Watership Down

Watership Down is one of those rare books that can be found in the children’s section of the library as well as in the adult section.  It is a classic in the vein of Lord of the Rings, Alice In Wonderland, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  50 short chapters comprise this novel of 429 pages, making it an ideal bedtime story to be read to children - or to the child within.  But be forewarned, this story is much more severe than Bambi’s mother being shot, as Adams deals with the ugliness of life as well as its beauty.

Similar to other celebrated books, Watership Down was turned down by publisher after publisher before some reviewer finally saw the value of it.  Upon publication it was an instant success which allowed Adams to give up his job as a civil servant for  Britain’s  Department of Environment and live as a full time author. 

Watership Down developed from stories he would make up for his children on long automobile trips.  After he read R.M. Lockley’s book The Private Life of a Rabbit, and with the urging of his daughters to put his stories into print, Adams was inspired to make the description of rabbit life as realistic as he could.  He even mentions Mr. Lockley twice by name in his book (p. 22 & p. 424).  One learns a great deal about Lockley’s scientific work with rabbits by reading Watership Down.

Watership Down follows the storyline of many other great works of literature where the hero is in quest of finding home.  One-third way through the book home is found, then the other two-thirds is about what it takes to develop it - similar to finding the location for your house, then having to build it and turn it into a home. 

This book is one exciting, challenging adventure after another with enticing build ups of suspense which increase in intensity as the story unfolds.  Men, automobiles, foxes, weasels, thunderstorms, and rivers to cross are among some of the obstacles encountered. Adams does a masterful job of describing the countryside of England with poetic outpourings that are always relevant, and which reveal his love for his country.  His imagination reaches genius levels when it comes to describing what things must seem like from a rabbit’s world view.  For instance, the description of a locomotive at night on page 215:  “an enormous thing” “full of fire and smoke and light and it roared and beat on the metal lines until the ground shook beneath it” “like a thousand thunderstorms with lightning” ”they split the whole night apart”.


Fiver - so called because rabbits cannot count past four.  He was the last in a big litter, and also the runt.  His other name is “Hrairoo” which means “the smallest of many”.  Fiver has the gift of clairvoyance which in time earns him the respect of his peers.  He is a high-strung, nervous rabbit.

Hazel - Fiver’s bigger brother who is a modest rabbit with progressive ideas who becomes the Chief Rabbit at Watership Down.

Bigwig - is a big, strong rabbit who starts out as part of the Sandleford warren’s police force.  His other name is Thlayli which means “furhead”.  When Hazel announces they are leaving Sandleford warren, Bigwig unexpectantly joins them.  He is heavily relied upon for his physical strength and courage.  He undergoes a thorough character transformation as the story unfolds.

Blackberry - a smart rabbit whose inventive ways save his friends several times. Hazel relies on his counsel.

Kehaar - a seagull the rabbits nurse back to health.  He later becomes a guide and lookout for them, even attacking their enemy’s leader.


Man - it is the 20th century and farmland is being turned into construction sites, so the warrens are being mercilessly destroyed by poison and guns if in the way.

General Woundwort -  a very large rabbit; an evil genius who has turned his warren into a dictatorship by ruling through force and discipline.    Continued