97 pages • 3 hours read
Anna SewellA 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.
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell follows the life of a horse named Black Beauty in 19th-century England. Narrated in the first person, the story begins with Beauty's happy early life and training, moves through his time with a kind owner named Squire Gordon, and details his subsequent hardships and changing owners, reflecting themes of kindness, responsibility, and animal welfare. The novel addresses themes including alcohol abuse, animal cruelty, and the impacts of industrialization.
Anna Sewell's Black Beauty is celebrated for its enduring themes of animal welfare and empathy, touching readers across generations. Readers praise its evocative narrative and poignant portrayal of cruelty and kindness. However, some modern readers find its moralistic tone dated. Overall, it's a timeless, impactful read that continues to resonate with audiences.
A reader who would enjoy Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is typically fond of classic literature, animal stories, and poignant tales of compassion and empathy. Similar to fans of Anna Sewell, those who cherish works like Charlotte's Web by E.B. White or Old Yeller by Fred Gipson would likely find Black Beauty captivating.