Richard Adams grew up in Berkshire, the son of a country doctor. After an education at Bradford College and Worcester College, Oxford, he spent six years in the army and then went into the Civil Service. He originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two daughters and they insisted he publish it as a book. It quickly became a huge success with both children and adults, and won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Carnegie Medal in 1972. Richard Adams has written many novels and short stories, including Shardik, The Plague Dogs, The Girl in a Swing, Maia and Traveller. He has also written an introduction to Jack Lennon's White Fang, one of the brand new-look Puffin Classics.

He now lives in Hampshire with his wife and enjoys a wide variety of hobbies including walking in the countryside and English literature.

When were you born? 
10th May in Newbury Berkshire                                  

What’s your favourite book? 
The Bible                       

What’s your favourite film? 
Orphee, Jean Cocteau

What’s your most treasured possession? 
An 1848 Milletior paperweight                    

When did you start writing?     
1965, age 46         &n...

When were you born? 
10th May in Newbury Berkshire                                  

What’s your favourite book? 
The Bible                       

What’s your favourite film? 
Orphee, Jean Cocteau

What’s your most treasured possession? 
An 1848 Milletior paperweight                    

When did you start writing?     
1965, age 46                                  

Where do your ideas and inspirations come from?   
It’s impossible to say

My three tips for becoming a successful author:
1) Persistence
2) Revision
3) Reading         

What are your hobbies? 
Chess, Beer, Reading                                        

If you hadn’t been an author, what do you think you would have been?
A civil servant