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For those unfamiliar with it, Watership Down is a novel by Richard Adams anthropomorphising rabbits, which introduces the reader to their culture and then takes her on a adventurous journey as members of a warren try to survive terrors and hardships.
Lord Frith is the sun and the creator of all things. Once, in the time of El-ahrairah, the prince of rabbits, Lord Frith talked with his creations, but then El-ahrairah disobeyed him. El-ahrairah's people spread too far and ate too much and he would not control them, even when Lord Frith asked him to. Therefore Lord Frith played a trick on him.
Lord Frith gave all creatures gifts that made them all different from each other. When he gave gifts to creatures such as the wolf, the fox, the cat and the dog, he gave them a desire to hunt and eat El-ahrairah's people. However, Lord Frith also gave El-ahrairah and his people the gifts of good hearing, speed, cunning and digging and told El-ahrairah that as long as his people used these gifts they would never be destroyed.
Now Lord Frith only communicates with his creations through messengers, the most feared of whom is The Black Rabbit of Inlé who is death and collects all rabbits at their ordained time.
I think I tried to read Watership Down at too young an age when I wasn't ready for some of the stark concepts of the life of the rabbits within it. I must go back and read it again at some point.
Sources: Wikipedia | Watership Down Wiki | Watership Down Film
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Watership Down is one of my favorite books, and I love the mythology Adams created for the rabbits.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great book :)
DeleteYes!!! I love Lord Frith! "Well, if you're not going to come out then I will just have to bless your bottom!" And so he did.
ReplyDelete<3 Thanks for the nostalgia.
Alex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
A-Z Blogging in April Participant
That is an awesome idea :)
DeleteThanks for the review of this book! I've never read it. Probably high-time I did!
ReplyDelete"I think I tried to read Watership Down at too young an age when I wasn't ready for some of the stark concepts of the life of the rabbits within it."
I'm definitely old enough now! lol!
It's definitely worth a read, or watch the movie :) Just be prepared to cry.
DeleteI need to reread Watership Down as well. It's been a long time. I only vaguely remember the plot line. Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie
ReplyDeleteMe too these days :)
DeleteI've always heard of Watership Down, but never read it. I've just downloaded the e-book!
ReplyDeleteYou can find me here:
ClarabelleRant
Have fun and have some tissues handy :)
DeleteWell anthropomorphising is a good word for a start ;)
ReplyDeleteAnthropomorphising rabbits? Wow. That sounds unique!!!
ReplyDeleteNot really - Duncton Wood did it with moles :)
DeleteI love Watership Down. I'm like you, though, in that I was probably too young when I read it to appreciate all the details. I really should read it again.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite dark in places and I wasn't ready for characters to be really nasty.
DeleteHoly crap, this sounds like some daaaark children's book! O.o And I thought the original Bambi was disturbing...
ReplyDelete@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
I remember it as being very dark, but I was in primary school so for all I know it's a cake walk compared to some of the things I've read by now :)
DeleteI've never read Watership Down - it's completely different to what I always imagined it was about. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
It's definitely not a fluffy rabbit story :)
DeleteI have not read Watership Down. It was published when I was a child. I've certainly heard of it. (It was a big deal when it was published.) I do plan to read it eventually.
ReplyDeletePrecious Monsters
It's one of those books that seems to be on many people's to read list :)
DeleteI remember hearing the name of the book, but I didn't know what it was about. I think I need to add it to my reading list; it does sound like an interesting plot.
ReplyDeletebetty
It's one of those things that seems impossible to miss from when and where I grew up so I'm always surprised when people don't know much about it. Bright Eyes, the song from the movie was a huge hit :)
DeleteI haven't heard of Watership Down so Lord Firth is a new one to me. I think I need to check it out now! Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome :) Hope you enjoy it if you find it.
DeleteI have always seen the cover of this book, without ever looking at it further... need to see what is on the inside... Welcome in the letter "F"... thank you!
ReplyDeleteJeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]
There's no earthly way of knowing.
Which direction we are going!
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
Come Visit: You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?
Have fun checking out the book :D
DeleteThe main thing I remember about Watership Down is the film giving me nightmares when I was very small. Bleeding bunnies!
ReplyDeleteYep, I believe it had the same effect on many.
DeleteI've seen the film but not read the book. I should since it is a classic.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the classics I can actually get behind too :)
DeleteHi Natasha - I've not read the book, nor seen the film - but I know it's highly recommended. Thanks for enlightening me a little and now I've seen a resume I'd better get it out of the library and have a read. Thanks for reminding us - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy the read :)
DeleteI love Watership Down!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com
It's definitely a good book and movie - haven't seen the cartoon series.
DeleteI loved reading Watership down, and even named a rabbit I had once after a character in the novel, Thuth. That, and perversely, the Velveteen Rabbit, were two "rabbit" books that touched me deeply, and in very different ways. Thanks for bringing back memories. I might have to go and read both of these again! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to aid good memories :) This is one of the books that has stayed with me over the years.
DeleteI have not read that book in years. Maybe close to 35+ years.
ReplyDelete--
Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
2015 A to Z of Vampires
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/
I think possibly it was around 35 years ago I first picked it up :) ... possibly 33.
DeleteOh my, that's a trip down memory lane. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteThank you :D
DeleteNever read the book, but it sounded neat.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those that always remains after you have read it.
DeleteI've never read this book but have heard of it. I'm heading to the library today and will see if its on the shelf.
ReplyDeleteGood luck :)
DeleteThat book made me cry for days. I think it was one of the most traumatic reads of my childhood, but maybe I read it too young….
ReplyDeleteThat what my conclusion too - it is a very dark book in places.
DeleteI've never read Watership Down, though I've been berated for not doing so for years. Every time I hear something new about it gets weirder and weirder. It sounds nothing like the "rabbit book" that was originally explained to me as a kid.
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to not read it, just to see how strange and surreal it continues to get over the course of my life.
LOL - it could be very surreal by the end :) This is definitely not a simple rabbit book.
DeleteI've never read the book, though I will, sooner or later. But I saw the film when I was very young and fell in love with it.
ReplyDeleteIf the film doesn't turn up on telly at least once a year I am disappointed. I associate it with Easter or Christmas, because that's when they used to put it on.
DeleteI had never heard of the book, but it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt is, but be prepared with the tissues! :)
DeleteI read that book so many times when I was growing up. It's still one of my favorites and the world-building stuff like this is why.
ReplyDeleteYep - that's what makes a book a classic.
DeleteGreat choice for F. Watership Down is one of my favourite stories from childhood. I cried buckets!
ReplyDeleteI think every one cried buckets ... I think it might be impossible not too :)
DeleteOK I also haven't read it or seen the film. I'm making a note to get it from the library. Intrigued. I certainly know of it ..
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy it if you find it - it will definitely stick with you.
DeleteI've never read it. I don't know if i could read it either. I'm a wuss when it comes to fluffy things being hurt.
ReplyDeleteThen I would definitely suggest you NOT read it. The fact that a lot of the time other fluffy things are doing the hurting probably won't help.
DeleteI've never read Watership Down, I really need to, I've heard it's really good.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely worth a read :)
Delete