Black Beauty Summary
Black Beauty is an 1877 novel by Anna Sewell. The novel tells the story of a horse’s life, beginning with his birth and ending with his retirement and old age.
- The novel follows Black Beauty’s life through several owners and homes, from his birth on a farm to his retirement in the country.
- Along the way, Black Beauty witnesses the good and bad treatment of horses at the hands of humans, and he learns many lessons about life and kindness.
- In the end, he finds happiness in his final home, with a family who loves and respects him.
Summary
Part 1
Black Beauty begins with the main character recounting his earliest memory, which is of a “pleasant meadow.” The reader learns about his life as a young colt, including his mother’s guidance on proper behavior for a well-bred horse and the kind treatment from his master. At two years old, Black Beauty witnesses the harshness of a hare hunt and the tragic death of a rider who falls from his horse. At four, he undergoes training to get used to wearing a saddle, bridle, and carriage harness. He describes the discomfort of the bit and the experience of getting his first shoes. Afterward, he is sent to a neighboring pasture near a railroad to acclimate to the sounds he might encounter on the road, preparing him for work. He is then sold to Squire Gordon and named by Mrs. Gordon. For more than three years, Birtwick Hall becomes his happy home. Here, he meets other horses such as Merrylegs, Ginger, and Sir Oliver, as well as the grooms James Howard and John Manly. He learns that Ginger’s bad temper stems from a harsh past with previous owners, and that Sir Oliver’s shortened tail resulted from a careless fashion trend. Sir Oliver also shares the painful practices of cropping tails and ears in dogs. Merrylegs, a pony, is a beloved playmate for the Gordon and Blomefield children. Both Squire Gordon and John Manly are known for opposing the mistreatment of horses. Stable hand James gets a chance at a better job and leaves Birtwick, but before departing, he accompanies the Gordons on a trip to visit friends. During a stop, the stable catches fire, but James bravely saves Beauty and Ginger. Little Joe Green takes over for James. Joe initially struggles with caring for Beauty, especially after an urgent run to fetch the doctor for Mrs. Gordon, which leaves Beauty very sick. Joe is heartbroken over his mistake and commits to learning proper horse care, even testifying against a man he sees whipping two horses. Life takes a turn when the Gordons must relocate to a warmer climate for Mrs. Gordon’s health. Joe and Merrylegs go to live with Vicar Blomefield, while Beauty and Ginger are sold to Earlshall Park.
Part 2
The mistress at Earlshall insists on using the bearing rein, which causes significant pain for the horses, but the stable manager, Mr. York, is unable to protest. One day, Ginger rebels and becomes uncontrollable, leading to her being used as a hunter. When the Earl and some family members travel to London, Lady Anne starts riding Beauty, whom she calls Black Auster. During one ride, she tries another horse and is thrown off. Beauty races for help and is highly praised for his actions. He believes he has found a good home, but then the stable hand, Reuben Smith, gets drunk and takes Beauty on a perilous ride that results in Smith's death and severe damage to Beauty's knees.
Ginger is also damaged by hard riding but is given a chance to recover. However, Beauty is sold to a livery stable. As a job horse, Beauty is frequently rented out to people with poor driving skills and little knowledge of horse care. One customer, however, recognizes Beauty's worth and arranges for him to be sold to Mr. Barry, a gentleman who hires a groom for Beauty. Unfortunately, the groom steals Beauty's feed and is subsequently arrested. The next groom is too lazy to properly care for Beauty, leading to him developing thrush. Frustrated by the difficulties of maintaining a horse, Mr. Barry decides to sell Beauty.
Part 3
(This entire section contains 1140 words.)
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Part 3
Beauty is sold at a horse fair to Jerry Barker, a London cab driver, who renames him Jack. In the stable, Beauty's companion is Captain, a retired cavalry horse. Beauty adapts to the demands of pulling a cab through London's bustling streets. The tough life is made tolerable by Jerry’s expert and gentle handling. Jerry has a loving family, including his wife Polly and their children Harry and Dolly. He is a principled man who abstains from drinking, refuses to work on Sundays, and avoids taking fares that would overburden his horses. However, he is always willing to go out of his way to do a charitable deed. One of Jerry’s friends is Governor Grant, a wise and kind-hearted cab driver who acts as a mentor to the other drivers. While many customers are inconsiderate, some show thoughtfulness toward the horses. Likewise, some cab drivers neglect the horses because they do not own them and work for a share of the fares. For these men, life is nearly as grueling as it is for the horses. By chance, one day, Black Beauty encounters Ginger, who has become one of these leased cab horses and is severely mistreated. She is in such agony that she longs for death. Later, Beauty witnesses Ginger’s body being hauled away. Shortly after this, Jerry and Captain are involved in a carriage accident, leading to Captain being put down and replaced by Hotspur. During New Year’s, a couple of passengers keep Jerry waiting in the freezing cold while they party, causing Jerry to fall seriously ill with bronchitis and become unable to work. Grant steps in to help by giving Hotspur a half-day's work each day and sharing half the fares with Polly. When Jerry recovers, the doctor advises him that he can no longer work as a cab driver. Fortunately, Mrs. Fowler, Polly’s former employer, hires Jerry as her coachman in the countryside and provides a cottage for the family. They embark on a wonderful new chapter in their lives, but the horses have to be sold. Grant purchases Hotspur and assures Jerry he will find a good home for Beauty.
Part 4
Beauty is sold to a considerate corn dealer, but the dealer's foreman, Jakes, overworks the horses and uses the bearing rein. However, when a lady suggests that Beauty would perform better without the bearing rein, Jakes takes her advice. Impressed by her concern, Jakes becomes gentler with Beauty. Unfortunately, the dark stables almost make Beauty blind, leading to his sale to a cab business once more. This time, his owner, Nicholas Skinner, runs several dilapidated cabs and employs a group of overworked drivers who vent their frustrations on the horses. When a customer demands that Beauty pull an excessively heavy load, the horse collapses. A farrier rescues him from being put down by discovering that Beauty's wind is not broken. Beauty is taken to auction and purchased by Farmer Thoroughgood and his compassionate grandson, who believe they can rehabilitate him in their country meadow. They succeed and eventually sell Beauty to Ellen and Lavinia Blomefield. Joe Green, still working for the Blomefield family, recognizes Black Beauty, who then enjoys a long, happy life in his final home.