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Black Beauty cover art

Black Beauty

By: Anna Sewell, R. D. Carstairs - adaptation
Narrated by: Samuel West, Samantha Bond, Tamzin Outhwaite, Paul Thornley, Matt Stokoe
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Summary

Framed as a first-person narrative from the eponymous horse, this much-loved family classic follows Black Beauty's journey from a well-born colt to a painfully overworked cab horse. Brimming with vivid detail and relatable characters, each chapter of Black Beauty's long and varied life communicates an important message about kindness, sympathy and understanding.

Following the success of the double Audie award-winning Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book: The Mowgli Stories, Audible Originals UK are excited to announce this reimagination of Sewell's unique concept as an animal-based audio drama for all the family.

Black Beauty features lead performances from Samuel West (BAFTA nominated; Mr Selfridge, Howards End), Samantha Bond (SAG nominated; Downton Abbey, James Bond), Paul Thornley (Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, Les Misérables) and Tamzin Outhwaite (EastEnders, Great Expectations, Foyle's War) as well as the original theme music 'Galloping Home' by Denis King.

Public Domain (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"Get ready to laugh, cry and sigh with nostalgia as everyone's favourite fictional horse makes a comeback." (Horse & Countryside)
"Perfect for the whole family to listen to together." (The Week)

What listeners say about Black Beauty

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Black Beauty

Loved listening to this reminded me so much of the TV show from when I was a little girk

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Dramatic but annoying sound affects

A dramatic story! I listen to my audio books through the car audio. Sadly it makes the frequent neighing sound affects rather annoying/uncomfortable on the ear....I wonder if there are different sound affects they could have used and ones not so regularly piercing on the ear.

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  • Overall
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Classic story

From when the theme music started I was taken back to my childhood and loved hearing this story all over again

Black beauty, merylegs, ginger and all the other horses so wonderfully bought to life

Loved this

Thank you

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Never gets old

I have listened to This storyline hundreds of times but I never get bored of it: It can be a bit sad at times but I would really recommend to anyone especially if you have even the remotest interested in horse!

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Beautiful

This is a wonderful retelling of one of my favourite stories. The performances are all excellent it was a joy to listen to.

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Samuel West portrays Black Beauty wonderfully

Any additional comments?

As I hadn’t read Black Beauty I was under the impression it was a whimsical horse story for girls - a equine equivalent of Lassie the Wonder Dog. It isn’t.

Written in 1877 it chronicles the life of Black Beauty and is told by the horse itself.

A theme of animal welfare and human kindness runs throughout the life of Black Beauty, though on a few occasions it did sound a little preachy. The only other minor criticism is that as I know what Tamzin Outhwaite looks like, when Ginger spoke an image of Ms Outhwaite was speaking in my head rather than a horse. Samuel West portrays Black Beauty wonderfully.

An enjoyable listen and am glad to have used a credit for it.

A big thanks to Audible, please keep producing audio dramas as they are really appreciated!



[ If you would like to hear more audio stories from the viewpoint of a horse have a look at ‘Warhorses of Letters’ starring Stephen Fry. ]

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Brilliant

A great telling of a classic ! The performances kept me entertained throughout. A must for any horse lover.

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A blast from the past!

I really enjoyed this dramatisation. I read this book as a child and watched the many iterations on TV.

This story is timeless and its lessons on respect and care just as valid today as they where when they were written.

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A Heartwarming Horsy Tale.

The theme rocked.😁😁😁😁😁😁😁 The story be so heartwarming. Animals rock for all time eh.

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A great listen

A very enjoyable book I, was surprised how good it was, a lot of action in this story. So glad I downloaded it, would highly recommend it., it's not just for the young one's , older one's too.

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6 people found this helpful