Watership Down - by Richard Adams (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A beautiful and faithful graphic novel adaptation of Richard Adams's beloved story of a group of rabbits on an epic journey in search of home."Every rabbit that stays behind is in great danger. We will welcome any rabbit who joins us." Watership Down is a classic tale of survival, hope, courage, and friendship that has delighted and inspired readers around the world for more than fifty years. Masterfully adapted by award-winning author James Sturm and gorgeously illustrated by bestselling artist Joe Sutphin, this spectacular graphic novel will delight old fans and inspire new ones, bringing the joy of Watership Down to a new generation of readers."--

Book Synopsis

EISNER AWARD NOMINEE - A beautiful and faithful graphic novel adaptation of Richard Adams's beloved story of a group of rabbits on an epic journey in search of home.

"Every rabbit that stays behind is in great danger. We will welcome any rabbit who joins us."

Watership Down is a classic tale of survival, hope, courage, and friendship that has delighted and inspired readers around the world for more than fifty years. Masterfully adapted by award-winning author James Sturm and gorgeously illustrated by bestselling artist Joe Sutphin, this spectacular graphic novel will delight old fans and inspire new ones, bringing the joy of Watership Down to a new generation of readers.

Review Quotes

"Wonderful for those seeking re-entry to the forests and meadows of Watership Down, this version is also ideal for those who have yet to step foot in them."--The Wall Street Journal

"This classic story is faithfully adapted into a new medium with beautifully earthy illustrations that give each rabbit personality and new life . . . the underlying commentary on environmental impact provides a deeper, more complex tale that will appeal to older audiences, even on repeat readings."--Booklist, starred review

"This graphic novel version features outstanding art, with the rabbits drawn in such an appealing and distinctive way . . . a gripping page-turner of an adventure."--Boing Boing

"Whether you're an old fan or a new one, this is the book to read."--Betsy Bird, School Library Journal

"The art manages to be both melancholic and dynamic, just like the tone of Adams's novel. Sturm and Sutphin effectively convey a world as fraught and complicated as the human realm, yet entirely its own."--Publishers Weekly

"A beautiful recapturing of what made the book so beloved when it was first published. The existential themes and dread from Adams' novel are still there, but they're beautifully translated in colorful artwork that's reminiscent of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit stories. This smart decision makes the book more appealing to readers than ever before, seeing to it that Adams' story will continue to live on for many years."--Screen Rant

"An immersive, breathtaking visual experience that carries readers through all the danger and beauty of this literary classic. Mark my words: this version of Watership Down will be just as influential as the original."--Nate Powell, award-winning cartoonist of the March trilogy and Save It for Later

"An absolute masterpiece. Whether or not you've read the original, you will be pulled into this visually mind-blowing story that was created with so much care and heart."--Tillie Walden, creator of Clementine

"The artwork captures what the book is attempting: to give the reader the vertigo of seeing animals we are acculturated to view as harmless while at the same time seeing the tension, peril, and depravity that we pretend we don't see in ourselves."--Russell Moore, Christianity Today

"A wonderful way for new readers to discover the story and for hardened fans to reconnect with Fiver, Hazel, Bigwig, and the gang."--Joseph Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate 2022-2024

"Watership Down is my favorite book, and I consider it to be one of the very greatest books of all time."--SF Said, author of Varjak Paw and Tyger

"Every page of this adaptation is a loving tribute to Richard Adams's masterpiece. I've walked the real Watership Down and can honestly say that Joe Sutphin's gorgeous illustrations are the next best thing to being there."--Andrew Peterson, author of The Wingfeather Saga

About the Author

Richard Adams (May 9, 1920-December 24, 2016), an English veteran of World War II, originally told the story of Watership Down to his two daughters, who insisted he publish it as a book. It became an instant classic, selling over a million copies in both the United Kingdom and the United States, winning both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972. His other books include Shardik, Maia, Tales from Watership Down, The Girl in a Swing, and The Plague Dogs.

James Sturm's graphic novels include Off Season, The Golem's Mighty Swing, and Market Day; he co-authored the popular instructional series for children Adventures in Cartooning with Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost. Winner of two Eisner Awards, Sturm co-founded the Seattle alternative weekly The Stranger and The Center for Cartoon Studies, where he currently serves as director.

Joe Sutphin is an illustrator of books for kids such as Helen Taylor's Little Pilgrim's Progress, Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga, and the New York Times bestseller Word of Mouse by James Patterson. His love of nature, and of the living creatures in the fields and woods around his home, has informed his art for much of his life. Joe lives in a barn in Ohio with his wife, Gina, and a bunch of cats.