Now a classic of children's literature, though not originally published
for children, this new edition of Anna Sewell's famed "Autobiography of
a Horse" is the only available critical edition, with illuminating
features not found elsewhere. One of the bestselling novels in English,
Black Beauty was originally written to expose and prevent cruelty to
horses. Told by Black Beauty himself, this moving story recounts his
idyllic colt-hood and his experiences at the hands of a variety of
owners, good and bad. Describing his life as a horse in Victorian
England, he tells of the unthinking brutality to which horses were often
subjected. A sympathetic hero who faces danger and excitement, Black
Beauty taught powerful lessons that influenced animal welfare in England
and America. Indeed, the novel was known in America as "the Uncle Tom's
Cabin of the Horse."
This edition is edited by Sewell's biographer, Adrienne E. Gavin, whose
wide-ranging introduction draws on the latest scholarship to examine the
multiple ways in which the story has been read: as children's classic,
protest novel, horse-care manual, feminist text, slave narrative,
autobiography, and more. Also included are illustrations and material
from the first American edition, such as an appendix on "Killing Animals
Humanely." In addition, there is a glossary of equine terms and an
appendix of variants between the first British and American editions.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other
valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.
