Anna Sewell 
Black Beauty 

’A horse never knows who may buy or drive him; it is all a matter of chance for us’–Black Beauty’s mother once told him. And indeed, life is a journey of chance for Black Beauty as he passes from one owner to another, some of whom are kind and thoughtful, while others, cruel and indifferent. If a thing is right, it can be done and if it is wrong, it can be done without; and a good man will find a way. Black Beauty, a young colt, is raised with love and care by his benevolent master, Farmer Grey. Once he grows up to be a handsome stallion, due to a cruel twist of fate, his master is forced to sell him. Leaving his carefree days on an English farm behind, Black Beauty soon finds himself in the hands of several ruthless owners and carriage drivers in London.