Black Beauty (version 2)
Anna Sewell
Read by Cori Samuel
Black Beauty is a fictional autobiographical memoir told by a horse, who recounts many tales, both of cruelty and kindness. The title page of the first edition states that it was "Translated from the Original Equine by Anna Sewell." It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she was confined to her house as an invalid. After its publication in 1877, Sewell lived just long enough to see her first and only novel become an immediate bestseller, as well as it encouraging the better treatment of many cruelly-treated animals.
Although initially intended for people who work with horses, it soon became a children's classic. While outwardly teaching animal welfare, it also contains allegorical lessons about how to treat people with kindness, sympathy and respect. The story is narrated in the first person and each short chapter relates an incident in Black Beauty's life, with Sewell's detailed observations and extensive descriptions of horse behaviour lending the novel a good deal of verisimilitude.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Cori Samuel, with help. (5 hr 42 min)
Chapters
01 - My Early Home | 5:03 | Read by Cori Samuel |
02 - The Hunt | 6:34 | Read by Cori Samuel |
03 - My Breaking In | 8:30 | Read by Cori Samuel |
04 - Birtwick Park | 5:54 | Read by Cori Samuel |
05 - A Fair Start | 7:05 | Read by Cori Samuel |
06 - Liberty | 3:19 | Read by Cori Samuel |
07 - Ginger | 8:40 | Read by Cori Samuel |
08 - Ginger's Story Continued | 6:58 | Read by Cori Samuel |
09 - Merrylegs | 5:16 | Read by Cori Samuel |
10 - A Talk in the Orchard | 11:00 | Read by Cori Samuel |
11 - Plain Speaking | 6:00 | Read by Cori Samuel |
12 - A Stormy Day | 6:34 | Read by Cori Samuel |
13 - The Devil's Trade Mark | 5:25 | Read by Cori Samuel |
14 - James Howard | 5:29 | Read by Cori Samuel |
15 - The Old Ostler | 5:39 | Read by Cori Samuel |
16 - The Fire | 8:02 | Read by Cori Samuel |
17 - John Manly's Talk | 7:00 | Read by Cori Samuel |
18 - Going for the Doctor | 7:34 | Read by Cori Samuel |
19 - Only Ignorance | 4:27 | Read by Cori Samuel |
20 - Joe Green | 5:28 | Read by Cori Samuel |
21 - The Parting | 5:27 | Read by Cori Samuel |
22 - Earlshall | 7:25 | Read by Cori Samuel |
23 - A Strike for Liberty | 6:26 | Read by Cori Samuel |
24 - The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse | 11:50 | Read by Cori Samuel |
25 - Reuben Smith | 6:59 | Read by Cori Samuel |
26 - How it Ended | 5:24 | Read by Cori Samuel |
27 - Ruined and Going Downhill | 5:18 | Read by Cori Samuel |
28 - A Job Horse and His Drivers | 6:37 | Read by Cori Samuel |
29 - Cockneys | 11:56 | Read by Cori Samuel |
30 - A Thief | 4:59 | Read by Cori Samuel |
31 - A Humbug | 5:38 | Read by Cori Samuel |
32 - A Horse Fair | 7:13 | Read by Cori Samuel |
33 - A London Cab Horse | 7:48 | Read by Cori Samuel |
34 - An Old War Horse | 10:05 | Read by Cori Samuel |
35 - Jerry Barker | 10:54 | Read by Cori Samuel |
36 - The Sunday Cab | 8:28 | Read by Cori Samuel |
37 - The Golden Rule | 6:28 | Read by Cori Samuel |
38 - Dolly and a Real Gentleman | 7:43 | Read by Cori Samuel |
39 - Seedy Sam | 6:41 | Read by Cori Samuel |
40 - Poor Ginger | 4:32 | Read by Cori Samuel |
41 - The Butcher | 5:34 | Read by Cori Samuel |
42 - The Election | 3:25 | Read by Cori Samuel |
43 - A Friend in Need | 7:45 | Read by Cori Samuel |
44 - Old Captain and His Successor | 8:04 | Read by Cori Samuel |
45 - Jerry's New Year | 10:53 | Read by Cori Samuel |
46 - Jakes and the Lady | 6:58 | Read by Cori Samuel |
47 - Hard Times | 8:18 | Read by Cori Samuel |
48 - Farmer Thoroughgood and His Grandson Willie | 7:18 | Read by Cori Samuel |
49 - My Last Home | 6:39 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Reviews
Black Beauty
Dylan
I loved hearing about life from the horses point of view.
unforgettable classic!
A LibriVox Listener
This book is a classic. The author captures the essence of what a horse is and makes the character of Beauty human like without detracting from the fact that he is a horse. The narration is excellent. The reading voice is clear and pleasant to listen to as well as giving life to the words read.
Wonderfully touching story, great reader!
alclubb
I remember reading this book many years ago, but it never lost its appeal. The reader did an excellent job and added much to the emotion of the story.
Great book!
Jsheare
I really enjoyed this book. also the narrator did awesome job narrating this book. I liked the end of this story.
Lovely tale, beautifully read
SylvanRose
Cori Samuel reads so beautifully. My five-year-old loved revisiting the novel with along with her wonderful reading. We enjoyed it on our carrides. .
Miles E
Absolutely love listening to this! Almost every night I stick this on to go to sleep, and I have for over a year! Read brilliantly.
Awesome Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A LibriVox Listener
I love Black Beauty, he is the coolest horse ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I give five stars because it is a awesome book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it was great 🐴 I loved it so much
Rose Biase
I love to know what a horse 🐎knows 💕💖💞