Black Beauty (retold by Mary Sebag-Montefiore)

About Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell was born on March 30, 1820, in Norfolk, England.

From an early age she suffered from a chronic illness (believed to have been a severe form of lupus) which left her with limited mobility. As a result, she often relied on horse-drawn carriages for transportation. These experiences fostered in her a deep concern for the humane treatment of animals. Her mother, Mary Wright Sewell, was a successful children’s author, and Sewell assisted by editing her manuscripts, gaining valuable experience in writing.

Sewell wrote only one book, the enduring classic Black Beauty. An invalid for much of her life, she composed the novel during the final decade of her life while largely confined to her home. The story is narrated by the horse itself, recounting moments of both kindness and cruelty. This innovative, humanizing perspective helped make the novel a lasting success and contributed to changing public attitudes toward the treatment of animals.

Sewell’s mother took the manuscript to her own publishers, Jarrold & Sons, and Sewell received just £40 for the copyright. The book was published in time for Christmas 1877.

Now in the public domain, Black Beauty can be freely published, adapted, amended, and abridged.