Black Beauty is an autobiographical book written by Anna Sewell. This autobiography of a horse is an 1877 novel that the author wrote during the last days of her life. The book became an immediate bestseller and Sewell was fortunate enough to see her only novel become a success. The first major animal story in children's literature begins with the birth of a handsome and well-bred horse. The story revolves around a time when horses were a crucial part of society as they were the only mode of human transportation.