Watership Down: A Novel

Book review by Joel
Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, Blackberry…. What am I talking about? Rabbits, of course. Lots of rabbits. This is the classic novel by Richard Adams that he started one day to keep his daughters entertained on a long road trip through the English countryside. All the landmarks are real places. Some of the characters are based on people he knew, like Bigwig (the best fighting rabbit) or Kehaar the seagull--both soldiers he knew from WWII.

There is a cool interview with Don Swaim at http://wiredforbooks.org/richardadams/. He explains where he came up with the story and how he came to publish the book. He also states in the forward that his intention was not a metaphor of human civilization, but merely a book about rabbits. And so it is….

The book starts out with Fiver sensing something wrong--he can’t put his paw on it but something is amiss. He convinces Hazel, his older sibling, that they must convince the Chief Rabbit that they must flee the warren and take all the others with them. Since Fiver is a runt of a litter, he is not taken seriously and the Chief sends them on their way. But Fiver has the “shining” and Hazel knows that he has to trust his brother’s instincts. He convinces several of the warren that they must flee before disaster strikes. Bigwig joins in, and as he is a member of the Owsla--or guard troop--Holly (the leader of the Owsla) confronts them. Bigwig trounces Holly, and the ragtag team of rabbits is on the go.

What is cool about the story is that the rabbits can only do what rabbits do. So when they come upon a stream it takes flashes of insight from Blackberry to use a board to float across. It is hard to believe Richard came up with this off the top of his head, but it is well written. The pacing is great; the adventures the rabbits get into are realistic and tightly wrapped together. I will never look at rabbit’s the same again. I always knew they were up to something…

I would highly recommend this book. It is not just a kid’s story. It can be read on many levels despite what Adams says, and it may save a rabbit’s life. If it only saves one rabbit, it will have been worth it.

Joel.