This was their way of honoring the dead. The story over, the demands of their own hard, rough lives began to re-assert themselves in their hearts, in their nerves, their blood and appetites. Would that the dead were not dead! But there is grass that must be eaten, pellets that must be chewed, hraka that must be passed, holes that must be dug, sleep that must be slept. Odysseus brings not one man to shore with him. Yet he sleeps sound beside Calypso and when he wakes thinks only of Penelope.

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.