Books: Rabbit Redux

WATERSHIPDOWN

by RICHARD ADAMS 429 pages.

Macmillan. $6.95.

Once upon a time there was talk of zorn in the old rabbit warren. A bunch of the young bucks got together and agreed (for Frith's sake!) that even if they became hlessil, they had to pull out—and right away too.

Zorn, in rabbit language, "denotes a catastrophe." Frith is the sun "personified as a god." Hlessil means migrant rabbits. And obviously Watership Down—the name of the upland where these hlessil finally make their new home—is also the code word for that territory known to Oxford...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!