In 1969, when I was in first grade, my Easter present from my parents was an oversized illustrated copy of the book “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell. It was one of the first chapter books that I can remember reading. It was such a mind opening experience. I remember sitting curled up in our totally 1960’s black leatherette swivel chair, reading and crying over poor Ginger. This book had such a profound effect on me. I loved every page – the color illustrations, the happy and sad parts of the story. I fell in love with that book and I fell in love with reading.
It wasn’t until “Black Beauty” that reading became more than just something that I knew how to do. That was the book that showed me that reading could transport me to another time and place. “Black Beauty” made me care about the characters; I felt that they were as real to me as the people around me. I felt that I knew the characters, especially Black Beauty and his friends, Merrylegs, Ginger, the Captain, and his people friends too.
I think it was one of my first realizations of cruelty in the world, empathy for another being and justice. I saw the world around me through new eyes – the eyes of kindness to other people and creatures.
The book was also my first window into a different time period and place. I am sure somewhere I had seen old movies or TV shows about “olden times”, but I was totally fascinated by a time before cars, phones, TV’s and airplanes. “Black Beauty” gave me an inside view of the English countryside as well as congested London. So different than the American suburbia that I was growing up in.
My parents gave me the book because it was about a horse, and I did already love horses. But I didn’t really know anything about horses, how they acted, what they ate or how to train them until I read “Black Beauty”. It is full of all sorts of information about how Black Beauty was trained, what he ate, and what horses liked. I learned about war horses from the Captain, and cute ponies from Merrylegs, cabbies and hunting horses. I learned about horse equipment and how important shoes are to a working horse. I learned about horse care, feeding, cleaning and grooming, and cooling them down after a hard workout.
Over the years, I think I have read “Black Beauty” more than a hundred times. I’ve read and re-read the book my parents gave me so long ago. I’ve come across paperbacks and hardbacks. I’ve been given different copies of the book more than once, including my mother-in-law’s copy from when she was a girl. I read my original illustrated copy of “Black Beauty” aloud to my own three children. I just re-read it this past month, January of 2021. It still transports me to another time and place, including back to my young childhood, curled in a black swivel chair, crying my eyes out over the fate of poor Ginger.
Such a good book! A 1994 film version is a very good telling, thought nothing competes with the book.
It is a good book! I don’t think I’ve seen any of the movie versions. That might be an interesting adventure.
I think Black Beauty might have been one of my first chapter books too! We had a copy of “Black Beauty to Read Aloud” on our shelf. I think it was an abridged, easier version than the original ☺️ I too loved the book, and it lead me to read anything about horses that I could get my hands on! But sadly, my reaction was not like yours…I remember being horrified at the cruel parts – almost traumatized by the death of Ginger – and so very worried that Black Beauty would never find a good home. I think I read the unabridged version a year later or so, but it still made me feel uncomfortable. I never picked up the book again and had no desire to re-read it after that!! So now, my memories of Black Beauty are vague and worrisome and uncomfortable! But oh! what long-buried feelings you have unearthed with your post! Times I haven’t thought about in 40 years!! I think it’s time for a re-read!!! ❤️
I am sorry the book was traumatizing for you! I can certainly understand why that would be. I think those parts awoke in me a feelings of sympathy, empathy and justice for all living creatures. I also did a little research, and Anna Sewell did not write this book for children! She wrote it for those who worked with horses. She said, “a special aim was to induce kindness, sympathy and an understanding treatment of horses.” Her book actually inspired the development of legislation to condemn abusive behaviors towards animals.
“Anna Sewell” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 january 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Sewell
I believe I read Black Beauty the first time in school. I have impressions my teacher took the book very seriously, but myself, I guarantee I didn’t understand it. I read it purposefully the next time in my twenties and I did understand the sadness. Strange, understanding of such cruelty toward an animal (or any being) affects me now much more than it ever did, but I am also more resilient than I used to be. I think Anna Sewell did the right thing in writing that book.
At least two times teachers sent us home with notes regarding certain books we were going to read. Once was Black Beauty and the other was Tom Sawyer.
It seems “Black Beauty” affected the people who read it, with good, bad, or neutral memories. For a book most people read or had read to them as a child, that is something!