# Richard Adams

> English novelist best known as the author of Watership Down

**Wikidata**: [Q313289](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313289)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Adams)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/richard-adams

## Summary
Richard Adams was an English novelist best known as the author of *Watership Down*. He was a multifaceted writer whose career spanned novels, children's literature, science fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. His work is recognized for its contributions to 20th-century literature and its invention of the fictional Lapine language.

## Biography
- **Born**: May 10, 1920
- **Died**: December 24, 2016
- **Nationality**: United Kingdom
- **Education**: Worcester College; University of Florida
- **Known for**: Authoring *Watership Down* and creating the Lapine language
- **Employer(s)**: United Kingdom (civil service/government context implied by employer property)
- **Field(s)**: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Science Fiction, Poetry

## Contributions
Richard Adams authored *Watership Down* (1972), a novel that became his most notable work and a classic of children's literature and fantasy genres. He developed the "Lapine" language, a fictional language featured in his work. His literary output includes contributions to novels, screenplays, children's stories, science fiction, and poetry.

## FAQs
**What is Richard Adams best known for?**
Richard Adams is best known for writing *Watership Down*, a 1972 novel that is widely recognized as a classic of children's literature and fantasy.

**What awards did Richard Adams receive?**
He received the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for his writing. He was also a recipient of the Silvert Award.

**What was Richard Adams' background and education?**
He was born in 1920 in the United Kingdom and was educated at Worcester College. He also had an affiliation with the University of Florida.

**What genres did Richard Adams write in?**
Adams wrote across multiple genres, serving as a novelist, screenwriter, children's writer, science fiction writer, and poet.

## Why They Matter
Richard Adams holds a significant place in 20th-century literature, particularly within the realms of children's literature and fantasy. His novel *Watership Down* transcended typical genre boundaries, appealing to both adult and young audiences, and is frequently cited as one of the most important novels of its era. Adams' creation of the Lapine language demonstrated a dedication to world-building that influenced subsequent fantasy authors. His work has been recognized by major literary institutions, including the Royal Society of Literature, of which he was a member. His storytelling continues to be studied for its narrative depth and its impact on the anthropomorphic animal genre.

## Notable For
- Authoring the classic novel *Watership Down* (1972)
- Winning the Carnegie Medal for children's literature
- Receiving the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
- Inventing the fictional Lapine language
- Membership in the Royal Society of Literature
- Contributions to multiple literary forms: novels, screenwriting, poetry, and science fiction

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Richard George Adams was born on May 10, 1920. He was a citizen of the United Kingdom. His educational background included studies at Worcester College, a college of the University of Oxford founded in 1714. He also had an affiliation with the University of Florida, a public research university.

### Literary Career and Works
Adams pursued a diverse career in the arts, defined by his roles as a novelist, screenwriter, poet, and author of children's literature and science fiction. His most famous work, *Watership Down*, was published in 1972. The novel is a fantasy story that falls under the broader umbrella of children's and young adult literature. Adams is credited with the creation of "Lapine," a fictional language used by the characters in his work.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Adams received significant literary recognition. He was a recipient of the Carnegie Medal, an annual award established in 1936 for writing a children's book published in the U.K. Additionally, he won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, an annual literary award established in 1967 for a children's book by a British writer. He also received the Silvert Award, an award for studies of Latin America. His standing in the literary community was cemented by his membership in the Royal Society of Literature.

### Historical Context
Adams lived through major global events, including World War II (1939–1945), a global conflict during which he served. He passed away on December 24, 2016.

### Professional Affiliations
Adams was a member of the Royal Society of Literature, a prestigious literature society based in London. His professional history also lists the United Kingdom as an employer, indicating a career in the civil service or government sector alongside his literary pursuits.

## References

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11. [Source](http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/625321)
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20. [The Day Gone By. 1990](https://archive.org/details/daygonebyautobio0000adam/mode/1up)
21. Birthdays today. The Times. 1982
22. [TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS. The Daily Telegraph. 1988](https://www.newspapers.com/image/751116391)
23. [BBC News: Watership Down author Richard Adams dies aged 96](http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38446309)
24. [Source](https://www.watership-down.com/2016/12/27/requiescat-in-pace/)
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33. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/Locus_Awards_1985)
34. [Source](https://www.sfadb.com/British_Fantasy_Awards_1975)
35. [Source](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/award_category_year.cgi?423+1975)
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