Watership Down: The Illustrated edition by Adams, Richard (Illustrated by John Lawrence.)

London: Penguin Books and Kestrel Books, 1978 072265197X. Hardback. 1978 reprint of this edition. Fine/Fine. In unclipped Dust Cover (which has the slightest of nicks at the top of the spine) and illustrated protective slip case with the all-important map present at the rear of the book also in fine condition. All in excellent condition. 8vo (15 - 25cm tall) This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Cream boards, buckram spine in tight binding and in pictorial slipcase. Brown borders (black lettering and illustration to the spine.) No annotations or inscriptions."Set in southern England, around Hampshire, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natural wild environment, with burrows, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language, proverbs, poetry, and mythology. Evoking epic themes, the novel follows the rabbits as they escape the destruction of their warren and seek a place to establish a new home (the hill of Watership Down), encountering perils and temptations along the way. 'A great read. A fantastic plot and storyline, very well written, and very thought provoking. With John Lawrence's delicate pen and watercolour wash style that looks as if it had been drawn, and sketched almost from life. Watership Down has been described as an allegory, with the labours of Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Silver "mirror[ing] the timeless struggles between tyranny and freedom, reason and blind emotion, and the individual and the corporate state." Adams draws on classical heroic and quest themes from Homer and Virgil, creating a story with epic motifs. Rare and desirable thus. Highly collectible. 550 pages. A classic for children and adults. Would make an excellent gift. .