Anna Sewell (1820-1878) was an English writer, best known as the author of Black Beauty. At the age of fourteen, Sewell injured both her ankles and for the rest of her life was unable to stand without crutches or walk distances. To maintain mobility, she used horse-drawn carriages, contributing to her love of horses and her concern for their humane treatment. As her health declined, Sewell dictated Black Beauty to her mother, describing it as a novel to strengthen empathy toward horses. She died five months after its publication, living long enough to see its initial success as a children's classic.
