The result is one of englands most beloved young readers. Because when it comes down to it, there is really nothing about watership down that would make one think it was a childrens book at all, except for that fact that it contains talking animals. Celebrate watership down author richard adams with this. I thought this 400page chunkster would take us weeks to read at bedtime, but.
The majority also appear in the 1978 feature film adaptation, the 1999 television series adaptation andor 1996 followup collection of short stories notably, most though not all male rabbits in the story are named after plants, whereas female rabbits tend to have names in lapine, the fictional language adams. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 478 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. Buy a cheap copy of watership down book by richard adams. The plot is epic and filled with trials and tribulations, and it features a large party of rabbits of different skills and attributes. Jun 05, 2015 from having your face blown with a double barrel shotgun to a whole litter of mice being impaled on a rose bush, we count down 5 most terrifying children s cartoons from around the world.
Watership down, which i would feel comfortable describing as one of the finest and most interesting books of the 20th century, is most. And of course, a book does not have to be explicit to not be a childrens book. And youd be forgiven for thinking the book is merely an overlong fairy tale or something akin to brian jacques series of redwall fantasy novels. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. One of the most beloved novels of our time, richard adams s watership down takes us to a world we have never truly seen. Watership down has been a staple of highschool english classes for years. The watership down film picture book by richard adams. Although they live in their natural wild environment, with burrows, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language, proverbs, poetry, and mythology. Watership down is sort of like a rabbity version of lord of the rings. Mar 21, 2019 this is a really special familyfriendly edition of watership down. Dec 15, 2018 but watership down, richard adamss novel, is, although notionally for children, in many respects an adults novel. This is a list of characters in watership down, a 1972 novel by richard adams. As the late, great comic mitch hedberg once quipped, every book is a childrens book if the kid can read.
Watership down author once suggested he made children s book too dark the film version is infamous for its scenes of animated violence. Is watership down a childrens book a new bbcnetflix miniseries based on the novel brings out the storys you could argue that if anything marks watership down as a juvenile. Watership down by macmillan childrens books pan macmillan. The first edition of the novel was published in november 1972, and was written by richard adams. Is watership down a childrens book a new bbcnetflix miniseries based on the novel brings out the story s you could argue that if anything marks watership down as a juvenile. British novelist richard adams penned his first novel, watership down, in the 1970s. The fullscale novel about rabbits finding their promised land has the magic of prophecy, idyllic.
But trust me, watership down is so much more than a simple childrens story. All this time we thought rabbits were just cute, floppyeared carroteaters with a penchant for hopping. May 05, 2020 richard adams, in full richard george adams, born may 9, 1920, wash common, berkshire now west berkshire, englanddied december 24, 2016, english author known for reinvigorating the genre of anthropomorphic fiction, most notably with the beloved childrens book watership down 1972. It was eventually awarded both the carnegie medal and the guardian award for children s fiction for 1972. Goodreads members who liked watership down watership. The economist heralded the books publication, saying if there is no place for watership down in childrens bookshops, then childrens literature is dead. What robin hood is to the english and john henry to.
Mar 27, 2016 in watership down, he created a book ahead of its time, a multilayered novel that appealed to adults and children alike. The story of watership down, edited originally in 1972, starts when the rabbit fiver begins to have visions showing a great catastrophe destroying his colony. But a blackbird, singing undisturbed on the outskirts of the wood, showed that there was nothing alarming there, and in the other direction, along the brook, all was plain to be seen, empty and quiet. Watership down was written for adults, but adolescents often find it more irresistible than their elders do. But as richard adams s watership down teaches us, rabbits are actually violent, adventurous creatures, with a complex culture and mythology. But suffice it to say, watership down was probably the most important of the childrens stories i read, just as i was teetering on the edge of entering the world of adult literature i seem to have skipped young. Answer to the question the featured characters in the childrens book watership down are what type of animal. The original watership down film, made in the 1970s, is often remembered for its scenes of rabbits in peril. Watership down 15 best childrens books of all time books. The watership down book series by richard adams includes books watership down and tales from watership down. Illustrated with a combination of stills from the tv and soft line artwork, this is a wonderful introduction to richard adams original awardwinning story, first published over 45 years ago and regarded as a modern classic. However, executive producer rory aitken told the telegraph that the 2018 miniseries is more childfriendly, and intended to be viewing for all the family if you, or the children in your life, cant get enough of hazel, fiver and. Why watership down should be on every students reading list.
Unfortunately, it seems that talking animals have not escaped that trap. He happily reads tintin comics and my old cricket magazines for hours, but the sustained attention required by a novel has been elusive until i started reading him watership down, that is. Watership down by richard adams ready by peter capaldi. Watership down is a survival and adventure novel by english author richard adams. The result is one of englands most beloved young readers novels. Apr 27, 2016 watership down, everyones favorite traumatizing book for children, has already famously been adapted for screen. Richard adams, watership down 1972 lately ive been disappointed that my sons interest in reading seems to have flagged. It is a powerful saga of courage, leadership and survival. One day, infuriated at a lousy childrens book he bought, he considered. Watership down, which i would feel comfortable describing as one of the finest and most interesting books of the 20 th century, is most accessible to older children and adults, despite having. Although the rabbit characters have a language and a culture, and they converse and interact just as humans do, these are not capandwaistcoat picture book bunnies, but fully realized characters whose conflicts and triumphs keep readers engrossed. Dec 22, 2018 watership down is a bit of a conundrum. Pdf watership down book by richard adams free download. So he did, and so we have the book watership down by richard adams.
Dec 27, 2016 richard adams, author of the beloved childrens book watership down, passed away on christmas eve at the age of 96 watership down is an epic tale of anthropomorphized rabbits that loosely. This tale of rabbits who find adventure in a perilous pastoral setting became one of the worlds bestloved books. Watership down author once suggested he made childrens book too dark. Watership down richard adams read online free books. See the complete watership down series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Watership down is a survival and adventure novel by english author richard adams, published by rex collings ltd of london in 1972. All of a sudden the book watership down was absolutely everywhere and.
Set in southern england, around hampshire, the story features a small group of rabbits. Watership down, his 1972 adventure novel, is not only what happens when a writer refuses to talk down to children. The invaluable lessons of watership down, a dark classic. One of the most beloved novels of our time, richard adamss watership down takes us to a world we have never truly seen. Richard adams 1972 the fullscale novel about rabbits finding their promised land has the magic of prophecy, idyllic hampshire locations and.
But watership down, richard adamss novel, is, although notionally for children, in many respects an adults novel. The classic childrens novel by richard adams, about a band of rabbits trying to establish a safe home in the english countryside, is a little too subtle. The main characters of this classics, fiction story are bigwig, fiver. As the late, great comic mitch hedberg once quipped, every book is a.
Jan 12, 2019 and of course, a book does not have to be explicit to not be a childrens book. Its what happens when a writer refuses on all counts to shelter kids from the brutal, melancholy realities of our nonfictional world. Watership down and the power of notquiteappropriate childrens. Watership down is not a childrens book the world of edrith. Perhaps youre into grim, gritty realism and think youre beyond any such fluff.
He happily reads tintin comics and my old cricket magazines for hours, but. Aug 10, 2016 watership down, which i would feel comfortable describing as one of the finest and most interesting books of the 20 th century, is most accessible to older children and adults, despite having. Described in the book as a rather stupid rabbit but is accepted by. But trust me, watership down is so much more than a simple childrens. It was a novel by an unknown english author, richard adams. All of which raises the question, is watership down really for kids. All of a sudden the book watership down was absolutely everywhere and people were reading it on buses, trains, park benches all over the place. Watership down and the power of notquiteappropriate. These rabbits sought a new home, and they had to fight to get there every step of the way. But a blackbird, singing undisturbed on the outskirts of the wood, showed that there was nothing.
Martin rosens 1978 version scared just as many kids as richard adams. I remember when watership down was first published in 1972. See the complete watership down series book list in order, box sets or omnibus. Jun 19, 2016 seasons 1, 2 and 3 of the tv series watership down watership down is a britishcanadian animated fantasy children s television series, adapted from the novel watership down by richard adams. Jan 19, 2019 all of which raises the question, is watership down really for kids.
Asked in music, animated and childrens movies, watership down. In 1974 he retired from the civil service and published a series of further books, including shardik, tales from watership down, maia, the plague dogs, and the girl in a swing. Despite the fact that it s often a hard sell at first what teenager wouldnt cringe at. One of the most beloved novels of our time, watership down is an epic journey, a stirring tale of adventure, courage, and survival. Despite the fact that its often a hard sell at first what teenager. Free download or read online watership down pdf epub book.
907 31 66 1387 1020 83 1071 675 1283 1204 1030 1656 15 446 1089 1160 894 548 1684 549 1367 732 475 421 1402 679 166 64 1128 628 268 530 934 1605 1108 1442 1080 840 186 944 1436 212 1023 696 344 789 283 517