Richard Adams Books

It’s no wonder this has become a Classic. It is so much more than the story of a group of rabbits and how they survive enemy attack.

Elil (stoat, weasel, fox, cat, human, etc) are everywhere, ready to put an end to the quest upon which Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig and the others embark. Every move, beyond the safety of familiar burrows, could spell disaster. Added to this is an almost unbroken sense of jeopardy deriving from tyrannical General Woodwort, whose iron grip contrasts starkly with the wise and humble Hazel.

Rabbits they may be (and we’re given plenty of rabbit facts), but we recognise very human tendencies (power-mongering, violence, fear) in the characters and the mythical, quasi-religious stories they tell. Clearly, Adams is a keen observer of how military manoeuvres proceed and bullies operate, as well as a naturalist.

There is so much to recommend about this epic tale that will challenge modern readers, quite apart from the plot that grips right to the last of the 600+ pages.