every trot and gallop resounds with stories of love, lessons, struggles, and survival from a perspective rarely witnessed. Let Black Beauty be your guide in exploring not only the cobblestone streets and lush meadows of Victorian England but also the untamed and majestic terrains of compassion and moral choice.

Seize your ticket for a journey through time, seen through the eyes of a horse, and felt through the soul of humanity, in this unique illustrated edition of "Black Beauty".

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Micheal Smith
• Release date: Dec 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9791222484327

Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell (1820-1878) is a British novelist. Although she wrote a single book in her lifetime, Black Beauty (1877) has become one of the most beloved novels of all time. Due to an injury from a fall at 14 years old, Sewell became an invalid, and her resulting reliance on carriages led to her calling for the humane treatment of horses. Aside from her sole literary work, she assisted her mother in the editing of a series of popular children’s books.

Book preview

BLACK BEAUTY                    

BY                                

ANNA SEWELL

ABOUT SEWELL

Anna Sewell: The Unbridled Voice

Anna Sewell, born on March 30, 1820, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, emerged as an unbridled voice in a time when the societal and animal welfare notions were tightly constricted. Although largely recognized for her singular novel, Black Beauty, Sewell's journey is a tale studded with courage, resilience, and a profound empathy for non-human creatures, transcending the limitations her physical condition imposed upon her.

Anna’s early life was intertwined with the rustic charm and compelling narratives of the countryside, which notably imprinted upon her young, imaginative mind. With her quill gently caressed by the gentle winds of Norfolk and her spirit forever in discourse with the rural landscapes, Anna cultivated a deep-seated alliance with horses, animals that would eventually become the protagonists of her literary work.

Despite enduring a tragic accident at 14, which severely hindered her mobility, Anna's spirit remained unfettered. Her interactions with horses, especially those that assisted her transportation in the absence of her physical autonomy, cultivated a sincere appreciation and concern for these majestic creatures. Anna’s persistent health struggles did not deter her; rather, they deepened her resolve and empathy towards suffering, an emotion that prominently bled into her narratives.

Embarking on a journey toward literary creation, Anna's intimate conversations with her mother, Mary Wright Sewell, a successful children's book author, illuminated the nuances of narrative construction and storytelling. Absorbing the essence of her mother's literary insights and intertwining them with her own profound experiences, Anna began crafting a tale that spoke not just to her era, but would echo through the corridors of time.

Black Beauty, published in 1877 when Anna was 57, was not merely a novel; it was an impassioned plea for empathy towards the sentient beings that serve humanity with unspoken loyalty. Anna Sewell, through the lens of a horse, narrated a tale of tribulations and triumphs, seamlessly intertwining a moralistic stand on kindness, empathy, and understanding towards all living beings.

Though Anna was physically bound by her condition, her words galloped across continents, igniting a flame of awareness and compassion towards animals. Her legacy, deeply rooted in her unparalleled love for creatures and her unyielding spirit amidst adversity, unfolds as a testament that one's physicality is not a measure of one's ability to forge change.

Anna Sewell departed from this world on April 25, 1878, but her legacy perpetuates, eternally engraved in the annals of literary and social history. Her life symbolizes a confluence of gentle stoicism and fervent activism, teaching generations that one’s voice, regardless of its audible reach, can echo through eternity, advocating for benevolence, empathy, and the unspoken words of creatures beneath humanity's dominion.

In the world of literature and animal advocacy, Anna Sewell stands immortalized, her spirit forever meandering through the fields of change, compassion, and conscious coexistence.

SUMMARY

Black Beauty, penned by Anna Sewell, is a timeless masterpiece that transcends the mere bindings of a novel, whispering the delicate yet profound narratives of horses beneath the human yoke. Narrated by Black Beauty himself, a majestic black steed with a white star on his forehead, the novel intimately unveils the stark realities and multifaceted experiences of horses in 19th-century England.

From the tender pasture of his youth to the harsh cobblestones of bustling London, Black Beauty gracefully carries readers through a labyrinth of emotions, allowing them a glimpse into the heart and soul of an animal in service to man. His tale is one that traverses through serene meadows of kindness to harsh terrains of cruelty, revealing the myriad faces of humanity through the eyes of a non-human being.

It isn't merely a journey from one master to another but a voyage across varying landscapes of empathy, neglect, love, and hardship. Through the eloquent and heartfelt prose, Sewell successfully bridges the chasm between species, inviting readers to not only peer into the life and trials of a horse but to also reflect upon the ethical and moral dimensions of our relationship with animals.

The novel, while a tale of a horse's journey through the socio-economic echelons of human society, subtly and beautifully intertwines moral threads advocating for kindness, understanding, and respect towards all sentient beings. It is a vibrant tapestry of tales, some heartwarming and others heart-wrenching, offering readers not only a view into the world of horses but also a mirror reflecting our own humanity and the consequences of our actions.

Black Beauty is more than a classic; it is an eternal flame of empathy, a gentle reminder of the voiceless, and a tender call to awaken kindness in every reader’s soul. Even today, Black Beauty's tale continues to trot gracefully through the fields of our conscience, whispering tales of empathy, love, and undying spirit. It invites us to not only witness but to understand, to not merely observe but to feel, ensuring that the silent pleas of animals do not fall on deaf ears but find a home in compassionate hearts across generations and geographies.

CHARACTERS LIST

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a captivating tale that introduces readers to a myriad of characters, each contributing significantly to the storyline and the powerful messages conveyed through it. Below is a list of primary and secondary characters that play pivotal roles in unfolding the tapestry of Black Beauty's life journey:

Primary Characters:

Black Beauty: The protagonist and narrator, a handsome, well-mannered horse who experiences various owners and working conditions throughout his life.

John Manly: The coachman at Birtwick Hall, who is extremely kind and considerate towards horses. He is knowledgeable about horses and forms a close bond with Beauty.

James Howard: A stable boy at Birtwick Hall, who, under John’s guidance, learns the art of caring for and understanding horses.

Joe Green: Initially a stable boy who, despite a mistake in his youth, goes on to become a responsible and compassionate caretaker of horses.

Beauty’s Owners:

Farmer Grey: Beauty's first owner, who raises him with care and kindness.

Squire Gordon of Birtwick Hall: A gentle and compassionate owner who ensures all his horses are well-treated.

Earl of W: For a brief period, he leases Beauty and Ginger for the ladies of the house.

John York: A coachman during Beauty’s time at Earlshall Park.

Jeremiah Barker: Beauty's owner in Bath, where he is used as a cab horse.

Jerry Barker: A considerate and moral cab driver who treats Beauty with utmost kindness and respect.

Mrs. Fowler: A lady who buys Beauty for the sake of her sickly grandson.

Farmer Thoroughgood: A kind farmer who rehabilitates Beauty after a period of neglect.

Miss Blomefield, Miss Ellen, and Miss Lavinia: The final owners who treat Beauty with love and kindness.

Additional Characters:

Ginger: A spirited chestnut mare, who becomes Beauty’s close friend and shares several of his early adventures and misadventures.

Merrylegs: A good-natured, white pony at Birtwick Hall, beloved by everyone, especially the children.

Sir Oliver: An older horse at Birtwick Hall who shares his own tragic tale related to the cruel practice of docking horses' tails.

Rory: A horse that Beauty encounters, who shares his experiences as a cab horse and the impact of blinkers.

Reuben Smith: A skilled but alcoholic coachman who causes harm to Beauty during his period of negligence.

Various Other Characters:

Captain: A military horse who shares war stories with Beauty.

Hotspur: A feisty young horse that Jerry Barker considers buying.

Skinner: An abusive and negligent cab owner and driver.

Grant: A rude and aggressive coachman at Earlshall Park.

Jakes: A considerate carter who shows kindness to an overworked Beauty.

Contents

PART  1

Chapter 1. My Early Home

Chapter 2. The Hunt

Chapter 3. My Breaking In

Chapter 4. Birtwick Park

Chapter 5. A Fair Start

Chapter 6. Liberty

Chapter 7. Ginger

Chapter 8. Ginger's Story Continued

Chapter 9. Merrylegs

Chapter 10. A Talk In The Orchard

Chapter 11. Plain Speaking

Chapter 12. A Stormy Day

Chapter 13. The Devil's Trade Mark

Chapter 14. James Howard

Chapter 15. The Old Hostler

Chapter 16. The Fire

Chapter 17. John Manly's Talk

Chapter 18. Going For The Doctor

Chapter 19. Only Ignorance

Chapter 20. Joe Green

Chapter 21. The Parting

PART 2

Chapter 22. Earlshall

Chapter 23. A Strike For Liberty

Chapter 24. The Lady Anne, Or A Runaway Horse

Chapter 25. Reuben Smith

Chapter 26. How It Ended

Chapter 27. Ruined And Going Downhill

Chapter 28. A Job Horse And His Drivers

Chapter 29. Cockneys

Chapter 30. A Thief

Chapter 31. A Humbug

PART 3

Chapter 32. A Horse Fair

Chapter 33. A London Cab Horse

Chapter 34. An Old War Horse

Chapter 35. Jerry Barker

Chapter 36. The Sunday Cab

Chapter 37. The Golden Rule

Chapter 38. Dolly And A Real Gentleman

Chapter 39. Seedy Sam

Chapter 40. Poor Ginger

Chapter 41. The Butcher

Chapter 42. The Election

Chapter 43. A Friend In Need

Chapter 44. Old Captain And His Successor

Chapter 45. Jerry's New Year

PART 4

Chapter 46. Jakes And The Lady

Chapter 47. Hard Times

Chapter 48. Farmer Thoroughgood And His Grandson Willie

Chapter 49. My Last Home

PART 1

Chapter 1. My Early Home

The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it. Some shady trees leaned over it, and rushes and water-lilies grew at the deep end. Over the hedge on one side we looked into a plowed field, and on the other we looked over a gate at our master's house, which stood by the roadside; at the top of the meadow was a grove of fir trees, and at the bottom a running brook overhung by a steep bank.

While I was young I lived upon my mother's milk, as I could not eat grass. In the daytime I ran by her side, and at night I lay down close by her. When it was hot we used to stand by the pond in the shade of the trees, and when it was cold we had a nice warm shed near the grove.

As soon as I was old enough to eat grass my mother used to go out to work in the daytime, and come back in the evening.

There were six young colts in the meadow besides me; they were older than I was; some were nearly as large as grown-up horses. I used to run with them, and had great fun; we used to gallop all together round and round the field as hard as we could go. Sometimes we had rather rough play, for they would frequently bite and kick as well as gallop.

One day, when there was a good deal of kicking, my mother whinnied to me to come to her, and then she said:

I wish you to pay attention to what I am going to say to you. The colts who live here are very good colts, but they are cart-horse colts, and of course they have not learned manners. You have been well-bred and well-born; your father has a great name in these parts, and your grandfather won the cup two years at the Newmarket races; your grandmother had the sweetest temper of any horse I ever knew, and I think you have never seen me kick or bite. I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways; do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play.

I have never forgotten my mother's advice; I knew she was a wise old horse, and our master thought a great deal of her. Her name was Duchess, but he often called her Pet.

Our master was a good, kind man. He gave us good food, good lodging, and kind words; he spoke as kindly to us as he did to his little children. We were all fond of him, and my mother loved him very much. When she saw him at the gate she would neigh with joy, and trot up to him. He would pat and stroke her and say, Well, old Pet, and how is your little Darkie? I was a dull black, so he called me Darkie; then he would give me a piece of bread, which was very good, and sometimes he brought a carrot for my mother. All the horses would come to him, but I think we were his favorites. My mother always took him to the town on a market day in a light gig.

There was a plowboy, Dick, who sometimes came into our field to pluck blackberries from the hedge. When he had eaten all he wanted he would have what he called fun with the colts, throwing stones and sticks at them to make them gallop. We did not much mind him, for we could gallop off; but sometimes a stone would hit and hurt us.

One day he was at this game, and did not know that the master was in the next field; but he was there, watching what was going on; over the hedge he jumped in a snap, and catching Dick by the arm, he gave him such a box on the ear as made him roar with the pain and surprise. As soon as we saw the master we trotted up nearer to see what went on.

Bad boy! he said, bad boy! to chase the colts. This is not the first time, nor the second, but it shall be the last. There—take your money and go home; I shall not want you on my farm again. So we never saw Dick any more. Old Daniel, the man who looked after the horses, was just as gentle as our master, so we were well off.

Chapter 2. The Hunt

Before I was two years old a circumstance happened which I have never forgotten. It was early in the spring; there had been a little frost in the night, and a light mist still hung over the woods and meadows. I and the other colts were feeding at the lower part of the field when we heard, quite in the distance, what sounded like the cry of dogs. The oldest of the colts raised his head, pricked his ears, and said, There are the hounds! and immediately cantered off, followed by the rest of us to the upper part of the field, where we could look over the hedge and see several fields beyond. My mother and an old riding horse of our master's were also standing near, and seemed to know all about it.

They have found a hare, said my mother, and if they come this way we shall see the hunt.

And soon the dogs were all tearing down the field of young wheat next to ours. I never heard such a noise as they made. They did not bark, nor howl, nor whine, but kept on a yo! yo, o, o! yo! yo, o, o! at the top of their voices. After them came a number of men on horseback, some of them in green coats, all galloping as fast as they could. The old horse snorted and looked eagerly after them, and we young colts wanted to be galloping with them, but they were soon away into the fields lower down; here it seemed as if they had come to a stand; the dogs left off barking, and ran about every way with their noses to the ground.

They have lost the scent, said the old horse; perhaps the hare will get off.

What hare? I said.

Oh! I don't know what hare; likely enough it may be one of our own hares out of the woods; any hare they can find will do for the dogs and men to run after; and before long the dogs began their yo! yo, o, o! again, and back they came altogether at full speed, making straight for our meadow at the part where the high bank and hedge overhang the brook.

Now we shall see the hare, said my mother; and just then a hare wild with fright rushed by and made for the woods. On came the dogs; they burst over the bank, leaped the stream, and came dashing across the field followed by the huntsmen. Six or eight men leaped their horses clean over, close upon the dogs. The hare tried to get through the fence; it was too thick, and she turned sharp round to make for the road, but it was too late; the dogs were upon her with their wild cries; we heard one shriek, and that was the end of her. One of the huntsmen rode up and whipped off the dogs, who would soon have torn her to pieces. He held her up by the leg torn and bleeding, and all the gentlemen seemed well pleased.

As for me, I was so astonished that I did not at first see what was going on by the brook; but when I did look there was a sad sight; two fine horses were down, one was struggling in the stream, and the other was groaning on the grass. One of the riders was getting out of the water covered with mud, the other lay quite still.

His neck is broke, said my mother.

And serve him right, too, said one of the colts.

I thought the same, but my mother did not join with us.

Well, no, she said, you must not say that; but though I am an old horse, and have seen and heard a great deal, I never yet could make out why men are so fond of this sport; they often hurt themselves, often spoil good horses, and tear up the fields, and all for a hare or a fox, or a stag, that they could get more easily some other way; but we are only horses, and don't know.

While my mother was saying this we stood and looked on. Many of the riders had gone to the young man; but my master, who had been watching what was going on, was the first to raise him. His head fell back and