Watership Down

479 pages

English language

Published Sept. 6, 2001 by Perennial.

ISBN:
978-0-06-093545-0
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OCLC Number:
45556182

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5 stars (1 review)

Watership Down is the compelling tale of a group of wild rabbits struggling to hold onto their place in the world—soon to be a BBC and Netflix animated miniseries starring James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, and Oscar and Grammy award-winning Sir Ben Kingsley.

A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for more than forty years, Richard Adams's Watership Down is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

39 editions

Rightfully classic childrens book

5 stars

I somehow avoided both reading this or seeing any of the adaptations. I had high expectations given other reviews and recommendations but was not left disappointed.

Adams weaves a complex tale (which he insists isn't allegory, in the same way Tolkien somehow did...) and I enjoyed following from the perspective of the rabbits. I was surprised how much I loved the breaks in the narrative to cover lapine myths and legends.

While there isn't a candied chestnut or badger lord to be found, there was a similar magic to that I always appreciated in the Redwall books, but infinitely deeper and rawer.

The personalities of some of the rabbits are explained by the author to be inspired by his experiences of the second world war, and I think that definitely shines through.

Not much here for girls unfortunately, but it is a product of its time. Audiobook was narrated by …

Subjects

  • Rabbits -- Fiction.