black beauty book report summary

Black Beauty

By anna sewell.

• Black Beauty Summary

The story begins in a meadow of 19th century England, where the young horse, Black Beauty , has just been born. There, his mother nurtures him, raises him and gives him advice which he remembers and acts on for the rest of his life: do good and give your best effort always and everything will work out. The story of his life is this advice in living form. As his youngest days pass in that meadow, he witnesses the death of his own brother and a rider in a hunting accident. Soon after, he must undergo the breaking-in process where his trainer gently teaches him to bear a rider, wear a saddle and bridle and respond to the rider’s driving signals. After this coming-of-age training, he is ready to leave the meadow of his youth. He is sold to Squire Gordon , a man who takes a liking to this strong, young, beautifully dark coated horse. Squire Gordon’s residence, Birtwick Park, thus becomes Beauty’s new home. There he meets those who will become among his dearest friends: Ginger, Merrylegs , John Manly and James. John is his new coachman, and a good, wise, gentle old fellow. James and Joe, his two successive grooms, were also quite caring and well-intentioned. So he soon falls in love with his new home and is happy there, except for one problem: he misses his liberty. Never again is he left to do just as he wishes; instead, he will be ordered and ridden by this human or that human without break. The earliest days of his youth are over and he can no longer roam around meadows and spend his days resting with his mother anymore. Despite this loss of liberty, Beauty is still happy to be in this situation rather than a situation where the owner was cruel or neglectful, and soon enough he becomes accustomed to the life-long burden of servitude towards humans. One day when in conversation with his friends Ginger and Merrylegs, he hears stories of wicked masters. The former horse, a powerful, lively mare, tells of her harsh upbringing and how it scarred her for life to have a neglectful master. Thus the horses of Birtwick begin their long discussion amongst themselves concerning the faults in humans rule over horses and the cruelties horses often face.

Together, the horses point out some of the many flaws in the relationship between man and horse. Sir Oliver —an aged horse on Birtwick whose tail his masters cut off--argues that man mutilates the animals within their care in the name of fashion or looking sharp. So they cut tails off or they slice ears for aesthetic purposes. Doing this, he says, they cause a lot of pain and they also interfere with God’s creation, for the body parts that they cut off tend to have some function which they overlooked (like the horse’s tail functioning as a fly-swatter). The blinkers which drivers force horses to wear are similarly misguided: they prevent the horse from seeing and thus interfere with the way God created horses, as the horses point out. Humans should just leave their animals as they were meant to be and not attempt to change that.

As time passes, Black Beauty becomes a more trusted member of the estate. This is mostly due to the fact that one day, Beauty trusted his intuition in an emergency situation and saved the life of his master and driver. So he became a loved member of the hall, especially for John and James Howard his groom. Soon though, James receives word that a friend of Squire Gordon’s is looking for a skilled groom to work for him; the pay and prospect is considerable so with Gordon’s recommendation and John’s advice, James moves on to this new job, but not before another adventure with Beauty where James saves horses from a burning barn, further earning the praise and commendation of Squire Gordon. Joe Green is his replacement, a young, gentle fellow who does not know much about grooming but is eager to learn. One day, Beauty and John dash to a distant town to find a doctor that can come treat the Squire’s wife, who has taken ill. Beauty performs splendidly and it is likely that his speed in going and coming saves the lady’s life. However, in the aftermath of that he becomes ill when the well-intentioned Joe is unable to care for the exhausted horse properly. John becomes furious and when Joe’s father attempts to defend his son by saying it was just the boy’s ignorance and he meant no harm, John utters one of the key themes of the book: ignorance is as harmful as cruelty, despite whatever intentions the person has. But John eventually calms down, forgives Joe and becomes his mentor. Joe learns quickly and—after a touching experience of standing up for oppressed horses—he matures quite rapidly. Life continues happily until the Squire’s wife becomes ill again and the doctor advises them to leave the country for a healthier clime. Squire Gordon and his family thus leave and sell Merrylegs to one buyer and Ginger and Black Beauty to another buyer, the Earl of W----.

Beauty’s life in Earlshall, while not terrible, is nothing like Birtwick. At this hall his master’s wife demands that all her horses wear the check rein, a device which forcibly holds up the horse’s head, causing it lasting pain and undercutting its pulling strength. She forces the coachman— Mr. York —to put check reins on both Ginger and Beauty. Ginger eventually rebels against this measure and attempts to kick free but is subdued by the grooms. So the two horses become accustomed to this discomfort. When the family temporarily leaves the hall along with Mr. York, Reuben Smith becomes the temporary caretaker of the horses. This man is highly skilled and knowledgeable about taking care of horses, Beauty notes, yet he has one fatal flaw: he has a drinking problem. This issue changes the course of his life and Beauty’s when one day, riding back towards the hall in a drunken state, Smith fails to properly maintain Beauty’s shoes. This results in Beauty’s legs collapsing part-way through the journey, throwing Smith off and killing him. Beauty himself has to undergo a painful medical procedure which leaves his legs permanently scarred. The Earl decides he cannot keep a horse in such a scarred state so he sells Beauty; Beauty goes through a number of buyers until he ends up a job horse to be rented out by drivers. Here for the first time he encounters bad drivers, and, because these drivers often do not know how to properly drive or take care of horses, he receives long-term physical harm. Eventually though a gentleman who takes pity on Beauty convinces his friend to buy the horse and so Beauty becomes the property of Mr. Barry . This fellow, while a good man who orders that the horse be treated well, fails in his selection of caretakers for the horse. Twice he hires grooms who, when Mr. Barry is not watching, behave in ways which further hurt the horse. Mr. Filcher —the first of the two—steals food meant for Beauty and uses it for his own commercial purposes. Alfred Smirk —his replacement—acts as if he knows how to take care of horses but in reality leaves Beauty’s stall in such terrible conditions that the horse becomes ill. After uncovering this second deceptive groom, Mr. Barry decides not to keep the horse at all and instead sends Beauty to be sold at a horse fair.

At the horse fair, Beauty comes dangerously close to becoming the property of a mean, cruel-looking man; but in the end, a kind and empathetic man buys him. This man is Jeremiah Baker—though he goes by Jerry. He works as a cab driver in London and though he does not make much money, he makes enough to feed his wife and son and daughter and to take good care of the horses. Jerry and Beauty take a strong liking to each other right away, and soon Beauty comes to the conclusion that Jerry is the best man he ever knew. Always gentle, cheerful and adept, he helps Beauty adapt to the otherwise disheartening life of a London cab horse. The two, along with Jerry’s other horse—Captain, an old, dignified warhorse—have several adventures together. On one occasion a woman approaches Jerry asking for directions to the hospital to get medical help for her child. He insists on driving her there himself free of charge, and this act of kindness immediately brings returns to Jerry: as soon as he drops her off, he picks up another customer, this time his wife’s old mistress, who offers to find Jerry a less strenuous job and gives him a gift of ten shillings. On another occasion, Jerry—who normally never works on a Sunday as he is a religious man who preserves the Sabbath—agrees to take a woman on Sunday to her dangerously-ill mother outside the city. This act too immediately pays off for Jerry, as he and Beauty—while waiting to bring back the lady--enjoy the beautiful meadow next to the mother’s house in the countryside. This happy part of Beauty’s life, too, comes to an end. In the third winter they are together, Jerry becomes severely ill, nearly dying. His doctor tells him not to go back to the cab business, so he decides to look into the old mistress’s employment offer. With great delight, the family soon receives the news that they will indeed work for this lady, and that they will be living in the country in a nice cottage and Jerry will there be a coachman and receive a comfortable salary. This delight is bittersweet, as it means leaving behind their beloved horse Jack—their name for Black Beauty—and their departing is just as bittersweet for the horse as well since he is happy for their prosperity but sad to leave them and apprehensive about his own future state.

After making a thorough search for a buyer who would be kind to his horses, Jerry decides to sell Beauty to a friend of his who works in corn dealing. His stay there would have been quite pleasant, Beauty notes, had this principled corn dealer been on the premises to watch out for his horses. The problem though was that when he was not on the premises, the foreman would overload the horses in order to increase the productivity of the business. As the foreman continued, day after day, to overburden the loads of the horses, Black Beauty and the other horses began to physically wear out. Soon enough, Black Beauty becomes too weak to work much longer there, and his owner sells him to a cab business owner named Nicolas Skinner . This man employed cab drivers and rented out the horses to them on a daily basis. He was exploitative of these men and they in turn were exploitative of their horses, as they had to overwork the horses to make enough money to pay off the rental fees. At no point in Beauty’s life does he suffer more than at the hands of these harsh-handed men. He continues to try his best though until his health simply deteriorates. Skinner, having sucked out what benefit he could from the horse, sends him to a horse market. Much like the previous story of the horse market, another kind man takes a liking to Black Beauty and buys him. This time it is Farmer Thoroughgood , who buys the horse under the encouraging of his little grandson Willie and decides to nurture him back to health before selling him again. The farmer and his grandson take excellent care of Beauty, and the horse, having just come out of the hardest part of his life, begins to feel happiness again. Although Beauty is by now an old horse, he fully recovers and Thoroughgood takes him to potential buyers. These buyers are Miss Blomefield and Miss Ellen, who live in a pleasant house in the countryside. They took a liking to the horse despite the scars on his legs from his old injury. Their groom also approves of the horse, and so they buy him from Thoroughgood. When the groom then begins to clean Beauty, he notices a few of the horse’s white marks on his otherwise black coat and he says to himself that this horse looks an awful lot like old Black Beauty. As he continues, the marks become unmistakable and he exclaims in joy that this must be Black Beauty and that he himself is Joe Green, Beauty’s old and dear friend from Birtwick. Joe is now a young man and Beauty an old horse, yet there old friendship immediately resurfaces. As it turns out, the ladies of the house are benevolent masters, Joe is an excellent groom and little Willie continues to visit his new friend Beauty frequently, so Beauty finds great happiness and peace in his new home. It is here that the story ends. Beauty is at peace, saying that often now, before he becomes fully awake, he feels like he is again under the trees of the orchard, standing contentedly with his old friends and talking with them.

Black Beauty Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Black Beauty is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why did Ginger bite people?

Ginger is fiesty and aggressive. She is not easy going like Black Beauty so she, "has a bad habit of biting and snapping."

What breed were Black Beauty, Ginger and Merrylegs?

From the text, we can infer that Black Beauty and Ginger were thoroughbreds.

Merrylegs was a Welsh pony.

My Early Home

Black Beauty begins by describing his earliest memories. He fondly remembers the pleasant meadow and pond of his young days, under the care of his mother and a kind master. Gradually, Black Beauty matured from drinking his mother’s milk to eating...

Study Guide for Black Beauty

Black Beauty study guide contains a biography of Anna Sewell, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Black Beauty
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Black Beauty

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Black Beauty
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Black Beauty Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Black Beauty

• Introduction
• Plot summary

"Black Beauty" Summary

By Anna Sewell

classics | 245 pages | Published in 1977

Black Beauty spends his youth in a loving home, surrounded by friends and cared for by his owners. But when circumstances change, he learns that not all humans are so kind. Passed from hand to hand, Black Beauty witnesses love and cruelty, wealth and poverty, friendship and hardship . . . Will the handsome horse ever find a happy and lasting home? Carefully retold in clear contemporary language, and presented with delightful illustrations, these favorite classic stories capture the heart and imagination of young readers. By retelling the story in a shorter, simpler form, these books become highly engaging for children, and the color illustrations help with both comprehension and interest level. Black Beauty is part of a collectible series that has strong gift appeal.

Estimated read time: 6 min read

One Sentence Summary

A horse narrates his life experiences, highlighting the mistreatment and kindness he encounters.

Table of Contents

Introduction, brief synopsis, main characters, chapter summaries, main events, themes and insights, reader's takeaway.

"Black Beauty" is a classic novel written by Anna Sewell, which was first published in 1877. The book is a unique and gripping narrative, as it is told from the perspective of a horse. Through the eyes of the horse, readers are taken on a journey through the life of Black Beauty, experiencing various situations and encounters, and gaining insights into the treatment of horses during the Victorian era. The novel highlights the themes of animal welfare, empathy, and social responsibility, making it a timeless and thought-provoking read for all ages.

Plot Overview

"Black Beauty" follows the life of a beautiful and spirited horse named Black Beauty. The story begins with Black Beauty's idyllic life on a farm in the English countryside, where he is born and raised alongside his mother. However, a series of events lead to Black Beauty being separated from his mother and sold to various owners, each with their own approach to caring for and using horses. As Black Beauty moves from one owner to another, he experiences both kindness and cruelty, witnessing the best and worst of human behavior towards animals.

The novel is set in 19th-century England, a time when horses were integral to everyday life, serving as transportation, working animals, and companions. The story takes readers through bustling London streets, tranquil country lanes, and various estates and farms, providing a vivid picture of the social and economic landscape of the era.

The characters in "Black Beauty" play pivotal roles in shaping the narrative and influencing Black Beauty's experiences. Here are the main characters:

Chapter 1-10: Early Life and the Country Estate

Black Beauty recounts his early days on the farm, where he grows up with his mother and learns the values of hard work and companionship. He is later sold and sent to a country estate, where he befriends a pony named Merrylegs and experiences a caring environment under the supervision of the kind stable boy, James Howard.

Chapter 11-20: Life in London

Black Beauty is sold to new owners and finds himself in the bustling streets of London, where he becomes a cab horse. He encounters both compassionate and cruel treatment from various drivers, gaining insights into the harsh urban life for working horses.

Chapter 21-30: The Fire and New Friends

Black Beauty narrowly escapes a stable fire and is sold once again, this time to a more benevolent owner who values his horses. He forms a close bond with Ginger, a spirited mare, and experiences the joys and sorrows of companionship and loss.

Chapter 31-40: Hardship and Cruelty

Black Beauty faces harsh treatment and overwork under a new owner, experiencing neglect and cruelty that take a toll on his physical and emotional well-being. He witnesses the mistreatment of other horses and longs for kindness and understanding.

Chapter 41-50: Return to Kindness

Black Beauty is sold to a kind and compassionate owner, Jerry Barker, who appreciates and respects his horses. Under Jerry's care, Black Beauty finds solace and regains his strength, forming a deep bond with the supportive stable boy, James Howard.

Chapter 51-57: A New Beginning

Black Beauty's fortunes take a positive turn as he is reunited with familiar faces and experiences renewed hope and happiness. The novel concludes with a sense of optimism and the message of treating animals with empathy and respect.

The novel "Black Beauty" is filled with a series of significant events that shape the protagonist's experiences and highlight the treatment of horses in different settings. Some key events include:

• Black Beauty's early life on the farm and his close bond with his mother.
• His separation from his mother and sale to Squire Gordon's estate, where he befriends Merrylegs and experiences a caring environment.
• Black Beauty's time as a cab horse in London, witnessing the challenges and cruelties of urban life for working horses.
• The stable fire that Black Beauty narrowly escapes, leading to his sale to harsher owners and the mistreatment he endures.
• His return to kindness and compassion under the care of Jerry Barker, forming deep bonds with supportive individuals and finding renewed hope.
• The novel's conclusion, emphasizing the importance of empathy and compassion towards animals.

"Black Beauty" delves into several important themes and provides thought-provoking insights into the treatment of animals and human-animal relationships. Some key themes and insights include:

• Animal Welfare: The novel sheds light on the mistreatment and neglect of horses during the Victorian era, advocating for compassionate and humane treatment of animals.
• Empathy and Compassion: Through Black Beauty's narrative, readers gain insights into the importance of empathy, understanding, and kindness towards animals and fellow beings.
• Social Responsibility: The book highlights the responsibility of individuals and society as a whole in ensuring the well-being and fair treatment of animals, reflecting on broader social issues.

Readers of "Black Beauty" are treated to a poignant and enlightening journey through the eyes of a horse, gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of human actions on animals. The novel prompts reflection on empathy, compassion, and social responsibility, leaving a lasting impression on readers of all ages. "Black Beauty" serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring value of kindness and understanding towards animals, resonating with audiences across generations.

"Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate and inspire readers with its heartfelt narrative and powerful themes. Through the compelling voice of the protagonist, the novel offers valuable insights into the treatment of animals and the importance of empathy, making it an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human-animal bond and societal responsibility. With its enduring relevance and universal appeal, "Black Beauty" stands as a testament to the enduring impact of compassionate storytelling.

Black Beauty FAQ

What is the genre of 'black beauty'.

The genre of 'Black Beauty' is a classic novel and a work of fiction.

Who is the author of 'Black Beauty'?

The author of 'Black Beauty' is Anna Sewell.

What is the main theme of 'Black Beauty'?

The main theme of 'Black Beauty' revolves around animal welfare, empathy, and the treatment of horses in Victorian England.

Is 'Black Beauty' suitable for children?

Yes, 'Black Beauty' is suitable for children and is often considered a classic children's book.

What is the setting of 'Black Beauty'?

The setting of 'Black Beauty' is primarily in Victorian England, focusing on the life and experiences of the horse, Black Beauty.

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Black Beauty

97 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-10

Part 1, Chapters 11-21

Part 2, Chapters 22-31

Part 3, Chapters 32-41

Part 3, Chapters 42-45 & Part 4, Chapters 46-49

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Part 1, Chapters 1-10 Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, chapter 1 summary: “my early home”.

Black Beauty begins his narrative by recounting his earliest memories. When he was first born, he lived in a pleasant meadow, with his mother, Duchess, and six other young colts. His mother emphasizes the importance of good behavior, and working hard to please whomever he serves; she tells him, “I hope you will grow up gentle and good” (4). Black Beauty and his mother are owned by a kindly elderly man, who is always very gentle with his horses. Their master is also protective of them, and prevents a boy named Dick from pestering the horses.

Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary: “The Hunt”

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Black Beauty

Written by Anna Sewell Review by Jane Burke

This re-issue of a classic Victorian children’s novel tells the story of Black Beauty – a beautiful black horse whose life takes him from comfort and kindness through every stage of exploitation and cruelty to an unexpectedly happy ending. Unusually for the period, and still affecting today, it is written as though by Black Beauty himself; and what a character he is: noble, warm and honest, never afraid to criticise wrong-doing, but never mean or hasty in judgement.

Black Beauty may be recounting his adventures in human words but he is never less than a real horse, concerned about oats and hay and a warm straw bed as well as the sorrows of his human masters, which he realises only vaguely. When Beauty must gallop to fetch a doctor for his sick mistress, he understands only that he must run for dear life; when his beloved cab-driver Jerry is taken ill, and must sell-up all he owns, he understands only the sadness, and that he must be sold. But the reader understands all, and is caught up in the story, which has the relentless, absorbing pace of a race. What will happen next, and how will Beauty survive?

Written as a political manifesto against the foolish and unnecessary mistreatment of horses, and indeed against cruelty in general, Anna Sewell builds an unmatched picture of Victorian contemporary life, high and low, whilst introducing children to the concept that animals have thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears just as they do.

This book carries a surprisingly up-to-date ecological message – that ignorance about the natural world is one of the most dangerous issues facing us today, and that empathy for the creatures with which we share our planet should be uppermost in our dealings with them.  Highly recommended for readers of ten years old and upwards.

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Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell | Book Review

Book Review of  Black Beauty The Children’s Book Review

Black Beauty

Written by Anna Sewell

Ages 10+ | 288 Pages

Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd | ISBN-13: 9781840227871

What to Expect: Horses, Animal Welfare, Kindness, and Classic Literature

Black Beauty  by Anna Sewell is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of young and old readers for over a century. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Sewell’s masterful storytelling and the poignant message at the novel’s heart.

Through the eyes of Black Beauty, readers are transported to a world filled with hardship, compassion, and hope. Sewell’s choice to tell the story from the horse’s perspective was a groundbreaking literary approach that paved the way for future writers to explore the interior lives of animals. The themes explored in the novel are just as relevant today as they were in the Victorian era, as we continue to grapple with issues of animal welfare.

Black Beauty is a lovely black horse that begins his career as a carriage horse, but when he is injured, his wealthy owner decides that he is no longer good enough to be a carriage horse. From that moment, he is passed from owner to owner and endures lots of hard work. Even though many inhumane things happen to Black Beauty at the hands of unkind humans, he lives up to his name both outside and inside, remaining a kind and respectful horse.

This story of his life from birth to old age is so beautifully descriptive that everything from his sprightly days as a colt in a farm pasture to a hard life pulling taxicabs on cobblestone paths in London can be readily envisioned. Each chapter carries an important message about animal welfare, kindness, and respect—and is filled with plenty of page-turning suspense, including a stable fire, a dangerous bridge, and a slew of memorable characters.

This Collector’s Edition of Black Beauty pays tribute to the beauty and elegance of this beloved classic. Every detail of the book has been carefully considered. From the bespoke illustrations on the cloth-bound cover to the embossed gold and colored blocking, this edition is truly one-of-a-kind. The matching colored endpapers add an extra touch of luxury, making these books the perfect addition to any collector’s library and an excellent opportunity to experience this well-bred story that will reach your heart and stay with you forever.

Buy the Book

About the author.

Born into a deeply devout Quaker family, English author Anna Sewell is best known for her childhood classic Black Beauty. Critically injured as a child, Sewell was unable to walk without aid and became highly skilled at driving horse-drawn carriages. These close interactions with horses led to an interest in their ethical treatment and inspired Black Beauty , which was written in declining health late in her life, and which remains her only novel. Sewell died of hepatitis in 1878.

What to Read Next If You Love Black Beauty

• The Black Stallion , by Walter Farley
• Misty of Chincoteague , by Marguerite Henry
• My Friend Flicka , by Mary O’Hara
• The Georges and the Jewels , by Jane Smiley
• A Books About Horses List
• Kids’ Book For Horse Lovers

Bianca Schulze reviewed  Black Beauty . Discover more books like Black Beauty by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Animals and Classics .

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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Black Beauty by Anna Sewell – review

Black Beauty is a horse, who grows up on a farm with other colts to play with. He lives with his mother. One day, a horse is shot by accident. Black Beauty's mother is extremely sad for this particular horse and Black Beauty soon realises that the horse was his older brother.

Black Beauty endures kind masters and mean, selfish ones. The book shows that humans and animals should be treated alike.

In my most favourite five books in the world, Black Beauty's probably second. I don't know what's my favourite book, probably the Diary of Anne Frank, anyway.

I really enjoyed Black Beauty because Anna Sewell wrote it in such a way that it was amazingly from a horse's perspective throughout the novel.

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