| Watership Down (Puffin Books) | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard Adams
Publisher: Puffin Books
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £6.98 (100%)
New (43) Used (224) Collectible (2) from £0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 19348
Media: Paperback
Edition: Re-issue
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0140306013
EAN: 9780140306019
ASIN: 0140306013
Publication Date: July 26, 1973
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Dispatched within 24 hours from UK seller. #438
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Despite the fact that it's often a hard sell at first (what teenager wouldn't cringe at the thought of 400-plus pages of talking rabbits?), Richard Adams' bunny-centric epic rarely fails to win the love and respect of anyone who reads it, regardless of age. Like most great novels, Watership Down is a rich story that can be read (and reread) on many different levels. The book is often praised as an allegory, with its analogues between human and rabbit culture (a fact sometimes used to goad skeptical teens, who resent the challenge that they won't "get" it, into reading it), but it's equally praiseworthy as just a corking good adventure. The story follows a warren of Berkshire rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a land developer. As they search for a safe haven, skirting danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band and its compelling culture and mythos. Adams has crafted a touching, involving world in the dirt and scrub of the English countryside, complete with its own folk history and language (the book comes with a "lapine" glossary, a guide to rabbitese). As much about freedom, ethics and human nature as it is about a bunch of bunnies looking for a warm hidey-hole and some mates, Watership Down will continue to make the transition from classroom desk to bedside table for many generations to come. --Paul Hughes
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 The best book about rabbits that I know! August 16, 2008
This is a superb book. I enjoyed it mainly as a brilliant adventure story, but also for the great characters. It's superior to the film, as it's more even in its coverage, wheareas the film skips over the latter half and ends up being a bit rushed and confused.
In terms of enjoyment, I'd rate this a 5, but I'm not convinced it works at a deeper level, and after all it's only a story (albiet a great one) about a bunch of rabbits - so I'm going to rate it a 4. Definitely recommended, and certainly not just for children.
The ending is as moving as in the film.
 You won't look at rabbits the same way again after reading this! August 7, 2008
This is obviously not just a book for children because of how it's written, though it's not too complicated. The characters are fantastic and have great personalities and the overall story is just...wonderful! I love the Lapine tales of El-Ehrairah too, and the Lapine words and sentences make it a very interesting read.
One thing is for sure though, I'm never going to look at rabbits the same way again!
Great novel for all April 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have little else to add to what other reviewers have said, but I'd like it to be known that the book is MUCH better than the film. It has many more layers, much greater depth of characterisation and a lot more detail.
The author's writing style is perfect for the yarn he spins, and it's difficult to see how it could be improved upon. Some might find the quotations at the top of the chapters a little pretentious I suppose.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes a really good book. Suitable for perhaps eleven and above.
A gripping and unforgettable epic April 4, 2008
Notwithstanding a slightly weak, watered down animated film version, this novel has for a long time held a rightful place in the hall of fame of fantasy literature. Reportedly honed from Adams' impromptu storytelling on long car journeys with his children, the unforgettable story of Hazel and his friends and their escape from the culling hands of men to the "promised land" of Watership Down never falters, and is engaging from the very first page. Along the way, our heroes meet a vast array of fellow creatures, some friendly, some dangerous, and high drama is always around the corner.
But it is the rich fabric with which this story is woven together that makes it so memorable and gripping. Adams has created an entire society and culture surrounding his characters, chronicling their habits, folklore, even language in staggering detail. The back-stories and tales told by the rabbits to each other are enough to divert from the main plot entirely at times, and are mini-masterpieces in themselves. Obviously this is the work of an extraordinarily imaginative talent, leaving the reader, when the book is closed for the last time, aching for just one more chapter, one more page, before we have to say goodbye to the colourful characters whose long and eventful journey we've shared.
If a book about rabbits seems like a bad idea, it's interesting to note that Adams' manuscript was rejected by almost every major publisher before finally making it to the bookstands. Don't make the same mistake. This is a definate must-read.
By Frith this is a good book! October 15, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
'Watership Down' is the exciting and emotional tale where a group of rabbits are forced to leave their Sandleford homes when Fiver, who often sees visions of the future, tells them that their warren is in danger from humans. The group is then lead by Hazel and Bigwig as they make their way through the fields of Hampshire as they come face to face with danger from other animals such as rats, foxes, cats, dogs and owls as well as humans and cars. As the story goes on Hazel and the group of rabbits try to rescue some rabbits from a farm; help a bird, who in turn then helps them; join another warren of rabbits and also try to steal does from a much bigger and powerful warren known as Efrafa, leading to a shocking and brilliant finalle. Along the way tales are told of El-ahrairah (prince of a thousand enemies), which gives more insight into the beliefs of the rabbits in their own world.
As someone who usually mainly reads crime fiction and horror (and have also never seen the movie adaption), I never thought that I'd enjoy a book about a bunch of rabbits but after a strong recommendation from my girlfriend, I gave this a try and once I started it I couldn't put it down. Immediately I fell in love with Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, Pipkin, Dandelion, Speedwell, Blackberry, Silver, Buckthorn, Holly, Bluebell and Strawberry. Each and everyone of them has their individual characteristics and I found that I actually cared quite a lot what happened to them, and got quite emotional at certain points in the story.
Although this dubbed a children's novel, I found it to be quite complex at times and also quite gruesome and horrifying in parts, which I could imagine may be quite disturbing for younger readers. Overall though this is a brilliant read that took me no time at all to get through it's 480 pages and is one that I'll definitely read again. Without a doubt this is a classic that everyone should give a go, even if you think that a book about rabbits wouldn't be your kind of thing.
|
|
|
