Anna Sewell, born on 30 March 1820, was an English novelist best known for her influential work Black Beauty. Despite facing physical challenges from childhood after a severe sprain left her largely immobile, Sewell's spirit remained undimmed. Her mother, Mary Wright Sewell, was a successful author of children's books and a significant influence on Anna's life. Sewell's upbringing in a Quaker family fostered her strong moral convictions and deep empathy for animals, particularly horses.

Largely educated at home due to her disability, Sewell displayed a keen intellect and artistic talent. The family moved multiple times, eventually settling in Brighton, where her father worked as a Bank Manager. Throughout her life, Sewell's experiences and observations of the treatment of horses stirred a passion that would find its voice in her writing.

Completed in the latter part of her life and published in 1877, Black Beauty was Sewell's only novel. The book's narrative, presenting the world through the eyes of a horse, was a poignant plea for the humane treatment of horses. It quickly became a classic, resonating with readers for its advocacy of animal welfare and its vivid depiction of Victorian England. Sewell's objective to "induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses" had a lasting impact, contributing to changes in animal welfare practices. Although she passed away on 25 April 1878, just months after her novel's publication, Anna Sewell's legacy endures through the enduring popularity and influence of Black Beauty.