Watership Down Stands The Test Of Time
First published 40 years ago, the classic tale remains as relevant as ever.
By Phil Stern
Strolling through the Literature section of a large bookstore recently, I looked over to see Watership Down proudly positioned on a top shelf, cover facing outward.
One of my favorite all-time books, I’d first read Richard Adams wonderful novel in the early 1980′s, when I was twelve or so. Seeing the updated edition instantly brought back fond memories of Hazel, Bigwig, and the rest fighting for a warren of their own on the English countryside, beset by danger from all sides.
For those who aren’t familiar with Watership Down, all the protagonists are rabbits who think, talk, and generally act like people. Thus, a type of super-simplified human world is created lacking electricity, tools, buildings, and all other things civilized. But the rabbits have the full range of human emotions, both good and bad. In particular, the rabbits desire a life free of oppression and want, and are willing to overcome great obstacles to achieve it.
It’s a classic tale, full of the wonder and danger of life itself. Yet, existing as it does within a stunning, unique world populated by, rich vibrant characters, Watership Down is an unequaled literary masterpiece.
From a business standpoint, Watership Down is classic story of another kind. Namely, the mega-hit nobody wanted from a man with no publishing history.
An English civil servant, Adams was intrigued by an obscure book, The Private Life Of The Rabbit, written by naturalist Ronald Lockley. In the late 1960′s Adams came up with rabbit characters based upon Lockley’s findings, which became the basis for bedtime stories told to his daughters. At their urging, his tales were turned into Watership Down.
Seven different publishers turned down the manuscript, with Rex Collings finally bringing Watership Down to bookstores. Within a few years, Watership Down had sold over a million copies worldwide. Almost instantly Richard Adams, then in his mid-50′s, became a famous novelist. Over the next four decades, over 50 million copies of the book would be sold.
The world of 1982, when I first read Watership Down, was very different than today. We didn’t have computers, cell phones, the internet, or hundreds of cable television channels. But by that very token, a charming story about a bunch of rabbits, navigating the evils of the world in their efforts to find a permanent home, might be even more important now. It’s a reminder of simple happiness of life, and what connects us all deep down. In the end, that has to count for something.
Adams is now 92, living on the same English countryside that helped inspire his famous book. His characters and vision have lived on in my life, as they will for countless generations, both now and well into the future.
Phil Stern is the author of The Bull Years, available now on Kindle.
By Phil Stern
Strolling through the Literature section of a large bookstore recently, I looked over to see Watership Down proudly positioned on a top shelf, cover facing outward.
One of my favorite all-time books, I’d first read Richard Adams wonderful novel in the early 1980′s, when I was twelve or so. Seeing the updated edition instantly brought back fond memories of Hazel, Bigwig, and the rest fighting for a warren of their own on the English countryside, beset by danger from all sides.
For those who aren’t familiar with Watership Down, all the protagonists are rabbits who think, talk, and generally act like people. Thus, a type of super-simplified human world is created lacking electricity, tools, buildings, and all other things civilized. But the rabbits have the full range of human emotions, both good and bad. In particular, the rabbits desire a life free of oppression and want, and are willing to overcome great obstacles to achieve it.
It’s a classic tale, full of the wonder and danger of life itself. Yet, existing as it does within a stunning, unique world populated by, rich vibrant characters, Watership Down is an unequaled literary masterpiece.
From a business standpoint, Watership Down is classic story of another kind. Namely, the mega-hit nobody wanted from a man with no publishing history.
An English civil servant, Adams was intrigued by an obscure book, The Private Life Of The Rabbit, written by naturalist Ronald Lockley. In the late 1960′s Adams came up with rabbit characters based upon Lockley’s findings, which became the basis for bedtime stories told to his daughters. At their urging, his tales were turned into Watership Down.
Seven different publishers turned down the manuscript, with Rex Collings finally bringing Watership Down to bookstores. Within a few years, Watership Down had sold over a million copies worldwide. Almost instantly Richard Adams, then in his mid-50′s, became a famous novelist. Over the next four decades, over 50 million copies of the book would be sold.
The world of 1982, when I first read Watership Down, was very different than today. We didn’t have computers, cell phones, the internet, or hundreds of cable television channels. But by that very token, a charming story about a bunch of rabbits, navigating the evils of the world in their efforts to find a permanent home, might be even more important now. It’s a reminder of simple happiness of life, and what connects us all deep down. In the end, that has to count for something.
Adams is now 92, living on the same English countryside that helped inspire his famous book. His characters and vision have lived on in my life, as they will for countless generations, both now and well into the future.
Phil Stern is the author of The Bull Years, available now on Kindle.
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