There is not a day or night but a doe offers her life for her kittens, or some honest captain of Owsla his life for his Chief Rabbit's. Sometimes it is taken, sometimes it is not. But there is no bargain, for here, what is, is what must be.

The book gained international acclaim almost immediately. In 1974 following publication of his second novel Shardik he left the Civil Service to become a full-time author. color Illustrations by Yvonne Gilbert b&w illustrations by Jennifer Campbell.

He studied modern history at university before serving in the British Army during World War II. In 1974 two years after Watership Down was publiRichard Adamsd Adams became a full-time author. Richard George Adams (born 9 May 1920) is an English novelist who is best known as the author of Watership Down.