Watership Down
Richard Adams
© 1974
Simon and Schuster

They lived, comfortable and secure, until one of them had a vision of imminent destruction to all whom remained in their warren. This maverick band sets out, against all odds, on a quest for a new home and a better society. Richard Adams’ acclaimed novel brings to life man’s great humanity - and terrible inhumanity.



Watership Down was read by Steven Hauck.

Steven made his professional acting debut twenty years ago as Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Since then he has appeared in over one hundred stage productions across the United States and Europe.

What do you think?

Fiver, Hazel, Big Wig – all of the rabbits have distinct personalities and strengths and they each contribute to make their group stronger as a whole. What role does Dandelion play? How do the other rabbits depend on him? Describe some of the other rabbits’ roles and provide examples from the text to support your thoughts.

Captain Holly says, “Men will never rest till they’ve spoiled the earth and destroyed the animals.” What are your thoughts?

The rabbits share an ability to survive a terrifying experience and take from it something positive. Give an example of this from the story. Describe a time when you had to endure hardship but you learned something important in the process.

Online Adventures Where should you go from here?

It began as a story he told to his children on car trips to the country; they asked him to write it down and it became Watership Down, a world-wide bestseller hailed as a classic. Read more about Richard Adams.

Send a Watership Down greeting card to the bunny lover of your choice.

See pictures of Nuthanger Farm and the beautiful English countryside setting of the story.

If you would like more of the warren, Richard Adam’s wrote a sequel Tales from Watership Down (Avon, 1998). Adams also wrote several other novels with animals as the main characters including: Shardik (Overlook Press, 2002), Maia, and The Plague Dogs (Fawcett, 1991). You might also try The Outlandish Knight (Severn House Pub Ltd., 2000).


Grace Greene from The Vermont Department of Libraries suggests you take a look at…

Eckert, Allan. Incident at Hawk’s Hill Little, Brown, 1971.
A shy, lonely six-year-old wanders into the Canadian prairie and spends the summer under the protection of a badger.

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows.
The escapades of four animal friends who live along a river in the English countryside.

Jacques, Brian Redwall series (see Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH)

Kilworth, Garry The Foxes of Firstdark. Doubleday, 1990.
After O-ha’s mate and cubs are killed by men and their fox-hating dogs, she meets up with a fox knowledgeable of the ways of humans who teaches her how to live in a less rural environment.

Lawson, Robert. Rabbit Hill. Viking, 1944.
Although they are happy that a new family is moving into the empty farmhouse, the animals on Rabbit Hill fear the newcomers may bring traps and guns.