Black Beauty
Over fifty stunning illustrations from acclaimed artist Christian Birmingham bring this treasured classic new life. When Black Beauty was born one sweet spring day, he could not have imagined the life ahead of him. Following his mother's advice to do his work with a good will, he enjoys the adventures of country and city life, makes new friends, and suffers from the cruelty and greed of his human masters. Beauty faces each challenge with bravery and kindness -- and then a chance encounter with an old friend brings him the greatest joy of all. Anna Sewell's classic horse story has captivated generations of readers since it was first published 140 years ago. This enchanting edition features the full unabridged text and Christian Birmingham's gorgeous color and black-and-white illustrations depicting Beauty's nineteenth-century world.
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Community Reviews
A charming tale of a beautiful black horse and animal abuse. The End.
I never read Black Beauty as a child, but I watched a (poor production) VHS of it around the age of seven. I remember nothing except pastures and a scene where a horse gets whipped in the street to the point of collapse. While I'm sure I wasn't clapping with enthusiasm, I do know that I was not traumatized by this.
Some children's books are more horrifying to me as an adult. This book is (heavily) peppered by mistreatment - no, downright abuse - to horses. They are overworked, they are underfed, they are neglected, they are whipped/beaten.
To be punished and abused when I was doing my very best was so hard it took the heart out of me.
Our reliable narrator, a gorgeous, well-bred horse originally named Black Beauty (the name changes as the owners change), takes us through his life. We learn about his various owners, their neighbors, other horses that he meets, etc. We are told how a bit feels in a horse's mouth. He tells us of the goodness in those that are good and the badness of those that are bad. I am one of those people that believes you can tell a person's character by the way they treat animals in the same way that some believe you can tell a person's character by the way they treat the waiter (I believe this as well). Black Beauty seems to believe this, too.
A classic that is a classic for a dang good reason and that will continue to be read long after the time period - that time before horses were (thankfully) replaced by automobiles.
I never read Black Beauty as a child, but I watched a (poor production) VHS of it around the age of seven. I remember nothing except pastures and a scene where a horse gets whipped in the street to the point of collapse. While I'm sure I wasn't clapping with enthusiasm, I do know that I was not traumatized by this.
Some children's books are more horrifying to me as an adult. This book is (heavily) peppered by mistreatment - no, downright abuse - to horses. They are overworked, they are underfed, they are neglected, they are whipped/beaten.
To be punished and abused when I was doing my very best was so hard it took the heart out of me.
Our reliable narrator, a gorgeous, well-bred horse originally named Black Beauty (the name changes as the owners change), takes us through his life. We learn about his various owners, their neighbors, other horses that he meets, etc. We are told how a bit feels in a horse's mouth. He tells us of the goodness in those that are good and the badness of those that are bad. I am one of those people that believes you can tell a person's character by the way they treat animals in the same way that some believe you can tell a person's character by the way they treat the waiter (I believe this as well). Black Beauty seems to believe this, too.
A classic that is a classic for a dang good reason and that will continue to be read long after the time period - that time before horses were (thankfully) replaced by automobiles.
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