Other editions of book Classic Starts®: Black Beauty

Black Beauty is a novel by English author Anna Sewell written around 1877. The story is told in the first person and is a fictional autobiographical memoir told from the perspective of a horse named Black Beauty. The story follow this horses life, from his young days on an English farm with his mother, to the more dreadful years of pulling cabs in London, and ending with his happy retirement in the country. The book at the time of its publication, somewhat inadvertently helped gain justice for mistreated animals (specifically horses) in the London cab industry, as well as to help those cab drivers combat unfair government regulations. It has sold over 50 million copies making one of the best-selling books of all time.

Black Beauty is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she remained in her house as an invalid. The novel became an immediate best-seller, with Sewell dying just five months after its publication, but having lived long enough to see her only novel become a success. With fifty million copies sold, Black Beauty is one of the best-selling books of all time. While forthrightly teaching animal welfare, it also teaches how to treat people with kindness, sympathy, and respect.

“Do you know why this world is as bad as it is?... It is because people think only about their own business, and won't trouble themselves to stand up for the oppressed, nor bring the wrong-doers to light... My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.” “Only ignorance! only ignorance! how can you talk about only ignorance? Don't you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness? -- and which does the most mischief heaven only knows. If people can say, `Oh! I did not know, I did not mean any harm,' they think it is all right.” “There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast it is all a sham - all a sham, James, and it won't stand when things come to be turned inside out and put down for what they are.” “He said cruelty was the devil's own trade-mark, and if we saw any one who took pleasure in cruelty we might know who he belonged to, for the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and a tormentor to the end. On the other hand, where we saw people who loved their neighbors, and were kind to man and beast, we might know that was God's mark.”

Black Beauty is the autobiography of a horse. This gentle book follows the life of a well bred horse, from his early childhood in a pleasant meadow, through a myriad of owners-some kind and some cruel-until fate returns him to the meadow in which he was born. A wonderful story that will remain with you and your child. This edition is lavishly illustrated with twelve illustrations by Sabrina Kelsey.

Come with Black Beauty on the journey of a lifetime. Told through the eyes of the stallion, follow Black Beauty from life on a country estate to the harsh streets of London as a cab horse. There's hardship and friendship, kindness and cruelty, but above all else, love. A memorable story, a favorite for animal lovers of all ages.About the Series: Oxford Children's Classics presents original and unabridged stories that both children and parents love in beautifully designed editions. Included with each story are bonus materials, including reviews and reading recommendations, fun author profiles, quizzes, and more! Embark on a whole new world of adventure with the classics.

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