I wholeheartedly second this recommendation, which I’ve always thought of as Lord of the Rings with rabbits instead of hobbits, but a lapine retelling of Virgil’s Aeneid is an even better characterization. My only quibble would be with the editorial translation of “Owsla” as “warren”: a more accurate translation would be “royal guard”, I think. On that note, one of my favourite features of the book is how it gradually and gently introduces us to the rabbit language so that the climactic (sort-of spoiler alert) “Silflay hakra u embleer hrair!” makes perfect sense to us: it’s the best use of an alternate language to swear (or at least be inspiringly crudely insulting) in a children’s book that I’ve ever seen!
Thank you for this, Father. I 100% agree that the "worldbuilding" in this story is excellent (which seems odd to say, as it is really our world--a field in England--but through a rabbit's lens)--with the language being one of the highlights. You're right--Adams does a fantastic job of slow-rolling it out, so it is both wonderful and comprehensible!
Thanks again for pointing that out!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the mythology, too, if ever you have the time.
Hooray! I'm so glad to hear that! Will you make sure to let me know what you think of it when you've finished? So far, of the dozens I've recommended it to only one was not enthused :)
Well written, Don. Watership Down has long been one of my all-time favorite novels. W.D. inspired me to write my fantasy trilogy, Leafensong, which is about a tribe of highly intelligent squirrels and an epic journey through a unique forest. It started with my drawings of trees which I love and evolved from there. I write and illustrate the books. I began the novels over 30 years ago, finished the first version of all 3 novels in 2004 and self-published the first book, Leafensong, First Telling, 5 years ago as a printed book and e-book. I have not marketed First Telling at all, choosing instead to complete Second Telling which I have been re-writing--several times--with the input of beta-readers and an editor. Second Telling is very close to being done. I discovered Substack a week ago and intend to re-launch First Telling and publish at least excerpts from Second Telling on Substack and also as a printed and e-book. And publish Third Telling in serialized form, the first part of which is finished. My website, Leafensong.com, has a # of my drawings and blogs about Watership Down, the book and the netflix movie that came out some years ago. I still love Watership Down!
Thank you, John, for both reading and commenting--and congratulations on the continued progress on Leafensong. What a professional, beautiful, well-written website you have. Well done!
I see we both have similar tastes--in both reading and writing. Though I am not ready to "unveil" it here on Substack, I too am writing the novel I wish I could read, and it too focuses on anthropomorphic animals (though, it appears, more on the allegorical, human side than your and Adams'.)
I loved that book so much (still do obvs) that back in the day when I was gushing about it to my first girlfriend, and wondering what it would be like to be in El-ahrairah’s Owsla, and she asked me “If he came to you tonight and said ‘let’s go’, would you go, and leave me?”, I said yes, I would.
Would be excited to receive such an excellent copy of this book!
Good luck to you, sir! And thanks for posting :)
I wholeheartedly second this recommendation, which I’ve always thought of as Lord of the Rings with rabbits instead of hobbits, but a lapine retelling of Virgil’s Aeneid is an even better characterization. My only quibble would be with the editorial translation of “Owsla” as “warren”: a more accurate translation would be “royal guard”, I think. On that note, one of my favourite features of the book is how it gradually and gently introduces us to the rabbit language so that the climactic (sort-of spoiler alert) “Silflay hakra u embleer hrair!” makes perfect sense to us: it’s the best use of an alternate language to swear (or at least be inspiringly crudely insulting) in a children’s book that I’ve ever seen!
Thank you for this, Father. I 100% agree that the "worldbuilding" in this story is excellent (which seems odd to say, as it is really our world--a field in England--but through a rabbit's lens)--with the language being one of the highlights. You're right--Adams does a fantastic job of slow-rolling it out, so it is both wonderful and comprehensible!
Thanks again for pointing that out!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the mythology, too, if ever you have the time.
As requested, my thoughts on the mythology - or at least on the storytelling - of Watership Down: https://open.substack.com/pub/geekorthodox/p/storytelling-in-watership-down?r=4936a&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I've been meaning to read this this year!
Hooray! I'm so glad to hear that! Will you make sure to let me know what you think of it when you've finished? So far, of the dozens I've recommended it to only one was not enthused :)
Sure!!
Well written, Don. Watership Down has long been one of my all-time favorite novels. W.D. inspired me to write my fantasy trilogy, Leafensong, which is about a tribe of highly intelligent squirrels and an epic journey through a unique forest. It started with my drawings of trees which I love and evolved from there. I write and illustrate the books. I began the novels over 30 years ago, finished the first version of all 3 novels in 2004 and self-published the first book, Leafensong, First Telling, 5 years ago as a printed book and e-book. I have not marketed First Telling at all, choosing instead to complete Second Telling which I have been re-writing--several times--with the input of beta-readers and an editor. Second Telling is very close to being done. I discovered Substack a week ago and intend to re-launch First Telling and publish at least excerpts from Second Telling on Substack and also as a printed and e-book. And publish Third Telling in serialized form, the first part of which is finished. My website, Leafensong.com, has a # of my drawings and blogs about Watership Down, the book and the netflix movie that came out some years ago. I still love Watership Down!
Thank you, John, for both reading and commenting--and congratulations on the continued progress on Leafensong. What a professional, beautiful, well-written website you have. Well done!
I see we both have similar tastes--in both reading and writing. Though I am not ready to "unveil" it here on Substack, I too am writing the novel I wish I could read, and it too focuses on anthropomorphic animals (though, it appears, more on the allegorical, human side than your and Adams'.)
Thanks again, and it's nice to meet you!
I loved that book so much (still do obvs) that back in the day when I was gushing about it to my first girlfriend, and wondering what it would be like to be in El-ahrairah’s Owsla, and she asked me “If he came to you tonight and said ‘let’s go’, would you go, and leave me?”, I said yes, I would.
We broke up a month later.