Anna Sewell in Old Catton, Sewell wrote the manuscript of "Black Beauty" – in the period between 1871 and 1877. During this time her health was declining; she was often so weak that she was confined to her bed. Writing was a challenge. She dictated the text to her mother and from 1876 began to write on slips of paper which her mother then transcribed. Although the book is now considered a children's classic, Sewell originally wrote it for those who worked with horses. She said "a special aim was to induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses". In many
Elizabeth Missing Sewell published, besides those already mentioned, seven tales, of which "Ursula" (1858) is the most important. She wrote also many devotional works such as "Passing Thoughts on Religion" (1860) and schoolbooks. Of the former "Thoughts for Holy Week" (1857) and "Preparation for the Holy Communion" (1864) have been often reprinted, as late as 1907 and 1910 respectively. Her schoolbooks chiefly deal with history, and two volumes of "Historical Selections" (1868) were written in collaboration with Charlotte Yonge. Elizabeth Sewell contributed to the "Monthly Packet". Elizabeth Missing Sewell Elizabeth Missing Sewell (19 February 1815 – 17 August 1906) was an English author