Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Table of Contents

Summary

The book is an autobiographic tale written in 1885 by Anna Sewell, a lady crippled from a young age (Francis, 2007). As a result, she understood horses well owing to enormous exposure and interaction she had with horses. The Book is an autobiography written from the perspective of a horse. The tale follows the life of a majestic horse from its birth through to its later years. The setting of the animal tale begins from the pastures to the streets of a town in modern England. The story begins with the birth of a horse named black beauty, in a meadow. Black Beauty spends time with his mother, who teaches him to behave well, in order to receive fair treatment from others. His master sells him to Squire Gordon, who loves horses and treats them well. Black Beauty meets James Howard and John Manly, lovely, neat, and efficient grooms.

Beauty spends three years at the ranch and makes with other horses, Ginger, Sir Oliver, and Merrylegs before Mr. Gordon sells him along with Ginger to Earlshall Park, where animal life is hard because of cruel treatment. From there, the horses move from one master to the other going through harsh treatments. While working for Jerry, a hardworking cab driver, Beauty witnesses his friend, Ginger, die from mistreatment and work overload. Black Beauty finally arrives at a farm, in which his old groom, Joe Green, works. Green recognizes him, and Beauty ends his life in happiness and peace.

Response

Black Beauty is a heartbreaking account of the cruel nature of humans against animals. It is a first book of its kind written from the perspective of an animal, and, hence, captures the imagination of the reader and the public in a novel way. It is an exemplary animal rights advocacy tool. The book is an exceptional piece of literature that begins with the theme. Sewell begins saying it was when she “was young that she first realized that life was cruel”. It takes the reader from the beauty of a spring county to the coal regions of Victorian England. Throughout the novel, Anna Sewell encourages humble countenance and hard work, the principles that define her Quaker religious ethics. The book had a significant impact in advocacy of the rights of animals. It fueled the animal rights movement and encouraged a humane treatment of England’s human cabbies.

The book is dear to children who love animals around the world. From the book, children appreciate what it is like to be an animal. It is a novel way to teach values to young children, and foster the need to respect nature. Sewell uses a creative way of human and animal interaction, by giving human names to horses. In this regard, a reader feels hardship and human cruelty from the perspective of the horse. Anna Sewell uses an extremely straightforward language and a consistent the point of view. The book develops at a relatively relaxing pace without necessarily becoming monotonous. Anna Sewell remains true to the perspective of the book and explores the human characters at a distant. This benefits the perspective of the horse, which the author gives a closer feel. However, for some readers, the gentle sermons and the book’s loyalty to even to cruel humans are out of date. It is a common expectation that humans do not tolerate cruelty, but Anna’s view is from a religious point of view. Religious values teach tolerance. In view of this concern, the book may not appeal to the modern reader.

Conclusion

The book fosters the emphasis on the philosophy of human values. Sewell’s contribution paved way for progress in the fight for animal rights. It appeals to the young people, who are the principal audience, but it also carries a message for adults, who are the causes of cruelty.

Reference

Francis, Pauline. (2007). “Black Beauty”. London: Evans Brothers Limited.

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