Black Beauty (Illustrated by Robert L. Dickey)

First published in 1877, “Black Beauty” is Anna Sewell’s classic tale of a horse living in 19th century England. Having been injured in early childhood, Anna Sewell would have difficulty walking for most of her life. As such she had to rely on horse-drawn carriages to get around. It was this experience that inspired her love of horses. “Black Beauty” is a fictional autobiography told from the perspective of the horse. This use of an anthropomorphic protagonist was ground-breaking for its time. The novel follows the story of a young colt through his life, from his early carefree days with his mother on an English farm, to his difficult life pulling cabs in London, and ultimately to his happy retirement in the countryside. Black Beauty’s experiences are one of both cruelty and kindness as he passes from master to master. The novel masterfully explores the relation between men and animals and strives to impress upon the reader that all animals should be treated with kindness and compassion. An instant bestseller ever since its original publication, “Black Beauty” has inspired millions of readers with its endearing story and compassionate plea for the ethical treatment of animals. This edition is illustrated by Robert L. Dickey.