Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse

by Mim Eichler Rivas

Beautiful Jim Key -- the one-time ugly duckling of a scrub colt who became one of the most beloved heroes of the turn of the century -- was adored not for his beauty and speed but rather for his remarkable abilities to read, write, spell, do mathematics, even debate politics. Trained with patience and kindness by one of the most renowned horse whisperers of his day -- former slave, Civil War veteran, and self-taught veterinarian Dr. William Key -- Jim performed in expositions across the country to wildly receptive crowds for nine glorious years, smashing box office records, clearing towering hurdles of skepticism and prejudice, and earning the respect and admiration of some of the most influential figures of the era, from Booker T. Washington to President William McKinley.

This is the remarkable true saga of a truly exceptional animal -- and the no less exceptional man who led him to greatness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Horses, History, Animals, Biography, Book Club, Civil War

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Beautiful Jim Key is not just about a horse. As a matter of fact, at times it does not seem to have enough about the horse at all. Dr. William Key, the man who bred, raised and trained Jim, also gets sidelined for a great portion of the book by Albert R. Rogers, the promoter. He was annoying and to me seemed to be involved more for the money and fame to be won than for any other reason. Are promoters a necessary evil? I suppose so. Dr. Key and Jim were well-known locally before Rogers ever came along, but his work made them famous in a way they might never have been otherwise. However, I was still irked with how much space he was given in the story, by his greed and egotistical behavior, and by his twisting of the truth.

The parts of the book that told about Dr. Key's life were much more compelling; so was the story of how Jim came into the world.I do have just one tiny nit to pick about the night Jim was born, though. Excuse me while I rant. First, most of the people who will read this review know I used to work on a horse farm, where we had as many as 18 foals born each year. I was present at a lot of these births, most easy, some not so much. But never, in the four years that I lived on the farm, never did I hear anything like what is described for the night Jim was born.
"Lauretta frantically paced, then lay down, her whinnying crescendoing with the night-splitting universal cry of a female in hard labor . . . ."

I have heard grunts, groans, and sighs. I have braced a mare while the vet used a come-along to drag a huge dead colt out into the world. That mare never made a sound. Now maybe Lauretta was a more delicate creature than the horses I worked with, but I still doubt that even an older delicate mare would split the night with a birth cry. Horses are prey animals. Their survival depends on the predators not being aware of any illness or injury. No mare in her right mind is going to draw such attention to herself. The instincts of thousands of years would prevent it, in my opinion.

Okay, rant over.

Jim was not a normal horse. From the time he was born, he was sickly looking and crooked, barely being able to walk. Dr. Key worked with him constantly, and this is most likely the secret to the connection they had. Jim seemed to think he was a dog, even to the point of living in the house for a time. The educating began after Jim had seen Dr. Key playing fetch with his dog. Jim took him a stick, wanting to play too. Everything developed from that point. Jim grew into a stunning animal who listened and learned as much as he could. I was not at all surprised about that ability, having had close relationships with many horses. I know they are much more intelligent than many people realize. And when anyone comes along who can 'think horse' many amazing things are possible.

At first Dr. Key and Jim traveled with their own medicine show, but Rogers met them at the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. They eventually performed in places such as Boston, New York, even the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. I did think it was more than a little ironic that the horse was touted as an example of what kindness towards animals could do. Rogers made deals with humane societies, using Jim's story as an educational device to prove that the cruelty towards animals that was so common in those days was not acceptable or necessary. But how much did Jim have to work to prove the point? At one exhibition he was on stage 12 hours a day! At the St. Louis World's Fair he and Dr. Key performed from nine in the morning to ten at night six days a week for seven months!

That seems excessive to me, but then I am a shy wallflower type of person who would never be able to handle even one performance, let alone dozens per day. Jim and Dr. Key apparently thrived on their schedule, as long as the horse was able to get out and have a gallop every morning and the sugar supply held out.

The book was good, but sad at the same time. Dr. Key was born a slave, fought in the Civil War, lived to see the world change, with the possibility open for equality between all people. But by the time Dr.Key passed away in 1909, he had also seen the fear and loathing take center stage again, and must have been disappointed, even though he surely knew that he had done what he could in his life to change attitudes. I just wish more people had paid attention.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a good wholesome family movie for movie night, someone had recommended 'Secretariat' to my husband, so I was looking at reviews for it on-line when I came across a picture book called 'Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World's Smarted Horse' by Emily Arnold McCully. It looked interesting. I borrowed it from my local library and read it to my children who are six and nine years old. We all loved it; I was fascinated and wanted to learn more about the man who trained the smartest horse in the world.

McCully's author note from 'Wonder Horse' said that the horse's trainer and owner, Doc Key, was a former slave who followed his master's two sons into the Civil War where he saved their lives, after he was a free man he went on to pay off the mortgage on his master's house. Those two facts alone amazed me and I wanted to learn more about Doc Key.

I was thrilled to find Mim Rivas's biography on both horse and man. The horse was "Beautiful, Jim Key", his owner and trainer, William "Doc" Key. They are two of the most endearing creatures I've ever read about.

I loved learning all the things Jim could do and his attitude while doing them, I would recount his accomplishments and antics at dinner each night to the amusement of my family.

I love the story about Jim sneaking in and stealing all the apples Doc stored in his desk drawer in the stables, how he ended up sleeping in the house every night with Doc and what happened when Jim got too big to sleep in the house.

I was reminded of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan while I read how Doc taught Jim the alphabet and how to spell. Doc worked with Jim for years teaching Jim the alphabet and numbers, then how to spell, add, subtract, multiply, make change, use a cash register, tell time, sort mail and cite biblical passages.

Jim and Doc eventually partnered with Albert Rogers and went on tour traveling the country spreading their message that 'anything is possible with kindness and patience.' They eventually joined forces with George Angell from the Massachusetts SPCA and the American Humane Education Society and took their message to millions of people especially encouraging school children to sign a pledge of kindness to all creatures.

If you are an animal lover I strongly encourage you to read this book. I just loved it. It is one of the sweetest stories I have ever read.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected the story of the smartest horse in the world, Jim Keys, who could spell & do math. Instead, I'm getting a wandering biography of Dr. Keys, his owner/trainer, Alan Rogers, his other owner/promoter & a history of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal societies, the plight of blacks from before the Civil War for a century, plus a lot of other stuff. There seems to be a little something in here for everyone, not really enough of any one thing to make me think it was a great book. It’s interesting & would probably be a good book to read for a book club since there is a lot to discuss.

It's not bad, although the story wanders through time, often bewilderingly. At least twice, the story wandered off track for so long that I was forced to page back when it got back on track. The continuity of the story was lost. I also find myself skimming parts such as long passages listing the bookings of Jim. I was fascinated by what the world was like for Dr. Keys, a freed black who was born before the Civil War in Shelbyville, TN. How the status of blacks changed over the years & in various areas was also of interest.

Many of the 'facts' are suspect. The courthouse in Shelbyville was destroyed 4 times from the time the story starts until it was researched. Newspapers, as the author tells us, were not always accurate, often they plain lied. There are 3 separate accounts of how Jim Keys died, for instance, only one of which was carried in a paper & the author tells us it is not likely the truth.

The book is often based on promotional pamphlets & other written material by Rogers & often backed by hearsay. Rogers was a promoter for many other acts & his facility with the truth is shown throughout the book. Bottom line, the truth was of secondary importance to his ambitions.

The biographical information about Doc Keys is mostly from his stories. Doc was a promoter, patent medicine man & consummate business man. His veracity is also open to question. There's no doubt he was a great man in many respects. A slave who served on both sides in the Civil War, he later took care of his old owners, even sending the kids to college & helping them get set in business. He made his own fortune while teaching himself to be a veterinarian & doctor. He was certainly a horse trainer without par considering the results he had with Jim.

While I have not caught any out-right lies that are provable, the story of Jim's dam is very suspect. It reads like something out of an adventure novel. Doc Keys participation in the Civil War is sketchy & full of questions. It could all be true, but I think the truth is at least incomplete. It is a good story, though.

The historical information of the times is very interesting. It brings to life the cities, full of animals & their plight. The politics among the early animal rights folks & the attitudes of the day come through in a way that makes an impression on me. The descriptions of the fairs, the Roosevelts & other famous historical figures are from a unique, quite personal perspective.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Jim Key is especially fascinating and mesmerizing - it's hard to believe a story like his almost got lost in history. I'm delighted that someone cared enough to share his life with those who weren't lucky enough to live during his heyday. The author was very thorough in researching Jim's life and those who were important to him. Almost a little too thorough - there were many, many extraneous details in this book that I could've done without, and parts of it were a bit dry to get through. However, the story of Jim entices you to keep reading - to let him touch your heart and mind as he did for tens of thousands so many years ago, and to remember the lessons of patience and kindness to animals and fellow mankind.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of an incredibly intelligent horse and his equally intelligent trainer. “Beautiful” Jim Key was born as an awkward, deformed colt, and he couldn’t even walk properly until he was two. But to the surprise of his owner, former slave William Key, he soon learned to nod and shake his head for “yes” and “no.” With careful training he went on to learn to read, do simple math, make change, spell, and tell time, and also to identify the days of the week, the months of the year, and how many days were in each month, including leap year. His owner conducted “medicine shows,” which helped him sell a linament he had concocted, and Beautiful Jim became an important part of the show. The pair eventually helped found the “humane to animals” movement, and with their fame they helped enlist millions.
If I have a problem with the book, it’s that the author simply isn’t a very good story teller. Among other problems, she uses more than 12 different names to refer to her protagonist, sometimes using nearly all of them on one two-page spread. Think I’m kidding? The protagonist is Dr. William Key, and besides referring to him by that name, she also calls him Bill, William, Key, William Key, Bill Key, Dr. Bill, the Doc, the Young Doc, Dr. Key, Doc Key, and young Bill. Your head’s spinning, referring all of these back to the main character. Besides that, the author, Mim Rivas, doesn’t seem to know how to explain things clearly. But if you can make it past these hurdles, you’ve got a fascinating book in your hands.

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book and chronicles the life of a remarkable horse and his African American trainer. The story is true, the horse taught only through love and patience and witnessed by millions is said to have had the intellegence of a 12 year child. He could read, count, make change, answer questions posed to him by anyone (not just his trainer) and was known to have charmed everyone who was priviledged to meet or see him. The story however, is about more than this amazing animal, it is about the man who trained him (equally as remarkable) and the man who promoted them and as a team, their desire to educate the public on kindness to animals and put a fire into the animal rights groups of their day, a task that they did successfully. It is also a great historical log of one family's civil war experince and the world of "colored" people at the end of the slave era and forward. The stories of the early World Fairs (where the Beautiful Jim Key performed) are charming from the invention of the ice cream cone there to rides and attractions. I highly recommend this book, written by a friend of mine, Mim Eichler Rivas, who did her research well and wrote a wonderful account of a bygone era.

[David. Luck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Jim Key is a story about an educated horse: educated with kindness and patience by a remarkable man, Dr. William Key. That story in itself is extraordinary, but the background and history that parallels the story makes this a truly rewarding read. Set in the late 1800's and the beginnings of the 20th Century, you will learn new facts about the Civil War, the Worlds' Fairs, the origins of the humane society, and how people of color were faced with new challenges after the civil war.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't actually finish this book...got about half way through and got tired of the slow pace of the story. Basically, I think the historical facts are an interesting story but the writing moved too slowly for me.

[Books I'm Not Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fascinating story, but the author gets carried away with tangents and bogged the powerful story down by too many details. Still, a powerful story about animals and the movements for humane societies and the prevention of cruelty to animals.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not literature but a fascinating slice of Americana. The horse that was taught to spell, read, add and subtract, and toured extensively. Educated by kindness and patience and an undisputed driver behind the humane movement.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a few years back (before Goodread) and absolutely loved it. I cried like a baby when it ended.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I think the author went astray from the main story on tangents and bogged down with details.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe I never heard this story before! This “educated horse” was incredibly famous at the turn of the 20th century and has been almost forgotten now. Weird that people still talk about “Clever Hans”, whose tricks were proven to be an inadvertent hoax, but not about “Beautiful Jim Key” whose tricks were either real or so well-done no one ever figured them out. This is my favorite kind of non-fiction: a new-to-me event from history with lots of background history for context.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the well documented history of an educated ex-slave, Civil War hero and "horse-whisperer" who trained a special horse to spell, do math, make change, write his name, and deliver mail through the use of patience and kindness. Their story intersects with the growth of the Humane Society and the ASPCA and is credited with the paradigm shift in the public's awareness about animals having thoughts and feelings.

I had never heard of Beautiful Jim Key before and was astonished to read about this immensely popular show during the turn of the century. From the World's Fair (1904 )in St Louis to the Pan Am Exposition and every major city in between from 1896 to about 1907, Jim Key was the top attraction of the time.

The book is graced with several pages of old photographs that bring the story to life.

To be clear, the book doesn't read like a novel. It is fact-filled and a more or less chronological telling of the life of Dr. William Key from his time as a slave to his death as a well respected community leader in Shelbyville Tenn. During his life, the country went through a civil war, reconstruction, and an industrial and technological revolution. Progressive movements got their start fighting for the more humane treatment of all life which translated into the struggles for equal rights, women's suffrage, labor rights, conservation and animal rights. The author puts the story of Jim Key, Dr. Key and A. Rogers, their promoter, in the context of this rich background. But it was the stories of Jim Key's performances that most touched my heart. I was left believing in how extraordinary this horse and owner were. This is a story that needs to be told and remembered for its contribution to the prevention of cruelty to animals.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who comes up with these titles? Or, more specifically, the subtitles? Let me tell you right now that this man and his horse did not change the world. Unless it's a world in a parallel universe. Last time I checked, both black people and horses still have a hard time of it.



The story did not need such crass hype in order to make it a good story. It's an interesting look at a small slice of American history where Alice Roosevelt and animal communication meet. Whether Jim Key actually knew English is not the point of the story. The story is that man and horse worked together happily and apparently without much stress. That might not sound like much, but it's a better deal than most horses get.

The really good thing about this memorable book is that the horse is given as much attention as the human characters. That's a bit sadly lacking in a lot of historical fiction that claims to feature an animal.

I used to work in a harness racing stable (don't ask.) The breed of horses used in harness racing in America is called the Standardbred. However, that name was not finalized in Jim Key's time. His dam was an Arabian and his sire was a descendant of Hambletonian. So he's described throughout the book as an Arabian/Hambeltonian.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Jim Key" or "Beautiful Jim Key" was a world famous horse of an era that is nearly forgotten. After the Civil War and leading up to the First World War many people worked for the betterment of everyday lives, not just for the downtrodden humans but for the most helpless of all, the animals. This was the era of "Black Beauty" and "Beautiful Joe". Jim Key's owner an ex slave with a magic touch with the animals, used the talent of his horse to help raise awareness and funds for the ASPCA. This is certainly not a PETA story, but with the current litigation over circus elephants and performance training it feels like a thread in our history that has been traced. Made me want to go and find my old copy of All Horse Go To Heaven. Without the persistance of the author much of this story would be gone forever, as perhaps its overlooked as just an oddity from an earlier time instead of an important event from earlier time that we should learn from. The relationship of Bill Key to his family and community and how he viewed the world influenced many people; he was an ex slave that brokered a skill with horses that had no great monetary value in the ordinary world into a career that brought him into contact with the greatest leaders of his day. Worth reading if you have fond memories of the really great animal stories of your youth and like great history to boot.

[Vanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an inspiring book about the USA just after the Civil war and the triumph of a black self-taught veterinarian. He led a wonderful exciting life that changed drastically when he taught his horse to read and write and do math. He traveled all over the East coast and was a huge draw at the World's Fair.
He outlived his 4 wives, all physicians. The story opened my eyes about how lives were lived at that time in the South. He had a white manager-partner to help run the business to make all the negotiations and plans for the extensive interactions required of all the shows they performed over the 17 years of the horse's life.
The dedication and love the gentleman shared with his horse was incredibly inspiring to anyone who has loved and cherished an animal. He was never away from him for one of those nights.
The book has a marvelous research list and yet no one knows how he trained the horse. The horse met with presidents and politicians and celebrities all the time. He was a purebred from Africa.
It would definitely be on my top ten of all time animal or historical books. The overall information was much more meaningful than anything taught in schools.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I've finished this book I found it to be a poignant history of a remarkable horse, his trainer, and promoter. There were many people associated with the success of Beautiful Jim Key. Similar to my experiences with showing horses, it is necessary to have a successful team to make the championships happen. There was a lot of history within the pages of the story that I found remarkable. For instance, on page 215 there is mention of Walt Disney at 2 1/2 years old probably attending some of the types of expositions where Jim Key was "performing." Walt's father, Elias had worked on construction of the Columbian Exposition. Did this influence the future of what Walt Disney accomplished? As the book reminds readers of the new innovations that were on display at the 1904 Exposition in St.Louis, I found those "new ideas" have all become commonplace 100 years later. What innovations are we getting glimpses of today that will be commonplace and even obsolete to our children and grandchildren? I am grateful that this story was revived and told. It is remarkable even in today's standards.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly don't know what to make of this book. At times, it seemed too fanciful to be real, and at other times, I wanted to see if my own horses could be as smart as Beautiful Jim Key. Overall, it was a compelling story.

A few complaints... I wish the book would have relied on more historical documentation. I do understand the limitations the author faced, but for me it would have lent to greater credibility.

As for the title, I am still wondering how the Jim and Doc changed "the world". Changed the lives they came in contact with, yes. But the world? That might be a stretch.

Still, this horse and his owner were remarkable. It's too bad they were relegated to obscurity until this book. Definitely worth reading.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story not to be believed. Maybe I take some of it with a grain of salt. Still, it is not invented. (Dr.) William Key, a horse whisperer, a self-taught veterinarian and a onetime slave lavished all his spirit and attention and love on a wondrous horse, Beautiful Jim Key. Beautiful Jim, bred and trained to be a race horse, won some measure of international attention with his performances, often at expositions, where he did arithmetic, appeared to read, did some spelling. It is fun to follow the story of this animal which earned the fond attention of thousands.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to give this five stars even though moments plodded along a bit (no pun intended re: horse); there simply would be no better way to structure this narrative and include all of the history that she did without a little bit of that.

Marvelous. I learned so much and the story was so compelling. So glad I was gifted this! (No pun intended re: horse)

[Sandy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to put this on my list of all time favorite books. The story of the horse is fascinating, but the story of the man is even better. It's such an amazing story, inspiring to think it could happen in America and during the time period after the Civil War. There may be hope for us after all.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, wonderful book! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to read about all of the lives involved, their relationships and their incredible talents. What a lost piece of history. Why has this treasure been forgotten until the writing of this book?

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next book I read was referred to me by my sister, called Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World’s Smartest Horse by Mim Eichler Rivas. This was an interesting book that took some time to get through due to its sheer density and wealth of information. While I’m not usually a fan of historical novels, this was an interesting and worthwhile read.
The story of Beautiful Jim Key is an interesting one which encompasses the lifetime of what was considered the smartest horse of the world. Jim Key was a son of an Arabian and a Standardbred, called at the time a Hambletonian after the founding sire of the breed. The author presents a lot of information, not only about Jim Key but about his trainer Dr. Bill Key and his promoter Albert Rogers. Jim Key’s journey from his mother’s history to his own birth, and finally to his celebrity status at the World’s Fairs that were happening at the time. The most interesting portion of this to me was Jim Key’s status as a representative of the humane movement, promoting the welfare and protection of both animals and children. Some of the values promoted then are somewhat outdated, but the core of the message remains the same: Be kind.
This was a tough book for me to get through for a variety of reasons. I’m not usually a purveyor of historical books, although I am glad to learn history. The author was also very true to her word and only gave information that could be historically documented. There were some assumptions, but she was very honest that they were assumptions. The story of Jim Key himself was fascinating, but I did find some of the other pieces very dry and hard to get through.
If you are interested in historical novels, this is a great read. It is centered in the Reconstruction Era, with some time periods in the Civil War. It was a good read and I am glad to have gotten through it, but it is not on the re-read list for me.

[Austin Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beautiful Jim Key
The book Jim Key by Mim Rivas explores the outstanding life of the world's smartest horse and the man who trained him. In this book review, I will explain why I would definitely recommend this book to high school students and history enthusiasts.

The book introduces Dr, key and his journey to finding a strong and intelligent horse that he can use in his business. He eventually finds himself on a ranch with two men and a frail, relatively abused horse. The horse clearly looked dirt cheap, but Dr, Key had observed the size of its head and certain features that convinces him to buy what would soon become Jim Key. Dr. key had then taken the horse and slowly but effectively turned it into a healthy, food motivated, and motivated horse. Dr, key meets many strangers along his journey that describe him as an eloquent speaker and outstanding businessman but most importantly, his love and will to care for animals. Jim Key is described as a charismatic, interesting, and friendly horse that even makes friends with a dog later in the story.

I can admit that in some points of the book reading the story can be a drag but the author ties together some excellent points to make a great historical reading that at times can captivate me, a 15-year-old. The book takes place during the civil war so for people learning about that time period it is a great choice of literature. The story is also rather uplifting and is fun to imagine as this large horse flails about in an effort to please the crowd.

I would read other books from this author and the book itself is truly a great piece that I would recommend for high school students who want to relax yet an informative book that teaches about the importance of teaching with love. Overall I believe that this book was a great choice for me to read and I will definitely look for other books involving Jim Key, the world's Smartest horse to ever live.

[Gloria Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding but true, every word. We’re talking about an ex-slave who was a genius and his Arabian-Hamiltonian horse, also a genius. Everything Dr. William Key set his hand to reaped success. And his greatest success came from educating his horse, whom he named Jim Key. Jim Key had the I.Q. of a 12-year-old human. He could read, write, do math, and many more things.

Experts said Jim Key was not a genius, but I think they said this in order to give credit to the intelligence of horses and other animals who in those days were given no credit for intelligence, much less emotions. The general public seemed to consider animals as not much more than automatons and tools. So they had to be convinced that Jim Key was not doing tricks in response to subtle signals. They had to be convinced that on occasion he won spelling bee challenges. And they had to be convinced that Jim Key knew exactly what he was doing and why.

There were organizations out to change the public mindset. From Uncle Tom’s Cabin to Black Beauty. People needed to know that kindness and education mattered, whether toward other humans or toward animals. And among the educators was Dr. William Key and his horse, Jim Key. Joining them was a wealthy promoter and a dog who independently chose to be Jim Key’s bodyguard.

Through several years of intense travel and exhibitions, Jim Key and his entourage became extremely popular and beloved. Today, if you drive through Shelby, Tennessee, you can see the monument erected in his memory.

So why was his history forgotten and only recently discovered? That is a puzzle, which illustrates how there are many stories of greatness lost to history. I’m grateful for the many that are recovered and written for public view.

Jim Key’s and Dr. William Key’s story deserves a place among other classics that have changed the public attitude for the better. Put this on your bucket list of books to read.

[Marie Carmean · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about two mostly forgotten beings who moved and touched America just before the turn of the century! One was Dr. William Key, born a slave, but a confident, intelligent self-made man. The other was his horse who he slowly and patiently educated to perform before World's Fairs and in cities across the east and southeast. Seen by Presidents and Governors and Mayors, he was beloved by even the poorest school child. Beautiful Jim Key was a wonder! He was able to do things that no other horse or any animal has been able to do since, such a spelling and math, even to making change with a National Cash Register. He answered questions, even acting distraught when he was told he was to be sold. It was all part of an elaborate act and though he and Dr. Key underwent invasive scrutiny to determine their secret "tricks", none were ever found! People from the sold-out audiences asked Jim the questions, or asked him to spell certain words and Jim promptly produced the letter cards to spell them. It was all for the benefit of preventing animal cruelty, and many chapters of the SPCA of the time popped up during the time.

The book goes into great detail about the years of Jim Key's training, about Dr. Key's life, and about the life of his family and of his promoter whose life became completely entewined in theirs. A beautiful book, bringing back the life and times we have all somehow forgeotten in our fast-paced modern era. It brings to mind the possibilities of the intelligence that could be found in some animals, if treated with patience and kindness..... and certainly of the love, for Jim Key and Dr. Key truly had an endearing love for one another.

[Jesse Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mim Eichler Rivas' non fiction novel, titled “Beautiful Jim Key” explores the message of overcoming racial barriers and promoting animal welfare. This book leads the reader through an emotional experience of overcoming the impossible.
In the book one of the main characters is Dr. Willam Key. A formerly enslaved man who worked hard to teach himself things like animal training with kindness, being a businessman, and a veterinarian. One more important character is Jim Key. Jim Key is an extraordinary horse who at first was born weak and on the brink of death, turned out to be really special. One of the most important places in the book is Tennessee. Tennessee where Jim Key was raised and trained, and also was William Key’s birthplace.
I enjoyed reading the book a lot because of the idea of kindness over cruelty. This theme is beautiful especially because at the time horse trainers would whip and abuse their horses to get what they wanted out of them. One example of this in the text is “Dr Key never raised a whip to Jim. He believed that a horse, like a person, learned best through encouragement, trust and love.” Another idea that I loved was the beautiful bond between man and horse. The wonderful relationship between William and Jim Key was so special because William treated Jim as a friend and not just an animal. One example of this in the text is “Jim Key was not just a horse to Dr. Key he was family. The two of them understood each other in a way few could comprehend.” Mim Eicler Rivas’s writing stands out because it has great storytelling, unbelievable history, and insane emotion.
This book was a rollercoaster of emotions and great storytelling, if you love history and animals this story is great for you.

[Armelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful Jim Key was an “educated” horse, trained by a former slave with a lifelong reputation for his ability to work with animals. The two, managed by a tireless promoter, performed before millions of spectators in the 1890s and the first few years of the 20th century. Their careers became closely tied to the birth of the ASPCA and related movements.

I wish I could’ve seen Jim perform, but the book was somewhat of a chore to read. There were many detours along the way, and while the detours were never totally irrelevant, they sometimes strayed too far away from the main story, and, more annoyingly, for far too long. There were also, particularly near the end, several conjectures that seemed a bit of a stretch.

There’s a lot in this short book (the last 50 pages are notes on sources and an extensive index). There’s slavery, the Civil War, the role of Tennessee during that war, the histories of several world’s fairs and expositions, race relations, the early history of SPCA, the story of the promoter AR Rogers, and a few notes on Walt Disney, Alice Roosevelt, the health of President McKinley’s wife, Helen Keller, and, oh yeah, Beautiful Jim Key.

In a way, the detours make it a good picture of American society in that era, and therefore much more than a horse story, but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for when I chose this book.