An ugly duckling colt, Beautiful Jim Key became one of the most heralded horses of the turn of the 20th century—not for his speed or his looks, but because he demonstrated remarkable abilities to read, write, spell, perform arithmetic, even debate politics. He performed before wildly receptive crowds and counted Booker T. Washington and William McKinley among his fans. In this double biography, Jim's story is coupled with that of his trainer and best friend William Key, a self-taught veterinarian, former slave, Civil War veteran, entrepreneur, and one of the most renowned horse whisperers of his time.