Anna Sewell

Lore & Background

Her mother was a successful author of children's books, and her father worked in drapery and later banking. The family moved to London soon after her birth, and Sewell was educated at home by her mother. At age fourteen, she slipped on wet leaves and sprained her ankle; the injury never healed properly, leaving her with difficulty walking for the rest of her life. She learned to ride and drive horses during childhood holidays in Buxton, Norfolk, where her grandparents lived. She suffered from a chronic fluctuating illness that caused fatigue, weakness, and pain, and she sought treatment at spa resorts in England and Germany. She assisted her mother in charitable work and edited her mother's books.

Reader's Guide

The book, narrated by a horse, was intended to promote kindness to animals and to expose the harsh treatment of horses in Victorian England. Although Sewell died shortly after its publication, the novel became a classic and has never been out of print. Its influence extended beyond literature, contributing to public awareness of animal welfare and inspiring reforms in the treatment of horses. Sewell's own experience with horses, gained from riding and driving during her childhood in Norfolk and later in Sussex, informed the authenticity of the story. The book's enduring popularity has made Anna Sewell a notable figure in English literature, despite her having written only one work.

Did You Know?

• At age fourteen, she slipped on wet leaves and sprained her ankle; the injury never healed properly, leaving her with difficulty walking for the rest of her life.
• Anna Sewell never married and always lived with her parents.