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Watership Down: A Novel Paperback – November 1, 2005
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The 50th anniversary edition of Richard Adam’s timeless classic, the tale of a band of wild rabbits struggling to hold onto their place in the world—“a classic yarn of discovery and struggle” (The New York Times).
A worldwide bestseller for over thirty years, Watership Down is one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England’s Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale 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 from their native Sandleford Warren, through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, and toward the dream of a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.
“Spellbinding…Marvelous…A taut tale of suspense, hot pursuit and derring-do.” —Chicago Tribune
- Print length476 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Lexile measure880L
- Dimensions5.25 x 1 x 8 inches
- Publication dateNovember 1, 2005
- ISBN-109780743277709
- ISBN-13978-0743277709
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"All books should end the way Watership Down ends, with one hundred pages of Ahhhhh."—Madeline Miller, author of Circe
"Spellbinding...Marvelous...A taut tale of suspense, hot pursuit and derring-do."—Chicago Tribune
"Marvelous... powerful."—The New York Times Book Review ― Chicago Tribune
About the Author
Madeline Miller is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Women’s Prize for Fiction 2012, and Circe, which was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. Her books have been translated into over thirty-two languages.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Watership Down
By Richard AdamsScribner Book Company
Copyright ©2005 Richard AdamsAll right reserved.
ISBN: 9780743277709
Chapter One
The Notice Board
Chorus: Why do you cry out thus, unless at some vision of horror?
Cassandra: The house reeks of death and dripping blood.
Chorus: How so? 'Tis but the odor of the altar sacrifice.
Cassandra: The stench is like a breath from the tomb.
-- Aeschylus, Agamemnon
The primroses were over. Toward the edge of the wood, where the ground became open and sloped down to an old fence and a brambly ditch beyond, only a few fading patches of pale yellow still showed among the dog's mercury and the oak-tree roots. On the other side of the fence, the upper part of the field was full of rabbit holes. In places the grass was gone altogether and everywhere there were clusters of dry droppings, through which nothing but the ragwort would grow. A hundred yards away, at the bottom of the slope, ran the brook, no more than three feet wide, half choked with kingcups, watercress and blue brooklime. The cart track crossed by a brick culvert and climbed the opposite slope to a five-barred gate in the thorn hedge. The gate led into the lane.
The May sunset was red in clouds, and there was still half an hour to twilight. The dry slope was dotted with rabbits -- some nibbling at the thin grass near their holes, others pushing further down to look for dandelions or perhaps a cowslip that the rest had missed. Here and there one sat upright on an ant heap and looked about, with ears erect and nose in the wind. But a blackbird, singing undisturbed on the outskirts of the wood, showed that there was nothing alarming there, and in the other direction, along the brook, all was plain to be seen, empty and quiet. The warren was at peace.
At the top of the bank, close to the wild cherry where the blackbird sang, was a little group of holes almost hidden by brambles. In the green half-light, at the mouth of one of these holes, two rabbits were sitting together side by side. At length, the larger of the two came out, slipped along the bank under cover of the brambles and so down into the ditch and up into the field. A few moments later the other followed.
The first rabbit stopped in a sunny patch and scratched his ear with rapid movements of his hind leg. Although he was a yearling and still below fall weight, he had not the harassed look of most "outskirters"' -- that is, the rank and file of ordinary rabbits in their first year who, lacking either aristocratic parentage or unusual size and strength, get sat on by their elders and live as best they can -- often in the open -- on the edge of their warren. He looked as though he knew how to take care of himself. There was a shrewd, buoyant air about him as he sat up, looked around and rubbed both front paws over his nose. As soon as he was satisfied that all was well, he laid back his ears and set to work on the grass.
His companion seemed less at ease. He was small, with wide, staring eyes and a way of raising and turning his head which suggested not so much caution as a kind of ceaseless, nervous tension. His nose moved continually, and when a bumblebee flew humming to a thistle bloom behind him, he jumped and spun round with a start that sent two nearby rabbits scurrying for holes before the nearest, a buck with black-tipped ears, recognized him and returned to feeding.
"Oh, it's only Fiver," said the black-tipped rabbit, "jumping at bluebottles again. Come on, Buckthorn, what were you telling me?"
"Fiver?" said the other rabbit. "Why's he called that?"
"Five in the litter, you know: he was the last -- and the smallest. You'd wonder nothing had got him by now. I always say a man couldn't see him and a fox wouldn't want him. Still, I admit he seems to be able to keep out of harm's way."
The small rabbit came closer to his companion, lolloping on long hind legs.
"Let's go a bit further, Hazel," he said. "You know, there's something queer about the warren this evening, although I can't tell exactly what it is. Shall we go down to the brook?"
"All right," answered Hazel, "and you can find me a cowslip. If you can't find one, no one can."
He led the way down the slope, his shadow stretching behind him on the grass. They reached the brook and began nibbling and searching close beside the wheel ruts of the track.
It was not long before Fiver found what they were looking for. Cowslips are a delicacy among rabbits, and as a rule there are very few left by late May in the neighborhood of even a small warren. This one had not bloomed and its flat spread of leaves was almost hidden under the long grass. They were just sitting on it when two larger rabbits came running across from the other side of the nearby cattle wade.
"Cowslip?" said one. "All right -- just leave it to us. Come on, hurry up," he added, as Fiver hesitated. "You heard me, didn't you?"
"Fiver found it, Toadflax," said Hazel.
"And we'll eat it," replied Toadflax. "Cowslips are for Owsla -- don't you know that? If you don't, we can easily teach you."
Fiver had already turned away. Hazel caught him up by the culvert.
"I'm sick and tired of it," he said. "It's the same all the time. 'These are my claws, so this is my cowslip.' 'These are my teeth, so this is my burrow.' I'll tell you, if ever I get into the Owsla, I'll treat outskirters with a bit of decency."
"Well, you can at least expect to be in the Owsla one day," answered Fiver. "You've got some weight coming and that's more than I shall ever have."
Continues...
Excerpted from Watership Downby Richard Adams Copyright ©2005 by Richard Adams. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- ASIN : 0743277708
- Publisher : Scribner; Reprint edition (November 1, 2005)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 476 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780743277709
- ISBN-13 : 978-0743277709
- Reading age : 10+ years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 880L
- Item Weight : 12.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.25 x 1 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #8,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #102 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction
- #315 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #778 in Epic Fantasy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Richard George Adams (born 9 May, 1920) is best-remembered as the author of Watership Down, but wrote many other novels, short stories, poems and a biography.
He originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two daughters, Juliet and Rosamond, on a trip to Stratford-on-Avon, to see a play. They insisted he publish the tale as a book. When Watership Down was finally published, it sold over a million copies in record time in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Watership Down has become a modern classic and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972.
Others of his books include Shardik, Maia, Tales from Watership Down, The Girl in a Swing and The Plague Dogs, the last two of which, together with Watership Down, have been filmed. His goal was always to tell a good story, ideally one so good you can't put it down! His last work, 'The Adventures of Eggbox Dragon', which is a picture-book for younger children, will be published posthumously by Hodder in 2017. It was written when he was 93.
During his later years Richard and his wife Elizabeth lived in Whitchurch, Hampshire, very close to Watership Down, and not far from where they had both grown up. He wrote about his childhood and youth, including the time he served in the army in World War II, in his biography 'The Day Gone By'.
During the last year of his life he kept a blog: https://www.watership-down.com/blog/. He died peacefully on Christmas Eve 2016.
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I knew I was in for a treat by the time I’d finished Madeline Miller’s wonderful intro to this novel. She sings the novel’s praises, gushes over its author, and previews the principal characters as if they were old friends (because they are). She also paints a spirited, fascinating picture of the deep intellectual foundation on which the novel stands: fable as allegory, rich allusions to classical literature, epic heroic struggles, profound philosophical questions. Miller, of course, is herself a sensational, top-tier author who knows one when she sees one.
Then comes author Richard Adams’ own brief intro, which may or may not predate Ms. Miller’s but seems (at least in spirit) to be a response to Ms. Miller. With genuine humility he does his best to prove Miller wrong: “I want to emphasize that Watership Down was never intended to be some sort of allegory or parable. It is simply the story about rabbits made up and told in the car.” The contrast between Miller and Adams made me smile.
Of course there’s no real contradiction here: together, the two intros paint a delicious picture of what great art is all about. This is both a thoroughly enjoyable, easy-to-read adventure story, and a thoughtful reflection on a wide range of important issues. Whether you’re looking for depth, or just want an entertaining story, you’ll find it here. This book is a pleasure and a treasure for readers of all ages and inclinations.
The book is about a band of rabbits who set out from their warren under the leadership of Hazel and his brother Fiver, who has prophetic instincts and visions.
WARNING!!! SPOILERS AHEAD!
One day, as Hazel and Fiver are out casually nibbling on grass, Fiver suddenly is overwhelmed with a sense of danger from the warren and sees the field covered in blood. He convinces Hazel that they must leave the warren with as many rabbits as possible and as soon as they could. They manage to gather a small band by the next night after an unsuccessful attempt at persuading the Chief Rabbit. They set off immediately following a scuffle with Holly, captain of the Owsla (leading group of rabbits in a warren).
By the end of the second day of their journey, there are those in the group who feel that Fiver might have been wrong and want to return to the warren. They question Hazel, demanding to know if he even knew where they were going. But Fiver has another vision that they should go to the distant hills, where at the very top they would be safe. However, a mist of trouble lay between them and the hills, which they must head into.
The rabbits continue on, with Hazel telling them that he will lead them to a better place by sunrise. To everyone’s surprise, he does. They find themselves in a beautiful field with no trace of elil (enemies of rabbits) and begin digging scrapes to live in. Here, they encounter a strange rabbit called Cowslip and his warren. All the rabbits think that this was the perfect place. Only Fiver urges them to have nothing to do with them. After a few days, they settle and Fiver finally decides that he would leave, even if no one else followed. Before he goes, however, Bigwig is caught in a snare. The rabbits learn of the horrible truth of the warren from Fiver and are shocked. Without further ado, they leave, taking a rabbit called Strawberry who had lost his wife to the snares with them.
Soon, they reach the hills that Fiver had spoken of and explore them. They find a couple of rough scrapes that they live in the first night, but Blackberry suggests that they start on their own burrow – in the forest. They do so and consult Strawberry on the making of the large caverns they had back at Cowslip’s warren. Finally, the burrow was complete and they called it the Honeycomb. Hazel saves a mouse from a hawk, surprising everyone. Then, unexpectedly, an exhausted and wounded Captain Holly shows up with a rabbit called Bluebell. They bring the news that their old warren had been destroyed and share their story.
Hazel reveals his idea that if he helped the mouse, he might, in turn, help them. He urged them to help other animals who were not elil and needed help. The next day, they have a chance to put Hazel’s idea to practice, as they find a wounded seagull. Hazel convinces them to help it. Bigwig finds out that its name is Kehaar. Hazel finally explains his reasons. The warren faces a big problem: they had no does. And it would take them ages to find some. But that was his idea: to ask Kehaar to search for them, since a bird could cover much more ground than a rabbit could and in much less time.
Their efforts were rewarded when Kehaar agrees to help them. He is gone for several days, but when he returns, he spoke of another warren – a big one – about two days away. They send envoys to ask for does. Meanwhile, Hazel leads an expedition for does at a nearby farm. They return with two does and a buck, but Hazel is shot and assumed dead. However, Fiver and Blackberry find him and bring him back. The rabbits who went to the other warren also return, their trip unsuccessful.
The warren is called Efrafa. They are led by a fierce rabbit called General Woundwort who, even though their warren was overcrowded, would not let anyone go. Their Owsla was chosen from the best and all rabbits know how to fight and kill. They had conquered or killed all warrens other than theirs nearby. Hazel decides that they would raid Efrafa for does. They set out with Kehaar and a few other rabbits.
On the way, they find a punt, which Blackberry realizes they could escape in. It was decided that Bigwig was to infiltrate Efrafa and gather as many does as possible. He would lead them in an escape with the help of Kehaar. Then they would all escape in the punt. They set their plan in action and watch as it unfolds before their eyes. All is well until…
General Woundwort discovers the location of their warren. They prepare to fight and take the warren. Hazel orders the rabbits to fill up the holes. Fiver suddenly is overcome by a vision and sinks into a stupor that Hazel cannot wake him from. Hazel remembers an incident with a dog from a long time ago and has an idea. While the fight goes on at the warren, he and two other rabbits dash for the farm and free the dog. They lead the dog back to the warren, wrecking havoc in Woundwort’s ranks. Meanwhile, Bigwig has confronted General Woundwort himself and, against all odds, defeated him. The Efrafans surrender almost immediately.
Finally, after a long, hard journey, the rabbits are allowed peace. At long last, Hazel begins to feel himself getting old and, one clear dawn, he slips away to join the Owlsa of the rabbit with silver ears.
The novel follows the tale of Hazel the rabbit and his various companions as they narrowly escape dangers in an attempt to establish their own warren (think of it as a rabbit community). It's tempting to interpret the trials that the rabbits face as if they are allegorical (there are spiritual themes, as well as lessons about unnatural behavior, helping those in need, and seeking peace before war), but in the preface Adams explicitly states that he meant nothing by the book other than to tell a story about rabbits. Although immersing one's self into the world of the rabbits -- including their habits and language (Lapine) -- takes a tiny bit of getting used to, once you are there, it's absorbing and real.
Adams' prose is astounding and the characters are vibrant and distinct. For a book with such a large cast, rarely is it hard to distinguish one rabbit from another, and the conversations, actions, and obstacles that occur are imagined and related with stunning clarity. Obviously a naturalist, Adams demonstrates a keen eye for wilderness details. The pages seem to burst with the color, smells, and sounds of a world of wild animals.
Others describe the book as flawless, but I wouldn't go that far. In spite of their evocative beauty, Adams' descriptions of the hills, rivers, and foliage are overdone at points. I wouldn't be surprised if the book contained, by name, every single native plant that could be found in the section of England where the action occurs. Although that level of detail is admirable, it is also distracting (I've never heard of most of these plants and even after reading the book couldn't tell you what they look like) and occasionally stabs at the pace of the novel.
That brings me to my second minor quibble with the book. Although Adams has a craftsman's eye for detail and beauty, this works against him on a few of the novel's climactic moments. The action sequences seemed disjointed and clunky to me, especially since they relied so heavily on dialogue and -- again -- Adams' extensive use of detail. Ironically, there were points where he spent a paragraph or two describing a bridge or punt, and I still had difficulty picturing them in my head. It's a case of forest versus trees. Although Adams clearly knows he has a poet's ear for prose, he seems -- in just a few places -- not to realize that sometimes too many words can confuse rather than clarify.
These are small issues (oh, and I didn't care for the constant epigraphs, either; they add literally nothing to the story, and after a time, I just stopped reading them) in what is otherwise an astounding book, which I would gladly recommend to everyone I know, young or old, jaded or no.
Top reviews from other countries
I remember watching the film as a kid but completely forgot about it and it felt like a fever dream that I was so sure was real! And when I found out that this film existed and that there was a novel to it, I just had to follow my inner bookworm
Watership Down is on her list of books to read. It was first published in 1972, and some years later in1978 the film was releasd. Izx
Wanted to see the film, but decided to read the book first. Then I saw the the film.
The book is a great read, but it's very sad. However, it has a hidden meaning. For ages it's a joy to read, and be on everyones bookshelf.
My granddaughter was very excited when she saw the book, she like me us a lover of books. She has joined the library in her local school.
What astonishes me, is how little agency I see from the does (female rabbits). While there were a few does who were more outspoken, for the most part, does seemed to be more like valuable resources rather than like fellow rabbits with their own thoughts, feelings, desires, and dignity. I found this very strange, considering that the original target audience of Watership Down were both female---Richard Adams' daughters. He said that his daughters gave him feedback and suggestions on what to change or add in the story, too, so I wonder if his daughters hadn't seen a problem here. (Or were they afraid of offending their dad?) The male MCs didn't treat the does with disrespect per se, but the does were seen more as valuable, desirable property rather than as equals and peers... This bothered me, despite how much I loved Watership Down otherwise.
Back to the positives of the book, I appreciated how the MCs, though likable, also made mistakes sometimes. Even Hazel doesn't always make the right call. It feels encouraging to see that even if a rabbit is imperfect and stumbling, they are still lovable and wonderful.
Furthermore, it felt affirming to see how, even though the rabbits were understandably terrified of the unknown, they were still able to push themselves to take risks. It made me think of how I could be more compassionate towards myself, too. I am also terrified about some things, but I could push myself to venture out of my "safe spots". The rabbits had each other to rely on for support and courage, just as humans can give each other emotional and moral support. I liked the rabbit's friendship with the seagull, Kehaar, as well.
Dandelion's tales of El-ahrairah were delightful! It was fun to hear about the rabbits' folklore and mythology. The stories really help us understand the rabbits' attitudes and beliefs. The schemes that El-ahrairah uses to outwit his opponents and solve seemingly impossible problems, were very enjoyable to read too!
Finally, I loved how many of the MCs were 3D, dynamic characters. Like humans, they don't stay the same. They can also learn from their mistakes and grow to be stronger, bolder, and wiser.
Por cierto, se recomienda para 9-16 años, pero yo lo he disfrutado como una enana con mis 32 años- es un libro perfecto para adultos también.
Edição lindíssima, valeu muito a pena!