The sound quality and the lovely English accent in this audio version of Black Beauty combine to do this classic title justice to its esteemed place in children's literature.
Naturally this book has been a favorite of girls through out the decades, but Black Beauty is a "boy horse", right? When I read the book over 50 years ago as a horse-crazy girl, I imagined the narration in a masculine voice. I was disappointed to hear the opening lines in the feminine gender. The voice of women should be reserved for Black Beauty's mother and for Merry Legs, the pony companion we all grew to love as youngsters.
If the audio version must be read by but one person, perhaps a fellow would be the better choice because a good story teller of the male gender can soften or raise his voice a bit for the opposite sex when their lines are spoken. Furthermore most of Black Beauty is filled with many characters of boys and men.