Black

Author: Anna Sewell
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Black Beauty is the most popular work of British female author Anna Sewell (1820–1878). Before her death, the author lay ill in bed and spent about eight years creating this highly influential novel. The author narrates the life story of Black Beauty in the first person. Black Beauty is a gentle, intelligent, and strong breed of horse that has had several owners. It has served noble estate owners and also been reduced to a labor horse on the streets of London, experiencing the sweet and bitter sides of human life. The author's portrayal of the horse's joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness leaves readers ample room for reflection, encouraging them to examine and judge the character qualities of the book's characters, as well as the deeper human issues behind them. As we share Black Beauty's joys and sorrows, we deeply feel its inner pain, fear, and helplessness, constantly witnessing the ignorance and cruelty of some people. Since its publication, the book has influenced generations of readers and is almost universally known in the West. It teaches people to love animals, treat them kindly, and to be less cold and more compassionate. Animals cannot speak for themselves, and as coexisting humans, we should learn to think about them. Otherwise, we will inevitably face the consequences of nature's punishment.