Special fundraising edition of Black Beauty announced

“Anna said her aim in writing this book was to “to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses”. Black Beauty is credited with changing attitudes around how we see and work with these magnificent creatures, including helping to bring about a ban on the use of the bearing rein, a cruel piece of tack she highlighted in her novel.

“This, though, is the first time its sale has directly benefitted horses in need, with 50% of the proceeds from every copy sold directly supporting our work across the UK. Last year we gave a home to 109 horses and ponies who needed help and our field officers identified and intervened in 175 cases, improving the lives of 622 of these wonderful animals.

“We are very grateful to the UEA for this opportunity and all their kind support and feel sure this is something Anna would have approved of.” n To pre-order your copy of this special edition, visithttps://www.ueapublishingproject.com/productpage/black-beauty-by-anna-sewell

Anna spent a great deal of time in Norfolk during her life. She was born on 30th March 1820 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, in a building now known as Anna Sewell House.

Anna’s novel was published by Jarrold of Norwich, shortly before she passed away in 1878. Nearly 150 years later, Redwings became the caretakers of Anna Sewell House, using it to showcase her animal welfare legacy, and the charity’s own work in helping horses in need.

There have been countless editions of the novel – one of only a handful of works to have sold more than 50 million copies around the world and remain in print 150 years after publication – but never before has its sale been used to directly benefit the animals Anna loved so much.

The special edition, being produced to mark the 40th anniversary of Redwings, will be published in November and is available for pre-order now for the advance price of £8 (usual price £9.99). Half of all proceeds will go to the charity, who are responsible for over 2,000 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules across the UK.

Excitingly, it has a foreword by eminent children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Tracy Beaker and lifelong Black Beauty fan, and an afterword from Professor Thomas Ruys Smith of the UEA, a specialist in 19th century literature.

Redwings’ Chief Executive Lynn Cutress said: “We are so excited about this amazing collaboration.