Tuesday 7 April 2015

AtoZChallenge2015 - F is for Lord Frith

Hello and welcome to day 6 of the AtoZChallenge 2015.

Lord Frith is the creator god from Watership Down.

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


My Other Blogs in the AtoZ: Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)



I publish my books through my own company, Wittegen Press, which I run with my sister Sophie Duncan. For information about our books, sign up for The Wittegen Press Newsletter:

Wittegen PressWe'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.

We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.

* indicates required

64 comments:

  1. Watership Down is one of my favorite books, and I love the mythology Adams created for the rabbits.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes!!! 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.

    <3 Thanks for the nostalgia.

    Alex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
    A-Z Blogging in April Participant

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the review of this book! I've never read it. Probably high-time I did!

    "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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely worth a read, or watch the movie :) Just be prepared to cry.

      Delete
  4. I need to reread Watership Down as well. It's been a long time. I only vaguely remember the plot line. Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've always heard of Watership Down, but never read it. I've just downloaded the e-book!

    You can find me here:
    ClarabelleRant

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anthropomorphising rabbits, eh? That sounds so cool. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well anthropomorphising is a good word for a start ;)

      Delete
  7. Anthropomorphising rabbits? Wow. That sounds unique!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not really - Duncton Wood did it with moles :)

      Delete
  8. I 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's quite dark in places and I wasn't ready for characters to be really nasty.

      Delete
  9. Holy crap, this sounds like some daaaark children's book! O.o And I thought the original Bambi was disturbing...

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
    MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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 :)

      Delete
  10. I've never read Watership Down - it's completely different to what I always imagined it was about. I'll have to check it out.

    Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

    ReplyDelete
  11. I 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.

    Precious Monsters

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's one of those books that seems to be on many people's to read list :)

      Delete
  12. I 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.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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 :)

      Delete
  13. I 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! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome :) Hope you enjoy it if you find it.

      Delete
  14. I 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!
    Jeremy [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?

    ReplyDelete
  15. The main thing I remember about Watership Down is the film giving me nightmares when I was very small. Bleeding bunnies!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, I believe it had the same effect on many.

      Delete
  16. I've seen the film but not read the book. I should since it is a classic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's one of the classics I can actually get behind too :)

      Delete
  17. Hi 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

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love Watership Down!

    Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
    A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
    http://pensuasion.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely a good book and movie - haven't seen the cartoon series.

      Delete
  19. I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always glad to aid good memories :) This is one of the books that has stayed with me over the years.

      Delete
  20. I have not read that book in years. Maybe close to 35+ years.

    --
    Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
    2015 A to Z of Vampires
    http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think possibly it was around 35 years ago I first picked it up :) ... possibly 33.

      Delete
  21. Oh my, that's a trip down memory lane. Good choice!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Replies
    1. It's one of those that always remains after you have read it.

      Delete
  23. I'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.

    ReplyDelete
  24. That 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….

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That what my conclusion too - it is a very dark book in places.

      Delete
  25. I'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.

    I'm tempted to not read it, just to see how strange and surreal it continues to get over the course of my life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL - it could be very surreal by the end :) This is definitely not a simple rabbit book.

      Delete
  26. I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If 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.

      Delete
  27. I had never heard of the book, but it sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I 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.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great choice for F. Watership Down is one of my favourite stories from childhood. I cried buckets!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think every one cried buckets ... I think it might be impossible not too :)

      Delete
  30. OK 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 ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy it if you find it - it will definitely stick with you.

      Delete
  31. I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then 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.

      Delete
  32. I've never read Watership Down, I really need to, I've heard it's really good.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for reading. I love to hear from people. Please leave your comments below.