Character guide
Who's who in Black Beauty: The autobiography of a horse by Sewell, Anna: meet the 7 main characters, see how they connect, and open a detailed profile for each.
7 illustrated profiles
Also known as the beautiful black horse, my dear
The protagonist and narrator of the story, a well-bred horse who recounts his life experiences from a carefree colt to a hardworking cab horse.
As drawn: A well-bred young horse with a fine, soft coat of bright black that shines like a rook's wing, a pretty white star on the forehead, and one white foot on the off side.
Bonds:PollyKind welcome
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Also known as the chestnut mare
A fellow horse and Beauty's close friend, whose temperament has been hardened by a history of harsh treatment and neglect.
As drawn: A tall chestnut mare with a long, handsome neck, a fine head and a wary, hardened look about the eyes.
Bonds:MerrylegsStablematesPollyFormer companions
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A cheerful and gentle small pony who lives at Birtwick Park and forms a bond with the children.
As drawn: A small, handsome, well-kept pony, neat and sturdy in build, with a bright cheerful eye and the gentle bearing of one trusted to carry children.
Bonds:GingerStablematesJoeAssigned caretaker
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Also known as Joe
A kind-hearted stable boy who works at Birtwick Park and shows great affection and care for the horses.
As drawn: A boy of fourteen and a half, small and slight for his age, in the rough working clothes of a stable lad.
Bonds:MerrylegsAssigned caretaker
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Also known as the duchess
Black Beauty's mother, a wise old horse who taught him to be gentle and well-bred.
As drawn: An old, wise mare of good breeding, dark-coated and gentle-eyed, her face showing her years.
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Also known as the mare
A brave little girl who brings food to her father, Jerry, while he is working with his cab.
As drawn: A little girl of about eight, the image of her mother, with the same smooth dark hair and dark eyes, in a simple pinafore.
Bonds:PollyMother and daughter
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A woman who supplies Jerry with food when he cannot get home.
As drawn: A plump, trim, tidy little woman with smooth dark hair, dark eyes and a merry little mouth, in the plain dress of a cabman's wife.
Bonds:DollyMother and daughterBeautyKind welcomeGingerFormer companions
View character profileDrawn from who shares scenes with whom in the original text. Each bond is labeled from the pair's first scene together, so the map stays spoiler-light.
Storieta keeps this cast at your side while you read Black Beauty: The autobiography of a horse, portraits, names, and an ask-anything assistant that only knows what you've read so far. No spoilers, ever.
Explore the book page for Black Beauty: The autobiography of a horse and read the opening free, with no account needed.
Black Beauty is a first-person autobiography of a horse, told through the changing circumstances of his life in nineteenth-century Great Britain. The story brings readers into stables, country estates, roads, villages, and working yards, where the treatment of horses reveals the character of the people around them. Kindness, responsibility, cruelty, and loyalty matter deeply in this world: a young stable boy intervenes when he sees horses being abused, while a trusted groom worries about how different animals will fare under new owners. The book combines historical fiction with an intimate portrait of human-animal relationships, making the horse’s experience central rather than incidental.
Anna Sewell’s prose is direct, earnest, and emotionally observant, with a calm narrative voice that can turn urgent when an animal is endangered and tender when farewells arrive. Its Victorian setting appears in the formal households, carriage travel, social rank, country estates, and expectations surrounding servants and horses. The moral seriousness is clear, but the storytelling remains accessible, especially for younger readers. It will appeal to anyone drawn to animal-centered narratives, historical settings, humane concerns, and stories that see courage and compassion in everyday actions.
Every cast illustrated from the original text.
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