Published in 1877 and set in Victorian London, Black Beauty has remained a classic for 140 years. Now the beloved story of the horse Black Beauty is retold for beginning readers with full-color illustrations on every page. nBlack Beauty, published in 1877 and set in Victorian London, was Anna Sewells only novel. Yet it has remained a classic for 140 years. Now the beloved story of Black Beauty is retold for beginning readers with full-color illustrations on every page.