Children’s Classic Read 2021 April
This book is the first English novel to be written from the perspective of a non-human animal, in this case a horse. Although it is now considered a children’s classic, Sewell originally wrote it for those who worked with horses. She said “a special aim was to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses.”
Sewell had a horse when she was growing up named Bess who people believe was the inspiration for the horse in the story.
Did you know that this book actually had a real impact on the treatment of animals?
The old methods of the “bearing rein” is said to have been changed because of Black Beauty. The way that people used to strap their horses heads to their chest had to be stopped because it was causing pain and respiratory issues.
Wow. How wonderful for horses. The power of words.
Author Anna Sewell was only paid $20 for the book
She sold the book to Jarrold and Sons in 1877 for 20 British pounds, which works out to about $27 American. However given the time difference, it would actually translate to about $350 today. It was published the same year and managed to become a huge success.
Sewell could have had a chance to renegotiate her contract, but she passed away from hepatitis just five months after the book came out. She never got to see just how big of an impact it had on the world.
Over 50 million copies have been sold in over 50 languages and manages to be one of the best-selling books of all time. Other books that have managed to sell 50 million copies include The Catcher in the Rye, Charlotte’s Web, and all of the Harry Potter books.
We as a group reading this book together, most of us for the very first time, fell in love with the story. We are also all interested in reading about Anna Sewell.
The narrative of this story is so very powerful as well as the many lessons and stories with in the story it makes the book just an amazing experience. I do believe everyone should read it while in school, or at least once in their lives. I am so very glad that I picked this to read. I had no idea how much we would all benefit from reading this.
Wonderful month.
