The point of view in the story is from the horse in the story "Black Beauty." It is an unusual style which made the book all the more appealing. The horse tells the story from the beginning of his life in the meadows frolicking as a colt. He explains how he did not like the breaking in period when the men had grabbed him and wrenched his mouth open and forcing a halter on him.
"I was high bred and had a great deal of spirit, and was very wild, no doubt, and gave them I dare say plenty of trouble, but then it was dreadful to be shut-up in a stall day after day instead of having my liberty, and I fretted and pinned and wanted to get loose."
After the fire Black Beauty recalls how the master had talked with James about the fire and told him to put down some hay for the horses. Two horses had not been able to get out of the fire and had to be buried under the burnt rafters and tiles.