Inscribed by the author. A presentation copy this classic of English literature. Clive Hirschhorn, the South African born theatre critic and interviewer, amassed one of the most important and comprehensive collections of signed modern first editions in the world. He utilised his impressive network, eventually boasting exceptional copies of nearly every book of note published in the latter half of the twentieth century, including To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Casino Royale, and this copy of Adams' well loved adventure novel.

This best-selling story of the plight of some rabbits and their habitat, was initially rejected by all the major publishing houses but when Collings published it over 100,000 copies sold in the first year. The author was awarded both the Carnegie Medal from the Library Association and the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. The eponymous animated film, released in 1978 and directed by Martin Rosen, featured the voices of John Hurt, Richard Briers, Harry Andrews, Simon Cadell, Nigel Hawthorne, and Roy Kinnear, amongst others. The theme song, Bright Eyes, sung by Art Garfunkel, became a U. K. number one hit.


First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on the title-page; 'To Clive Hirschhorn, | with best wishes from | Richard Adams | Whitchurch | Hampshire'; 8vo (222 x 147 mm); tipped-in folding map at rear, light spotting to edges but only affecting 3 or 4 margins, text clean; publisher's tan cloth gilt, pictorial dust-jacket with neat minor tissue repairs, viii, 413pp; preserved in a moden quarter morocco solander box.