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Watership Down: A Novel (Puffin Books Book 1) Media Tie-In Edition, Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 11,876 ratings

A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for over thirty years, Richard Adams's Watership Down is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spellbinding...Marvelous...A taut tale of suspense, hot pursuit and derring-do." (Chicago Tribune)

"A classic...A great book." (Los Angeles Times)

"Quite marvelous...A powerful new vision of the great chain of being." (New York Times Book Review)

“A classic yarn of discovery and struggle." (The New York Times)

“What a relief to read of characters who have honor and courage and dignity, who will risk their lives for others, whose love for their families and friends and community is enduring and effective” (New York Review of Books)

About the Author

Richard Adams (1920–2016) was educated at Bradfield College and Worcester College, Oxford. He served in the Second World War and in 1948 joined the civil service. In the mid-1960s he completed his first novel, Watership Down, for which he struggled for several years to find a publisher. It was eventually awarded both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award for children’s fiction for 1972. He would go on to publish several more books, including Shardik, Tales from Watership Down, Maia, The Plague Dogs, and The Girl in a Swing.

Madeline Miller is the #1
New York Times bestselling author of The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Women’s Prize for Fiction 2012, and Circe, which was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. Her books have been translated into over thirty-two languages.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002NXOQF2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Media Tie-In edition (July 14, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3848 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 564 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 11,876 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
11,876 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the engaging storytelling and clear writing style of the book. They find the content thought-provoking and engrossing, with well-developed characters and different voices for each one. The storyline is described as wonderful and built around real rabbit behavior, making it suitable for both young and old readers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

519 customers mention "Story quality"481 positive38 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story and characters. They find the storytelling compelling and entertaining, with a rich plot. The book and the original film are considered classics for all ages.

"...of the deep intellectual foundation on which the novel stands: fable as allegory, rich allusions to classical literature, epic heroic struggles,..." Read more

"...Hazel and Bigwig are magnificent characters and the storytelling keeps you wholly invested until the end." Read more

"...This book is definitely a British tome, but still almost universal in content...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

219 customers mention "Written content"180 positive39 negative

Customers praise the book's writing style. They find the prose lovely and straightforward, with a compelling plot and vivid details. The characters are described as intelligent, strong, and intuitive. Readers appreciate the glossary of Lapine terms and the author's knowledge of plant names and natural formations. Overall, they describe the book as an enjoyable read for anyone interested in writing quality fiction.

"...It really caught me by surprise how well written it was...." Read more

"...She sings the novel’s praises, gushes over its author, and previews the principal characters as if they were old friends (because they are)...." Read more

"...The author has great knowledge of the names of plants and natural formations which is evident in his elaborate description of the various natural..." Read more

"...living in the fight scenes, feeling the rabbits interact, hearing their different accents, and appreciating their lifestyles...." Read more

164 customers mention "Thought provoking"164 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and entertaining. They appreciate the rich layers of meaning and the depiction of the countryside. The book shows a new view on life and has plenty of themes to explore. Readers find the depth in human nature pointed out through these rabbits inspiring and beautiful. Overall, it is an allegory that is relevant today.

"...She also paints a spirited, fascinating picture of the deep intellectual foundation on which the novel stands: fable as allegory, rich allusions to..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...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 &..." Read more

"...and lives of how real rabbits function, along with accurate scientific behavioral studies in such a smooth transition, makes everything flow...." Read more

105 customers mention "Character development"101 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters with their own personalities. They appreciate the different voices for each character and the author's ability to speak Rabbit like a native. The story is described as moving, adventurous, and human.

"...sings the novel’s praises, gushes over its author, and previews the principal characters as if they were old friends (because they are)...." Read more

"...Hazel and Bigwig are magnificent characters and the storytelling keeps you wholly invested until the end." Read more

"...However, for those with the patience, it develops the characters well, including the human like motivations and politics of existing in a tiered..." Read more

"...Adams' prose is astounding and the characters are vibrant and distinct...." Read more

100 customers mention "Storyline"96 positive4 negative

Customers find the storyline engaging and well-crafted. They appreciate the realistic portrayal of rabbit behavior and organization. The book is told by the rabbits themselves, with their own unique personalities and cultural and religious elements. Readers also mention that the backstory and rabbit way of life provide depth to the story.

"Its nice to enter the world of rabbit society and see how rabbits and other wildlife really thinks!..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...The fact that the author includes his own language for the rabbits, the facts and lives of how real rabbits function, along with accurate scientific..." Read more

"...by trees, grass, and flowers this would look to be the perfect place for rabbits, but humans and predators are a big problem...." Read more

92 customers mention "Book for all ages"83 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the book for all ages. They find it suitable for children and adults alike, with an appealing plot that appeals to both. The book is a must-read for young readers, especially teenage boys who appreciate classic and archetypal stories.

"...This book is a pleasure and a treasure for readers of all ages and inclinations." Read more

"This is a must read for just about any child or young adult who enjoys classic , archetypal fiction...." Read more

"...bravery, hard work, and many other areas -- these are great lessons for readers of any age!" Read more

"...children's book, Watership Down possesses a gravitas that will draw in readers of all ages...." Read more

48 customers mention "Heartwarming"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and emotional. It's filled with spiritual themes of love, faith, and courage. They describe it as a thoughtful, yet sentimental story that leaves them with a smile. The author does a nice job conveying the upbeat or dark mood of each scene.

"...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..." Read more

"...who are rabbits all the way to the end and when its older its sad, heartwarming, and beutiful at the same time...." Read more

"...What a joy to be with Hazel ,Fiver, Bigwig and Kehaar again...." Read more

"...They do a nice job of conveying the upbeat or dark mood of each scene...." Read more

48 customers mention "Strength"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has strong themes of courage, tenacity, faith, and bravery. They appreciate the epic heroic struggles and profound philosophical questions. The construction seems quality, and the tale of ingenuity and survival told from the perspective of animals is praised.

"...: fable as allegory, rich allusions to classical literature, epic heroic struggles, profound philosophical questions...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...I enjoyed how the author brought out the best qualities in each of the rabbits and how he allowed them to work together to form a strong group that..." Read more

"...He is a worthy opponent. The bittersweet epilogue is the perfect ending to my favorite novel. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars." Read more

Very happy with my purchase
4 out of 5 stars
Very happy with my purchase
Beautiful edition. The cover it's soft matte (very nice texture) and has gold ink and UV coating varnish on the rabbit picture. Inside you will find a well detailed contents, a map with the story references marked and even a lapine glosary (of rabbit languaje).I'm really happy with this edition even though I was hopping another cover behind the dust jacket... there's no dust jacket. I had that hope due to a review and pictures of customer Amy D. It's not the same product she bought. But this one it's very nice too.Also it arrive on time, I have just one complaint: the package. My book arrive with a little damage in one corner and for some weird reason have mild wrinkles in a few pages, but that's it. Check pictures to see what I mean.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2016
    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.
    40 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023
    “That story’s too good to waste, Daddy. You ought to write it down.” (Richard Adams’ daughter, as quoted by the author in his introduction to the novel)

    I knew I was in for a treat by the time I’d finished Madeline Miller’s wonderful intro to this novel. She sings the novel’s praises, gushes over its author, and previews the principal characters as if they were old friends (because they are). She also paints a spirited, fascinating picture of the deep intellectual foundation on which the novel stands: fable as allegory, rich allusions to classical literature, epic heroic struggles, profound philosophical questions. Miller, of course, is herself a sensational, top-tier author who knows one when she sees one.

    Then comes author Richard Adams’ own brief intro, which may or may not predate Ms. Miller’s but seems (at least in spirit) to be a response to Ms. Miller. With genuine humility he does his best to prove Miller wrong: “I want to emphasize that Watership Down was never intended to be some sort of allegory or parable. It is simply the story about rabbits made up and told in the car.” The contrast between Miller and Adams made me smile.

    Of course there’s no real contradiction here: together, the two intros paint a delicious picture of what great art is all about. This is both a thoroughly enjoyable, easy-to-read adventure story, and a thoughtful reflection on a wide range of important issues. Whether you’re looking for depth, or just want an entertaining story, you’ll find it here. This book is a pleasure and a treasure for readers of all ages and inclinations.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
    I have loved this book since I was a child and have returned to it often. Hazel and Bigwig are magnificent characters and the storytelling keeps you wholly invested until the end.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2024
    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.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Quill
    5.0 out of 5 stars 👍
    Reviewed in Turkey on October 18, 2024
    good product and delivery
  • Vo Ha Minh Thuy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellente
    Reviewed in Spain on September 6, 2024
    ☆☆☆☆☆
  • Dr. Ron Knott
    5.0 out of 5 stars A most unique and totally absorbing view of life as a wild rabbit
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2024
    I hadn't read this book since it first came out, and it was even better than I remembered. Like Lord of the Rings, the book to me is so full of the most vivid and enticing word-pictures of nature, and, here, a wonderful rabbit's eye-view of fields and hedgerows, farms and forests, men and predatory animals.
    A word of warning though: be prepared for some late-nights if, like me, you like to read in bed before lights out. It is a real page-turner as the story progresses.
    I don’t know another book like this one that is so full of natures from a small wild animal's view.
    Do read it again if you haven't read it for a while and, if you're new to it,, you're in for a most absorbing treat!
  • Sieran Lane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Inspiring Story
    Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2021
    Very touching and inspiring. This book brought me much hope and comfort during the bleak days of the lockdown. My favorite was Blackberry, the cleverest rabbit of the group. Hazel and Fiver were probably my tied second favs. I also loved Pipkin (Hlao-Roo), Bigwig, Dandelion, and some others.

    What astonishes me, is how little agency I see from the does (female rabbits). While there were a few does who were more outspoken, for the most part, does seemed to be more like valuable resources rather than like fellow rabbits with their own thoughts, feelings, desires, and dignity. I found this very strange, considering that the original target audience of Watership Down were both female---Richard Adams' daughters. He said that his daughters gave him feedback and suggestions on what to change or add in the story, too, so I wonder if his daughters hadn't seen a problem here. (Or were they afraid of offending their dad?) The male MCs didn't treat the does with disrespect per se, but the does were seen more as valuable, desirable property rather than as equals and peers... This bothered me, despite how much I loved Watership Down otherwise.

    Back to the positives of the book, I appreciated how the MCs, though likable, also made mistakes sometimes. Even Hazel doesn't always make the right call. It feels encouraging to see that even if a rabbit is imperfect and stumbling, they are still lovable and wonderful.

    Furthermore, it felt affirming to see how, even though the rabbits were understandably terrified of the unknown, they were still able to push themselves to take risks. It made me think of how I could be more compassionate towards myself, too. I am also terrified about some things, but I could push myself to venture out of my "safe spots". The rabbits had each other to rely on for support and courage, just as humans can give each other emotional and moral support. I liked the rabbit's friendship with the seagull, Kehaar, as well.

    Dandelion's tales of El-ahrairah were delightful! It was fun to hear about the rabbits' folklore and mythology. The stories really help us understand the rabbits' attitudes and beliefs. The schemes that El-ahrairah uses to outwit his opponents and solve seemingly impossible problems, were very enjoyable to read too!

    Finally, I loved how many of the MCs were 3D, dynamic characters. Like humans, they don't stay the same. They can also learn from their mistakes and grow to be stronger, bolder, and wiser.
  • Tainã Braghin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Livro lindo demais!
    Reviewed in Brazil on February 23, 2020
    Amei demais! Eu não fiz a leitura nessa edição, até por que eu não sou tão fluente assim em inglês para ler um livro inteiro. Porém, eu comprei essa edição para guardar mesmo, já que é o meu livro favorito!

    Edição lindíssima, valeu muito a pena!

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