Watership Down

Story

When they realise that their warren is about to be destroyed, Hazel, Fiver and a small group of rabbits set off on a long and dangerous journey to find a new home. They meet friends and foes, human and animal, along the way.

Why we chose it

Watership Down is exciting, moving and beautifully written. We identify completely with the rabbits as they face danger, loss and betrayal and learn the value of friendship, courage and their ancient folklore.

This epic quest is a gripping adventure for younger readers and can be re-read at deeper levels. Likened to Homer’s Odyssey, it has become a much-loved classic and its underlying environmental message is still very relevant today.

Where it came from

Inspired by real places and people, classical myths and the talking animals in The Jungle Book, Richard Adams invented the story to entertain his two young daughters on long car journeys. Two years and many rejections later it was published to international acclaim and Adams gave up his job as a civil servant to become a full-time writer.

Where it went next

Watership Down won the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and sold over a million copies. It was adapted into an animated film in 1978, television series in 1999, and BBC Netflix miniseries in 2014. It has inspired many writers including the screenwriters of hit TV show Lost.

Associated stories

In 1996 Adams published Tales from Watership Down, a collection of myths from rabbit folklore and short stories about the characters in Watership Down.

Adams other books include Shardik and The Plague Dogs and a picture book, The Adventures of the Egg Box Dragon, published in 2017 with illustrations by Alex T Smith.

Find rabbit-related items from Richard Adams’ writing desk in the display cases in the Enchanted Library.