Black Beauty (Anna Sewell, 1877)

The next Classic Adventures hardbook plucked from the pile was Black Beauty. This is one of the few I attempted to read when I got these books back in 1993, but I never made it through to the end for some reason. Reading it again, from beginning to end, I think I know why. It's because horses are essentially boring. 

If I was a pre-teen girl, maybe Black Beauty would have held me spellbound. As it is, this first-horse narration of a horse's life, complete with detail on saddles and bits, with an occasional adventure like a fire, is pretty pedestrian stuff. It's a well-written book, and it's an interesting concept - telling a story from a horse's POV - but it did little for me. At least I can say I've read it now. And move on to another book. 

Oh and where Three Musketeers, Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea made me want to seek out good movie versions, I won't be tracking down any filmic Black Beauties on Amazon.co.uk