Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell was an English author who lived from 1820 to 1878. She only wrote one book, called Black Beauty; but this book has gone on to become one of the most popular books ever written. It is said to be the sixth best-selling book in the English language.

Anna did not have an easy life. When she was only 14 years old she fell and broke both ankles while walking home in the rain. For the rest of her life she could barely walk and mostly got around in horse-drawn carriages. She developed a great love for horses, and was upset to see how badly many of them were treated. To help teach people how to treat horses well, she wrote the story of >Black Beauty.

Anna wrote Black Beauty in the final years of her life. She was not well during that time, and often was too sick even to get out of bed. Her mother, with whom she lived, helped her to write down the story. Anna died only five months after Black Beauty was published. Even by the time of her death the story was becoming very popular.

Black Beauty is available from Books for Learning, adapted for children aged nine and above.