History Literature / BlackBeauty

'''''Black Beauty''''' is an 1877 polemic novel by Anna Sewell, tracing the life of the titular fictional horse from colthood to retirement. Today it is considered a classic of children's literature; however, originally it was not written for children, but as an effort to draw attention to the wildly varying treatment of horses in Victorian England. As a result it contains mini-lectures on everything from bits and blinkers to broken knees. Along the way Beauty also provides a horse's perspective on the human capacity for cruelty and kindness, and comparisons between the treatment of animals and the treatment of poor working-class humans.

* AnimalTalk

* MeaningfulName: Ginger, a chestnut mare, though she is called that because she snaps. Doubles as a StealthPun.
** Also Mr. Thoroughgood, the [[IncrediblyLamePun thoroughly good]] old man who buys beat down working horses like Ladybird and Beauty and gives them a second chance at life by "makes them young again," and finding them nice owners.

* SmallRoleBigImpact: Duchess, Black Beauty's mother, who only shows up in the first chapter and in Beauty's memories a few times after that. She was a well-behaved and much-beloved horse, and brought up her children to be docile and obedient to humans. Beauty's behavior throughout the story is defined by her teachings, and his kinder owners recognize immediately what a good temperament he has.

* SmallRoleBigImpact: Duchess, Black Beauty's mother, who only shows up in the first chapter and in Beauty's memories a few times after that. She was a well-behaved and much-beloved horse, and brought up her children to be docile and obedient to humans. Beauty's behavior throughout the story is defined by her teachings, and this was apparently also the case with his brother Rob Roy, who was well-known for being very gentle, obedient, and all-around well-behaved. As another of Duchess's sons, his new owners expected nothing less of Beauty.

* AmplifiedAnimalAptitude: Mostly averted. Once you get past the fact that the horse is narrating his own life story and having weighty ethical and philosophical discussions with other horses, Beauty largely behaves like a normal horse - for instance, being too terrified to leave a burning barn until he's blindfolded and led out.

** In the 1995 animated adaptation, the last time Beauty sees [[spoiler:Ginger]] is at a fair where she appears to be in much better health and is being sold to a young girl, implying she got a happy ending in contrast to the original. This is in contrast to the ealrier animated adaption that even includes the scene where Beauty [[spoiler:sees her dead body being pulled away in a cart.]]

* FollowTheLeader: Inspired many similar books.

* AutomatonHorse: Invoked and savagely defied. Black Beauty and other horses clearly aren't, though they occasionally come across humans who think they are. This only causes pain, misery, and occasional crippling for the horses.

** A drunkard is warned that one of Beauty's shoes has come loose, but he rides him anyway. The shoe eventually comes off en route and Beauy splits a hoof and falls to his knees from the pain, injuring himself and [[AccidentalMurder accidentally throwing his rider to his death]].

** Many adaptations cut out the part early on where Beauty with his mother witness a fox hunt going terribly wrong as a horse falls over, killing both him and his rider. Beauty later finds out said horse was his brother.

** In the 1995 animated adaptation, the last time Beauty sees [[spoiler:Ginger]] is at a fair where she appears to be in much better health and is being sold to a young girl, implying she got a happy ending in contrast to the original.

** Also, the soundtrack for the film was composed by none other than DannyElfman. Go to the YMMV page for a list over some of the best samples.

* AdaptationExpansion: Many versions, including the 1994 one, expands on the relationship between Beauty and Joe to being that of best friends. In the book, they don't share much of a relationship, and while their reunion is more of an afterthought, the 1994 film version changed it to be a huge TearJerker.

** Similarly, many versions has Ginger being portayed as Beauty's LoveInterest, while she was just his friend in the book.

** Similarily, many versions has Ginger being portayed as Beauty's LoveInterest, while she was just his friend in the book.

''Black Beauty'' is an 1877 polemic novel by Anna Sewell, tracing the life of the titular fictional horse from colthood to retirement. Today it is considered a classic of children's literature; however, originally it was not written for children, but as an effort to draw attention to the wildly varying treatment of horses in Victorian England. As a result it contains mini-lectures on everything from bits and blinkers to broken knees. Along the way Beauty also provides a horse's perspective on the human capacity for cruelty and kindness, and comparisons between the treatment of animals and the treatment of poor working-class humans.

** Early in the novel a nobleman's son treats ginger like a furry motorcycle to hop on, ride at top speed through long and rigorous race courses, then dump back in the stall. The strain on her body permanently damages her bronchial track to the point that she can never run or jump as well again. Rather than give her the year of pasture rest she needs to heal, she's sold as a work horse, which strains her physical health more and more until [[spoiler: she's driven to an early death]].

** In the book, Reuben Smith dies after he rides Black Beauty while intoxicated and ends up falling off. In the 1994 version, he survives and loses his job.

* AdaptationExpansion: Many versions, including the 1994 one, expands on the relationship between Beauty and Joe to being that of best friends. In the book, they don't share much of a relationship. Notably, their reunion in the book is more of an afterthought that ensures Beauty his final and good home. In the 1994 film version, it's a huge TearJerker.

* AdaptationExpansion: Many versions, including the 1994 one, expands on the relationship between Beauty and Joe to being that of best friends. In the book, they don't share much of a relationship. Notably, their reunion at the end is more of an afterthought that ensures Beauty his final and good home. In the 1994 version, it's a huge TearJerker.
** Similarily, the 1994 version also has Ginger being treated as Beauty's LoveInterest, while she's just a friend in the book.

* AdaptationExpansion: Many versions, including the 1994 one, expands on the relationship between Beauty and Joe to being that of best friends. In the book, they don't share much of a relationship, though they're still happy to reunite.