Read as part of The Infinite Variety Reading Challenge, based on the BBC's Big Read Poll of 2003.

I was surprised at the date this was written. It has a "whenever, whatever time" kind of feel to it and I loved that. Unfortunately, I didn't like much else. It was splendidly written, though at times it felt more like an instruction manual on how to look after horses than anything else. I just didn't enjoy the disjointed way it was told: obviously anything written from the P.O.V. of a horse isn't going to be anything but disjointed, but then the P.O.V. didn't feel wholly "believable", if that is even something I can even comment on. Who knows?

All I know is, I don't really like horses but I certainly don't want people to shoot them just because they didn't jump over the fence at Ascot. All I know is, I thought it was a pleasantly written and told book but it's not what I like in a book. All I know is, I didn't much enjoy it as a whole.


Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy

"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.".

BLACK BEAUTY, with the help of some of her friends and acquaintances, narrates her own life story in this absolute gem of a children's classic. I've always loved the beauty and grace of horses, but now have an even greater respect and appreciation for them......and their needs.

A few heartbreaking stories are told here, but the positive, encouraging message and education for children and adults alike is priceless.

EVERYONE should read BLACK BEAUTY!

This came up in my Audible membership, and I felt an immediate rush of childhood memories!

My obsession with horses started when, at the age of three, while walking through Hyde Park (in London) with my parents, a woman riding her horse in the park saw me staring transfixed at her horse and stopped to let me sit on him!

The book was first published in 1877, and the story and language reflects that, however, to a young girl in love with horses, it was delightful.

We all need to feed our inner child on occasion.

Uma história comovente e perturbadora. Relata-nos a história de amizade entre uma mulher e o seu cavalo. Eu amo cavalos. E um dia também queria aprender a montar num. Mas não saberia suportar a dor de perder o meu cavalo se tivesee um.

Black Beauty was the first novel I read at the age of eight and the first I cried my eyes out to. The story follows the life of the titular horse Black Beauty chronicling his childhood as a young, carefree colt to the onerous days when he worked for several merciless human masters.

I grew up in a house that was home to abandoned or injured critters and adoptive pets. I adored animals and being the anti-social child that I was always found a non-judgmental, loving friend in them. So it was only natural that this book would hold a special place in my heart even after sixteen years.

Black Beauty is certainly not the greatest (or one of the greatest) work in literature, but it’s still magnificent because of its simplicity and innocence. Despite the brutish treatment meted out to our eponymous protagonist, it’s truly heart-shattering how Black Beauty continues to maintain goodwill for humanity. The novel was written during the Victorian era when the Industrial Revolution was rapidly changing the face of the nation and horses were gravely overworked. Through this moving story, Anna Sewell tried to bring to light the plight of the overworked animals who didn't deserve the cruelty with which they were treated.

Just writing this review made me teary eyed-such immense power this novel holds over me.

“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.”

Since I know very little about horses, I learned many different interesting facts about a horse's life. I Liked how the story was told from Black Beauty, the main character in the story point of view.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

I had never actually owned a copy of this wonderful classic until very recently when I spotted this one well worn and loved in a house clear out of a relative and when I was asked if there was anything I would like to take as a memento I was so happy to give a home to this stunning book. Black Beauty was always out on loan from my school library and as a child I remembering constantly requesting the one copy as it was one the most popular read along with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

I adore animals of all shapes and sizes and cannot abide any sort of animal cruelty but this book brings back wonderful childhood memories for me and I think its an important book for children to read and understand that animals have feelings and they too feel pain just as humans do.

What a unique, heart-breaking and compelling read that is as beautiful and poignant today as it was when I read it as a 10 year old girl and am sure it was way back in 1877. The story is narrated in the first person as an autobiographical memoir told by Black Beauty himself. The Story begins with happy times as a colt on an English farm with his mother and the book continues as he goes through life.
This is a tale of hardships ,cruelty and kindness that broke my heart as child and all over again as an adult. It teaches real life lessons as bad things happen in life and yet there is always goodness out there somewhere, we just have to look for it sometimes.

We shall all have to be judged according to our works, whether they be towards man or towards beast.”
― Anna Sewell, Black Beauty

A beautiful book that has pride of place on my bookshelf for I hope many years to come.

This was one of my very first 'horse' books. I read it when I was nine or ten, and it left a deep impression on me.

Told from the viewpoint of the horse, it starts with Beauty's gentle upbringing and careful training. Well cared for and well mannered, Beauty is a valued animal with a good life at first. But a mishap or two is all it takes for Black Beauty to begin a downward spiral into a world where the appearance of an animal matters far more than its comfort, and into the depths where the only fate for a horse is to be 'used up' in any servitude it can finally be put to.

Like Lassie Come Home, the story does wind to a gentler and comforting ending, but along the way there are some dark times. It's an insight into another time as well as a different view of the world.

Once considered a classic, I don't see it recommended as often as it used to be. So I will recommend it here.

Very touchy, sentimental and emotional book. Touched by the way it is narrated life of a horse. If you are an animal lover then please read it.

Este livro narra a história de beleza negra , belo cavalo que viveu na Inglaterra vitoriana. Narrado pelo próprio cavalo , ele relembra todas as fases e sofrimento da sua vida ; desde de donos maravilhosos até alguns cruéis que muito lhe maltratava. Narra também como escapou de um incêndio mortal e se recuperou de vários acidentes.
O livro denuncia o cruel tratamento a que esses animais são submetidos em nome da moda, muitas vezes por pura ignorância. O assunto se mantém atual até hoje. Evidências de abusos que causam dor e sofrimento aos cavalos são vistos por todo o livro. Denunciar os maus tratos na esperança de por um fim a isso com certeza foi o objetivo da autora Anna Sewell .O livro não só dá lições relacionadas aos cavalos , mas também ao ser humano : Devemos fazer o melhor e trabalhar duro, dar valor e retribuir um gesto amável, integridade e ajudar ao próximo. A história de Beleza negra contada através de livros e filmes , é uma história que toca o coração humano no mundo todo.

Kitaba başlamadan önce bir atın hikayesini okuyacağımı biliyordum fakat kitabın iç kapağında yazan 'bir atın otobiyografisi' yazısını görmediğim için atın ağzından okumayı beklemiyordum. O yüzden kitaba başladığımda bu durum beni şaşırttı.

Siyah İnci Anna Sewell'in yayınlanan ilk ve tek kitabıymış. Geçirdiği bir rahatsızlıktan dolayı hayatının geri kalanında at arabasında taşınmak zorunda kalmış Anna Sewell ve bu rahatsızlığın ölümcül olduğunu öğrendikten sonra yazmış Siyah İnci'yi. Atlara olan düşkünlüğü ve sevgisi yüzünden onların bazılarına yapılan eziyetlere bir tepki olarak yazılmış bu kitap. İyi ki de yazılmış.

Kedilerden sonra en sevdiğim hayvan attır. Onlardaki asaletin hiçbir canlıda olduğunu düşünmüyorum. O yüzden kitaba karşı daha başlamadan bir sempatim vardı ve başladıktan sonra da büyük bir keyifle okudum. Kitaptan bu kadar keyif almamın en büyük etkilerinden birisi de çeviriydi. Kitabın çevirisi gerçekten son derece duru ve akıcıydı. Okurken sizi asla zorlamayacak bir klasik Siyah İnci, zaten çocuk klasikleri arasında yer alıyor. Keşke çocukken okumuş olsaydım dedim bazen, eminim ki o zaman daha başka bir tat alacaktım bu kitaptan.

Kitapta Siyah İnci'nin başından geçen ve şahit olduğu olayları okuyoruz. Doğduğu çiftlikte ona oldukça iyi davranan sahipleri olan Siyah İnci hayatın atlar için hep böyle güzel olduğunu düşünüyordu ama satılacak kadar büyüdüğü zaman başkasına satıldı Siyah inci ve insanların atlara karşı ne kadar kötü olabileceğini öğrendi. Ve birkaç sahip değiştirmek zorunda kaldı. Zaman zaman yük atı olarak kullanıldı, ata binmeyi bile bilmeyen insanlara denk geldi ama şanslıydı Siyah İnci. Her zaman bir yerlerde iyi insanlar da çıkıyordu karşısına.

Bence herkes Siyah İnci ile tanışmalı ve herkes kendisini hayvanların yerine koyabilmeli. Onlara boşuna Allahın sessiz kulları denmiyor. Sana muhtaç olan bir canlıya yaptığın eziyet sana bir gün fazlasıyla dönecektir. Bugüne kadar bana muhtaç olan bir canlıya hiçbir zaman arkamı dönmeye vicdanım el vermedi, yolda bulduğum ya da bir şekilde karşıma çıkan bütün yaralı hayvanlara yardım etmek için elimden geleni yaptım. Bu yüzden hayvanlara zulmeden insanları asla anlamadım, anlayamayacağım da. Bu kitap, çocuklara hayvanların insanlardan beklediği şeyin ilgi, sevgi olduğunu anlatabilecek en güzel kitaplardan birisi. Bence her çocuk bu kitabı mutlaka okumalı ve hayvanları severek büyümeli.

I can't count the number of times I cried over this when I was a kid.