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I too read Watership Down many years ago...probably on the order of 30. Recollection of details a little vague. I haven't seen the movie you linked to. No idea how faithful it is to the novel (though I have my doubts). Watership Down is not a cutesy animal story a la Disney's Bambi. Rok said in his reply to jafant, "It's about us." That is true. In that regard, it is too complex to have one single message though I'll repeat there is a deeper story there.
Rather than say it is about a "rabbit society", I should have written it's about a "rabbit community". Somewhat like Orwell's Animal Farm, Watership Down is an allegory about human society.... though not as narrowly political and I think much more complex, textured and nuanced than Animal Farm. It tracks the pilgrimage of a community of rabbits as they seek a new safe home having been warmed of impending disaster by one of their visionaries. They face many perils and temptations in their travels. There are personality clashes, power struggles, moments of great doubt and crisis. The portray of rabbit society is well-realized...they have their own mythology, a unique vocabulary, and a distinctly "rabbit" world-view.
It's a great book and like Rok said, not to late to read.
Note to self: Not to late for re-reading, either.
I too read Watership Down many years ago...probably on the order of 30. Recollection of details a little vague. I haven't seen the movie you linked to. No idea how faithful it is to the novel (though I have my doubts). Watership Down is not a cutesy animal story a la Disney's Bambi. Rok said in his reply to jafant, "It's about us." That is true. In that regard, it is too complex to have one single message though I'll repeat there is a deeper story there.
Rather than say it is about a "rabbit society", I should have written it's about a "rabbit community". Somewhat like Orwell's Animal Farm, Watership Down is an allegory about human society.... though not as narrowly political and I think much more complex, textured and nuanced than Animal Farm. It tracks the pilgrimage of a community of rabbits as they seek a new safe home having been warmed of impending disaster by one of their visionaries. They face many perils and temptations in their travels. There are personality clashes, power struggles, moments of great doubt and crisis. The portray of rabbit society is well-realized...they have their own mythology, a unique vocabulary, and a distinctly "rabbit" world-view.
It's a great book and like Rok said, not to late to read.
Note to self: Not to late for re-reading, either.