Black Beauty is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she was confined to her house as an invalid.[1] The novel became an immediate bestseller, with Sewell living just long enough (five months) to see her first and only novel become a success. This story is about a horse that is sold from place to place. On his way, he meets many different horses, each of which have different personalities. He also meets lots of owners that treat him differently. Each chapter talks about a different incident in Black Beauty's life, and they all contain a lesson related to the treatment of horses.