First published 1972
Spring has arrived at Sandleford Warren, and the grass grows thick and green. But Fiver senses something terrible approaching their home. His older brother Hazel listens when no one else will. Together they gather a small band of rabbits willing to abandon everything they know. They slip away from the warren's familiar boundaries and venture into an unknown world. Former friends pursue them. Dogs and foxes hunt them. Human settlements block their path. Yet the group pushes forward, driven by Fiver's vision and Hazel's determination to keep them alive. They forge new alliances along their journey. Through each trial, they hold onto a shared dream of reaching Watership Down, where they might build a safe home. The rabbits must learn whether courage and loyalty can overcome the perils that surround them.
Genres: animals, classic-literature, adventure, fantasy, young-adult, childrens-classics
Vibes: adventurous, emotional, epic, inspiring, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family, leadership, quest
Setting: Sandleford Warren, Watership Down
Period: 20th-century
474 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books
Content warnings: animal-death, violence