Anna Sewell was an English novelist best known for Black Beauty, a compassionate account of a horse's life that encouraged readers to consider the animals in their care. Born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, she grew up in a Quaker family and received much of her early education from her mother, the writer Mary Wright Sewell. Her upbringing joined a love of storytelling with a strong concern for kindness.

An injury in adolescence left Sewell with lasting difficulty walking, and horses became important companions and a means of travel. She helped edit her mother's writing before composing her own novel during years of poor health. Published in 1877, Black Beauty follows its equine narrator through changing owners, contrasting considerate care with neglect and cruelty.

Although later embraced as a children's classic, Black Beauty was written to influence people who worked with horses. Its memorable animal characters and direct, sympathetic voice made that message accessible to a wide readership. Sewell published no other novel, but this single work secured her place in English literature and helped bring humane treatment of horses to public attention.