Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse (1877)

A heartwarming tale told from the perspective of a horse named Black Beauty whose courage and perseverance sustain him as he travels from one owner to the next, often experiencing cruelty and mistreatment.

I have always loved classic children's literature and have read much of it. This particular book is one of my favorites and I think it is equally good when you it as an adult or as a child. The characters are engaging and realistic and the story draws you in. ( )

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- lillies 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 masters 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.

One that I never read in childhood, but it really is very good. Narrated by the eponymous horse, this follows him through a succession of homes, good and bad; he tells the stories of horses he meets along the way, and draws the reader's attention to the evils of certain horse tack; uncaring drivers; and the economic clime, whereby impoverished coachmen are forced to overwork their animals to make ends meet.
I picked up a sense that this could well be said to picture slavery (Ms Sewell was an abolitionist)...the good ...and the cruel masters, the overwork and brutality... ( )

I don't know how I missed this as a child when I used to read all the Marguerite Henry books about horses. I learned so much about taking care of horses and what they must go through. I'm not even sure if I want to ride one again. Fortunately, we do not have to depend on them for transportation anymore. I liked how Jerry stood his ground of not working on Sunday, and then was rewarded in the end. The writing was good and the book would probably appeal to anyone who is interested in horses from older child to adult. ( )