Richard Adams English writer Date of Birth: 09.05.1920 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Richard George Adams

Richard George Adams was born in 1920 in Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom. He grew up in a prosperous family of a doctor, studied diligently, and graduated from Horris Hill School. Afterward, he attended Bradfield College, where he completed his studies in 1938. Richard then went on to Oxford, where he pursued a degree in Modern History at Worcester College. He obtained both his bachelor's and master's degrees in modern history from there.

During World War II, Adams served in the British Army and was stationed in the Middle East and India. However, he did not witness any actual combat or encounter German or Japanese soldiers. After the war, Adams joined the civil service and worked in the Ministry of Housing and the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom. It was during his time as a civil servant that Adams began writing.

In 1949, Richard married Elizabeth, and they had two daughters together. According to the author himself, it all started with simple stories he created for his daughters, Juliet and Rosamond, during their family trips outside of their London apartment on weekends. These stories gave birth to the characters of his first novel, "Watership Down," which was published in 1972. The adventurous tale of rabbits who had to leave their home and embark on a dangerous journey resonated with British children, and the book was named "Best Children's Book" that same year. It went on to achieve international acclaim.

In Russia, Adams' book is known as "Korablevnyy Khom." Over the years, more than a million copies of "Watership Down" have been sold worldwide, and Adams was awarded the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award. He was recognized as a classic in children's literature and is credited with pioneering the genre of animal fantasy.

His second book, "Shardik," was published in 1974 and enjoyed similar success to his debut novel. This enabled Adams to leave the civil service and become a full-time writer. In 1975, Richard Adams was elected as a member of the Royal Society of Literature. He also serves as the president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

To date, Adams' books have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. In addition to "Watership Down" and "Shardik," he wrote several other children's books, including "The Tiger Voyager," "The Girl in a Swing," "The Legend of Te Tuna," "Maia," "Traveller," "The Outlandish Knight," and several other novels and story collections.

His first book, "Watership Down," remains his greatest success and has been adapted into an animated series and a full-length film. His other works, such as "The Plague Dogs" and "The Girl in a Swing," have also been adapted for the screen.

Today, Richard and his wife reside in Whitchurch, Hampshire. In 2010, he celebrated his 90th birthday and presented his new collection of short stories, "Gentle Footprints," with the proceeds going to "The Born Free Foundation," a charitable organization.