Richard Adams' cult classic, reissued with a new introduction from the author to celebrate its 40th anniversary. This brilliantly inventive fantasy epic by the award-winning author of Watership Down immerses the reader in a medieval world complete with created languages, detailed maps and elaborate traditions and rituals. A gripping tale of war, adventure, morality and slavery, horror and romance, Shardik is a remarkable exploration of mankind's universal desire for divine incarnation, and the corrosive influence of power. Recently ranked in the top 100 bestsellers over the past 40 years by the Sunday times, Shardik is a book for our age. Richard Adams is the author of 19 novels but he regards Shardik as his most profound work.
'Shardik is my masterpiece' Richard Adams
Centring on the long-awaited reincarnation of a giant bear among the half-barbaric Orelgan people, Shardik's appearance sets off a violent chain of events as faith in his divinity sweeps the land. Closest to the bear is the hunter Kelderek, a naturally pious, ignorant, well-meaning man who becomes - in his dedication to Shardik - a prophet, victorious soldier, corrupt priest-king and ruler of an empire.
'Riveting reading.' Daily Mail
'Striking enough to confirm Richard Adams as one of the most talented descriptive writers to emerge in this country for years.' The Times
'Recalls the imaginative scale of Lord of the Rings.' Financial Times
'Shardik is a powerful work, dipping deep into old forms - allegory, epic, myth - resonating in the caverns of the readers' unconscious
... It is an exciting story, the adventures compelling. Los Angeles Times
'Grips with suspense, haunts with mystery... a memorable work, not to be read once only but to be reread as loved books are... a human saga.' Wall Street Journal
ISBN: 9781780746630
Publication date: 06/11/2014
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Format: Hardback
| ISBN: | 9781780746630 |
| Publication date: | 6th November 2014 |
| Author: | Richard Adams |
| Publisher: | Oneworld Publications |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 592 pages |
| Suitable for: | 13+ readers |
| Recommendations: | eBooks |
Richard Adams (1920 - 2016) was an English novelist best known as the author of Watership Down, first published in 1972. He served in the British Army during the second world war, and then joined the civil service. He originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two daughters during long car journeys and they insisted it he publish it as a book. It was awarded the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, and went on to sell millions of copies throughout the world. In 1975 Adams was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
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