Watership Down


Through some very tangential connections, I came across the animated film Watership Down. It was a fascinating viewing; well-drawn, beautiful and terrifying at the same time, its a story of rabbits on the run, told in the way a Disney animation never would. So, this lead me to reading the book Watership Down, by Richard Adams.

I had never heard of this British author or story, but soon discovered that he's become an instant classic, and has generated quite a following. Understandably so: the book was a delight to read. And, very suspenseful too; I didn't want to ever put it down!

Cleverly written: though the animals speak and are quite intelligent, they never lose their animal ways. Rabbits behave in a very rabbit-like manner, nervous, skittish, cunning, never walking about on two legs. But, Adams view into rabbit cultures, partly based on studies, was fascinating. Though he denies it, it reads very much like an allegory: the main characters of the story themselves are freedom-loving rabbits, but they come upon various other rabbit cultures, including a cult and a dictatorship.

Fun reading. I definitely recommend this book!

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Posted: Sun - January 7, 2007 at 01:39 PM

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