Originally begun as a story told to his daughters on long car rides, and at their insistence that he turn the stories into a novel, Adams began writing what would become Watership Down, referencing The Private Life of the Rabbit (Ronald Lockley, 1964) to imbue his own brand of researched naturalism to the anthropomorphic fiction. Initially rejected by several major London publishers before being picked up by one-man publisher Rex Collings in 1972, who risked the last of his capital to publish the book. Gaining immediate success, Watership Down, would sell over a million copies in the next few years and go on to be awarded the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. This edition was published in 1975 Avon's (the publishers of the first Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey) first printing of the novel. .... Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

ISBN: 0380002930