The best-selling novel Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell, was first published in 1877. Years ahead of its time, the story is a first-person narrative told from the perspective of the horse Black Beauty. This unique point of view enables readers to empathize with the lives of working horses and to reflect upon the cruel treatment that has sometimes been inflicted upon them. As a result, this beautifully written novel serves as a strenuous and timeless statement against animal cruelty and exploitation.