Richard Adams (1920-)
Though an acclaimed author of many books, Richard Adams is best known for his novel Watership Down. As the book suggests, Adams was born and grew up in Berkshire, not far from Hampshire where the actual Watership Down sits. During World War II he quit his studies at university and joined the service, but interestingly enough saw no action against either the Germans or the Japanese. At the end of the war he returned home, completed his studies, married and settled down to a life of writing. Watership Down was initially stories told to his daughters, but at their insistence he got it published and it instantly became world-famous. Eventually Adams quit his job in the civil service and took up writing full time. He now lives in Hampshire with his wife Elizabeth, ten miles from his birthplace.
