Rabbits unite!!
Author: Richard Adams
What makes a good nature novel? Despite my obvious enthusiasm for nature writing of all sorts, I frequently end up criticizing the nature fiction that I read. I’m not really sure why that is, but recent ruminations on the topic prompted me to revisit a book I enjoyed some 40 years ago. I have to say that even though it’s been almost half a century years since it was first published, Watership Down by Richard Adams holds up remarkably well.
Facing the imminent destruction of their warren, Hazel, the diminutive Fiver and a small cohort of other rabbits abandon the only home they’ve ever known and set out into the wilderness, facing unknown dangers. They make some new friends along the way and gradually become more confident in their ability to face adversity, eventually setting up new warren on Watership Down. But their chances of survival plummet when they cross paths with the evil Woundwort, chief of the nearby Efrafa warren. It may be hard to believe, given that the main actors are just a bunch of furry little rabbits, but the ensuing life and death battle is as exhilarating and terrifying as anything I’ve read.
The real Watership Down.
The novel was a big bestseller back in the ‘70s and I can identify three reasons why it really works for me as a natural adventure story:
First, Adams does a great job getting into the mind of his rabbit protagonists. Basing much of his descriptions of rabbit behavior on The Private Life of the Rabbit, a 1964 work by naturalist Ronald Lockley, the author presents countless details about rabbits and their surrounding environment, creating an impressively realistic backdrop for their ensuing adventures. Oftentimes, authors give short shrift to this crucial part of any great nature story, but Adams clearly takes great pleasure in revealing and exploring the many secrets of the rabbit world.
Second, the author presents a fully realized mythology, frequently interrupting the main story to tell of rabbit heroes of the remote past. This adds an additional layer of to the overall narrative that is really fun and entertaining. Full of derring-do and clever plot twists, the adventures of the rabbit trickster El-ahrairah are as thrilling as any human based mythology. Moreover, the inspiration these stories provide to the present day characters as they face formidable obstacles is a crucial ingredient in the overall story arc.
Lastly, General Woundwort is simply a fantastically frightening villain. Until you’ve read it, it’s hard to imagine how Adams can turn a furry rabbit into a bloodthirsty monster, but he succeeds mightily.
Not surprisingly, almost 50 years after its first publication, the work is a bit dated. Primarily in its few female characters, who play a decidedly minor role and are treated as second class citizens throughout. Not with any particular malevolence, but with a rather 1950s sort of ignorance.
Unlike much of the nature fiction I’ve read, Watership Down is a success on so many levels. It’s an interesting immersion into lives of ordinary rabbits, but it’s also a consistently thrilling adventure story and tribute to the power of teamwork and friendship. Even after all these years, I can still recommend it highly.
— D. Driftless
Down photo by Terryballard (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Check out Dave’s reviews of some other works of nature fiction: The Bees / Holy Cow / Fox 8
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