Black Beauty Audiobook By Anna Sewell, R. D. Carstairs - adaptation cover art

Black Beauty

An Audible Original Drama

 Preview

Black Beauty

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

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 Classics Kids Audible Originals Heartfelt Feel-Good Scary

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)

Featured Article: 25+ Quotes About the Power of Kindness


Kindness is the quality of being considerate, compassionate, generous, gentle, and caring towards others without expecting anything in return. Often described as a virtue, kindness is also a strength—in fact, it may be one of humanity's greatest superpowers. Whenever you need a little encouragement or gentle reminder, turn to these quotes from authors who understand the power of kindness and express it quite remarkably.

Featured Article 25+ Quotes About the Power of Kindness
Compelling Storytelling • Strong Characters • Emotional Impact • Timeless Classic • Moral Lessons
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Great performance and voices. This novel was written in 1877 and its depiction of horse mistreatment led to major animal rights reform for horses. It’s a little sad to listen to how horses could be mistreated, and the writing has a lot of simplistic “life lessons” similar to the book little women, but also gives insight into what life was like in the late 19th century. This was my first time to read it (I am in my 30s) but I see why it is considered one of those classics used in schools.

Good for an 1877 novel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really pleasant listen

Just the right amount of drama without turning depressing

Overall a happy sweet and easy to listen to story

So endearing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This audio dramatization of the story and of the 1970s BBC series was truly magical. It reminded me of one of those classic radio dramas in which we are plunged in to a world of sound, sites and periods of history, capturing our imagination and our senses. The performance was excellent, the sound affects were wonderful and the music was enchanting. I have always loved the theme tune, Galloping Home. At the end of the production, where the theme tune is played in its entirety, I was filled with nostalgia as I remember being mesmerized as a young child at the TV series. Thank you for this amazing production. I will listen to it again without question. I have also recommended it to a friend who said she could not stop listening to it.

A magical dramatization

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great book for kids 10+. This book is a free book, and is easy to fallow.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As a lifelong fan of this story, it was really well told and acted well. It is very true to the book I’ve loved so much. I definitely recommend this adaptation for any fan of the book or any horse fan for that matter.

One of the best Black Beauty adaptations

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I had not heard this story before, but it was very heartwarming. It teaches compassion and love, not only for animals, but also people. I will listen to it again, and also share it with my children and grandchildren!

Loved the story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
read this many times when i was young and absolutely loved hearing it read to me, the readers were amazing. loved the sound affects, where as i normally don't. highly recommend.

Classic story well worth listening!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved everything about it and the sound effects, the ending was perfect, but poor Ginger.

Greatest book and performance

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I never read the book Black Beauty as a child and probably wouldn’t have listened to the audiobook had it not been free BUT I’m so glad I listened to it. I have an hour drive to work each direction so audiobooks have become my comfort before and after each shift and Black Beauty was by far the very best Audible Original that I’ve listened to. The book is a timeless classic that I didn’t know that I would fall in love with. I experienced so many emotions listening to it... happiness, sadness, anger, and happiness again. The story, the presentation, the narrators were all superb. I will listen to is over again and will definitely recommend to my sons to listen to it. Beautiful story all the way around with wonderful life lessons.

Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What a wonderful story to listen to. So many great things I have to say about it. I hope many other people give a chance to listen to this great story.

The story that Carrie’s morals.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews