By Anna Sewell (author) Part of the Puffin Classics series
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A truly timeless adventure of a horse with an unbreakable spirit and a bond that eventually goes almost full circle. Animal lovers will love the story of Black Beauty even though the tears will be almost as frequent as the smiles. An essential read. This is the paperback edition but if you’re looking for a gift purchase then look no further than the Everyman’s Library edition. We also rate very highly a new edition from Oxford Children’s Books .
Black Beauty is a marvellous animal, he lives a long, varied life and has many different owners who put him to all sorts of tasks, from being a riding and carriage horse on a country estate to a cab horse in town. His strength, sweet temper and fine instincts stay with him throughout his life.
Anna Sewell was born on March 30, 1820, in Norfolk, England.
From an early age she suffered from a chronic illness (believed to have been a severe form of lupus) which left her with limited mobility. As a result, she often relied on horse-drawn carriages for transportation. These experiences fostered in her a deep concern for the humane treatment of animals. Her mother, Mary Wright Sewell, was a successful children’s author, and Sewell assisted by editing her manuscripts, gaining valuable experience in writing.
Sewell wrote only one book, the enduring classic Black Beauty. An invalid for much of her life, she composed the novel during the final decade of her life while largely confined to her home. The story is narrated by the horse itself, recounting moments of both kindness and cruelty. This innovative, humanizing perspective helped make the novel a lasting success and contributed to changing public attitudes toward the treatment of animals.
Sewell’s mother took the manuscript to her own publishers, Jarrold & Sons, and Sewell received just £40 for the copyright. The book was published in time for Christmas 1877.
Now in the public domain, Black Beauty can be freely published, adapted, amended, and abridged.
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The Hundred and One Dalmatians
Oxford Children's Classics: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The Mystery of the Vanished Prince
The War of the Worlds
H G Wells - retold by Eric Brown
Jane Austen - retold by Gill Tavner
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Black Beauty (with an Introduction by Meg Rosoff) and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-10 years old
Black Beauty (with an Introduction by Meg Rosoff) features in the following genres: Classic Literature, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Recommended Children's eBooks, Recommendations, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. Not Available.
Black Beauty (with an Introduction by Meg Rosoff) was written by Anna Sewell and published by Penguin Books Ltd
Black Beauty (with an Introduction by Meg Rosoff) has 288 pages
Yes it is part of Puffin Classics series
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