This story is told in first person by a horse named Black Beauty, who is the protagonist. He tells the story of the horse, as simple and carefree foal of a farm to the hard life in London to retire to the country. Along the way, he meets with many hardships and recounts many tales of cruelty and kindness. Each short chapter recounts an incident in Black Beauty’s life containing a lesson or moral typically related to the kindness, sympathy, and understanding treatment of horses.