Watership Down: A Novel

This is a must read for just about any child or young adult who enjoys classic , archetypal fiction. With the success of the Twilight, and Hunger Game series of novels , the Watership series does not offer the traditional teenage angst or young adult, romance that the fore mentioned novel do, but they are a serious and thoughtful, yet sentimental set of books about a group of refugee rabbits who are forced to evacuate their already socially oppressive warren for greener pastures. The main series introduces the reader to the main group of characters, and we get to know their character as members within their Rabbit society , as well as their religious belief system which is referred to as "Rabbit's Law" set forth by their "Abraham" like rabbit founder figure who showed defiance to the "Creator of the World", which resulted in the wholesale hunting and persecution of his whole race that being rabbits; in a world full of predators, including Mankind not just other animal species. El-ahrairah was condemned for his defiance but was also gifted to physically to avoid these predators who had the blood-lust to hunt down rabbits! The series is a tribute to cultural dynamics and social order even in a fictional world of human-like intelligent rabbits, nothing like "Planet of the Apes", but can be just as brutal and terrifying as the Planet of the Ape series is. I enjoy it because it is a sturdy story of friendship, loyalty, family and of courage and sacrifice for the greater good; that being the prosperity and survival of this warren of Rabbits and the survival of their animal race. Even more important the concept of freedom and the right to pursue it. You may find it very contemporary in light of today's social issues, such as female rabbits are held in subservient regard as just for breeding and rearing of the new born rabbits in their warren and are herded like livestock and not as equals within their warren's social structure. Which is the initial catalyst and original motivation for a small group of these rabbits to "mutiny" and try to escape in a mass Exodus from their original warren seeking social freedom from a "police-state" type of society, fictional though it maybe. It is comparable to the "walking Dead" series as a small group of characters band together to survive an onslaught of Zombies and Marauders left in the world, friends are made and lost during the journey as the story unfolds!

I first came across the book by recommendations of my teacher. I immediately fell in love with it and read deep into the night, unable to set it down. It really caught me by surprise how well written it was. 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.

Watership Down by Richard Adams is a wild, soul-stirring adventure that had me rethinking rabbits entirely—next time I spot one, I’ll see a hero, not just a fluffy critter! Set in the lush, perilous English countryside, this tale of survival, courage, and community grabbed me from the first page and never let go. Adams’ storytelling is pure genius, turning a bunch of rabbits into characters I cared about deeply, their fight for a new home feeling as epic as any grand saga. It’s packed with humor, thrills, scares, and heart, delivering a flood of emotions that hit all my sweet spots. What I loved was how Adams made Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, and their scrappy warren feel like family. Hazel’s steady leadership, Bigwig’s fierce grit, and Fiver’s quiet, almost mystical wisdom had me rooting for them against predators, traps, and a brutal enemy warren. The way Adams weaves rabbit culture—complete with clever tricks like befriending mice and a brash seagull—sparked joy and awe. The story’s deeper layers hooked me just as much: it’s a sharp look at leadership, with Hazel’s open, consent-driven warren shining against Efrafa’s cruel, totalitarian grip or Sandleford’s stifling complacency. It shows how true community, built on trust and shared struggle, can outlast any threat, with the rabbits leaning on each other and allies like Kehaar to survive. The El-ahrairah tales, full of trickster wit, aren’t just funny—they’re a lifeline, passing down moral lessons and a sense of identity through the rabbits’ god, Frith. “All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you.” This line captures the story’s heart: a defiant, cunning stand against a world out to get you, grounded in hope and cleverness. The mix of humor (those cheeky El-ahrairah tales!), heart-pounding escapes, and gut-wrenching sacrifices made me laugh, and gasp. It’s addictive, joyful, and sad, all at once—a rollercoaster of emotions I didn’t expect from a bunch of bunnies. Could anything be improved? Honestly, Adams nails it. The story’s so tight and vibrant I couldn’t find a real flaw. It’s as close to perfect as a rabbit tale can get. Overall, this book left me floored, a 5-star gem that’s funny, thrilling, and deeply moving. It’s hands-down the best animal story I’ve read. Its deeper truths, about leading with heart, building community, and holding onto hope through shared stories, stuck with me. Hazel’s courage, Fiver’s faith, and the power of their shared tales make this a journey I’ll revisit, ready to hop back into their vibrant, unforgettable world.

Its nice to enter the world of rabbit society and see how rabbits and other wildlife really thinks! The author has great knowledge of the names of plants and natural formations which is evident in his elaborate description of the various natural expanses visited as the rabbits pursue their quest. This book is definitely a British tome, but still almost universal in content. I say 'almost' due to the fact that the story is build upon the male characters. This is excusable in the predominately male settings, but even when the females enter the picture, they have very minor parts. None are developed as characters. Maybe this is due to the time the book was written (1978) but even by then you'd think stories would be more balanced. This might be a book for the young, but I think a teen would get more out of it than someone younger. By today's standards it may be a bit rambling and tedious. However, for those with the patience, it develops the characters well, including the human like motivations and politics of existing in a tiered society of police and policy enforcers and rulers. It is definitely a telling view of human like existence, frailties, and politics, as seen through the eyes of a different 'kind of people'--who can't count past 4. Hence the mystery of the name 'Fiver'. My age is that of a retired man. I picked this up because its a classic and deservedly so. For the right reader it can be quite addictive.

Excellent shipping! Wonderful book for a read aloud for families.

Fascinating book about metaphoric rabbits and their struggle to survive. Highly recommend it for adults and children. It is spell binding.

Although this book was written originally for children, it deals with all sorts of issues, and I promise you won’t be able to put it down!

This is a very good edition of a fun and exciting classic.

You should never look at this book and say "Oh, rabbits. Cute, fluffy, this will be fun." Because it's not fun. This is a rather gloomy story, with death and loss and grief and bloodshed. It's brilliant, of course. Most people only know the film, and the film is wonderful and perfect, but the book goes much deeper, as books should. Reading Watership Down is like reading history. It feels real, the stories and legends, the adventures, the problems, the challenges. It's not just about a bunch of rabbits seeking a new home. Every character really HAS character, a personality. The story is dark and frighteningly real in the way that is describes life as a wild creature. From their point of view, you are reminded how cruel humans are without even noticing. But it is not mostly about bad humans, it is also a big adventure, with losses along the way, and challenges, and friendship, and tragedy, and the hunger for power and what it does to you and those around you. Describing the story here is useless, first because you can look it up on Wikipedia, second because you really have to experience it. I particularly loved the bits of rabbit folklore in the form of legends about El Ahrairah, prince of rabbits, Frith and Inlé. And the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I did a lot of research and found many enriching things just following those quotes alone. Even the language of the rabbits is a wonderful idea, and I find myself using those words in real life. I tend to bond with characters of books that I love, and I know these characters will never leave me. This book makes you think, and it is unusual, not like any book I've ever read, it stands out, a marvellous story. Richard Adams is a genius. The story is wise, and this book alone has taught me a lot of things about life and myself and others, and I would certainly, without a doubt, be a different person if I had not had this story in my life. It may sound like an exaggeration, but it really, really isn't. For me, this isn't only a book that you put aside afterwards and get on with your life. I felt truly exhausted, happy, numb, sad and peaceful all in one when I finished this. This story became part of me. And I certainly hope it will enrich as many lives as possible.

Awesome

Watership Down ha sido una de las novelas mas influyentes que he leído al momento de volver a adquirir un libro. Pone estandares altos a las historias que he adquirido posteriormente. Richard Adams es un gran escritor en pocas palabras. Respecto a la paqueteria, todo llego en perfecto estado y en un muy buen tiempo.

Watership Down is a book for the ages. I have presented it to over 40 children myself. It is a children's book, but resonates on many levels with adult readers. The characters are all finely drawn and Hazel, in particular, is what the stuff of leadership should be all about in these troubled times. I encourage every parent to read this book out to their children.

AMAZING