Summary
Watership Down is a 1972 novel by Richard Adams, originally written as bedtime stories for his daughters. Set in the English countryside, the novel follows the harrowing journey of a group of rabbits—Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and other memorable characters—as they set out to establish a new home after their warren is threatened. Adams imbues his rabbit protagonists with rich personalities and a complex society, creating an immersive world. While hailed as a modern classic of children’s literature, Watership Down explores mature themes such as courage, survival, and the struggle between tyranny and freedom.
Plot
Watership Down opens in the Sandleford Warren with a young rabbit named Fiver, who has an unshakeable vision of impending destruction. Fiver convinces his brother Hazel to lead a small group of rabbits away from the warren to safety. Though initially dismissed by their chief rabbit, Hazel gathers a band of followers, including the strong Bigwig and clever Blackberry. They set out on a perilous journey across the English countryside, facing dangers from predators, humans, and other rabbits.
The group eventually finds a suitable new home on Watership Down, a hill in Hampshire. However, they realize they need does—female rabbits—to sustain a new warren. They first attempt to recruit does from a nearby warren, but discover it is a sinister place where the rabbits are complacent and paranoid. Hazel then leads a raid on a nearby farm to free some hutch rabbits. During this raid, Hazel is shot and presumed dead, but is rescued by his companions.
Seeking more does, the Watership rabbits learn of a large warren called Efrafa. They send an expedition, which discovers Efrafa is an oppressive police state led by the tyrannical General Woundwort. The Watership rabbits hatch a plan to infiltrate Efrafa and help some of the does escape. Bigwig goes undercover in Efrafa and manages to lead an escape with several does. Woundwort and his forces pursue them, leading to a river crossing and confrontation.
Woundwort eventually tracks the Watership rabbits to their warren and leads an all-out assault to destroy them and recapture the escapees. The Watership rabbits defend their home in a climactic battle. Hazel comes up with a plan to lead the farm dog to attack the Efrafans. In the chaos, Bigwig faces Woundwort in single combat. The dog scatters the Efrafan forces, and Woundwort disappears. The Watership warren is saved and goes on to thrive under Hazel's leadership.
Themes
Survival and adaptation in the face of adversity
The importance of community and cooperation
Leadership and responsibility
Freedom versus tyranny and oppression
The hero's journey and quest narrative
The power of storytelling and mythology
Humanity's relationship with nature and animals
Setting
Watership Down takes place in the English countryside, specifically in the southern county of Hampshire. The story is set in the early 1970s, around the time the novel was written and published. While the exact year is not specified, the rural landscape and farming practices described reflect the era.
The rabbits' journey begins at Sandleford Warren, located near the village of Newbury. From there, they travel across fields, woods, and streams of the Hampshire Downs. Key locations include Cowslip's Warren, Nuthanger Farm, and the River Enborne. The rabbits eventually settle on Watership Down itself - a hill in north Hampshire featuring chalky soil, beech trees, and expansive views of the surrounding countryside.
Beyond the specific places mentioned, Adams vividly depicts the wider natural world the rabbits inhabit. He describes in detail the plants, weather, and wildlife of rural England throughout the changing seasons. While rooted in a real geographic area, the setting takes on a mythic quality through the rabbits' eyes, with landmarks like Watership Down itself becoming central to their folklore and identity as a community.
Characters
Hazel: The protagonist and leader of the rabbits who leave Sandleford Warren. Though not the largest or strongest, Hazel is clever, brave and a natural leader who earns the loyalty and respect of the other rabbits. He becomes Chief Rabbit of the Watership Down Warren. Hazel relies on his brother Fiver's visions, and he shows compassion for all members of the group.
Fiver: Hazel's younger brother, who has prophetic visions. Though Fiver is small and often nervous, his instincts prove invaluable in warning the rabbits of danger. The other rabbits learn to trust Fiver's warnings. His Lapine name Hrairoo means Little Thousand, referring to his small stature.
Bigwig: A strong, brave former Owsla officer who becomes one of the main fighters and defenders of the group. Initially harsh and quick-tempered, Bigwig proves loyal and clever, playing a key role in the escape from Efrafa. His Lapine name, Thlayli, refers to the distinctive tuft of fur on his head.
General Woundwort: The main antagonist, a huge, tyrannical rabbit who rules Efrafa with an iron fist. Orphaned as a kitten, Woundwort is utterly fearless and uses his strength and cunning to maintain control through fear and intimidation. He leads the attack on Watership Down seeking revenge for the loss of his Efrafan does.
Blackberry: One of the most intelligent rabbits, Blackberry comes up with several clever ideas that help the group survive their journey. He understands concepts the other rabbits find baffling, like floating on water. Blackberry becomes one of Hazel's most trusted advisors.
Dandelion: A swift runner and accomplished storyteller who keeps up the group's morale by relating tales of the mythical rabbit hero El-ahrairah. Dandelion's speed proves crucial during the raids on Nuthanger Farm.
Kehaar: A black-headed gull who is befriended by the rabbits when they find him injured on Watership Down. Though often impatient and abrasive, Kehaar provides vital assistance to the rabbits, scouting the surrounding area and helping during the raid on Efrafa.
Holly: Former captain of the Sandleford Owsla who initially tries to stop Hazel's group from leaving. He later finds them at Watership Down after barely escaping the destruction of Sandleford Warren. Holly becomes a loyal member of the new warren.
Strawberry: A large, handsome buck from Cowslip's Warren who joins Hazel's group after they leave. Initially naive about life in the wild, Strawberry adapts and becomes a valuable member of the Watership Down Warren.
Hyzenthlay: An intelligent and determined doe from Efrafa who helps organize the does' escape with Bigwig. She has prophetic visions similar to Fiver's. Hyzenthlay becomes one of the leaders of the Watership Down Warren.
Quick facts
Watership Down began as tales Richard Adams told his young daughters during long car journeys. They insisted he write down his rabbit stories.
Adams based his descriptions of rabbit behavior on The Private Life of the Rabbit by naturalist Ronald Lockley.
Watership Down was rejected by seven publishers before being accepted by Rex Collings.
The book's title comes from a real hill in Hampshire, England, near where Adams grew up.
Adams created the Lapine language spoken by the rabbits, which includes words like “hrair” (meaning any number larger than four).
The character of Kehaar the seagull was inspired by a fighter from the Norwegian Resistance in World War II.
In 1972, Adams won both the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for Watership Down.
The 1978 animated film adaptation of the novel featured the hit song “Bright Eyes” by Art Garfunkel.
Watership Down has spurred controversy over its portrayal of gender roles, with some critics calling the book anti-feminist.
In a 2003 national survey, “The Big Read,” the British public voted Watership Down the 42nd greatest book of all time.
About the Author
Richard George Adams (1920-2016) was an English novelist best known for his debut work, Watership Down. Now considered a classic of children’s literature, the novel was rejected by several publishers before its release in 1972. An immediate success, Watership Down sold more than a million copies in record time and earned Adams both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. This achievement allowed him to become a full-time author in 1974, leading to a prolific career that spanned several decades.
Born in Newbury, Berkshire, Adams was the son of a country doctor and grew up with a view of the real Watership Down, a hill on the Hampshire border. After serving in the British Army during World War II, Adams completed his studies at Worcester College, Oxford, and began a career in the Civil Service. It wasn’t until his mid-40s that he began making up stories for his daughters, which eventually led to the creation of his most famous novel.
Adams’s stories often feature anthropomorphic animals and explore themes of nature, survival, and society. His other notable works include Shardik, The Plague Dogs, and The Girl in a Swing. Beyond his literary pursuits, Adams was a strong advocate for animal welfare, serving as president of the RSPCA for two years and supporting various animal rights organizations throughout his life.
In his later years, Adams lived near Watership Down in Hampshire with his wife, Elizabeth. He continued to write well into his 90s and passed away at the age of 96. His final work, a children's picture book titled The Adventures of Eggbox Dragon, was published posthumously.
