I'm one of those who keeps Watership Down at the top of my all time favorites list. Although when pressed I'm quick to concede that it retains it's place at the top of the list all these years (and books) later because of the emotional attachment I have to it. I read it in high school, and I remember it making me feel very grown up. To this day I remember the excitement and thrill I felt when I read about Bigwig taking his stand in the tunnels against General Woundwart. "My Chief Rabbit has told me to defend this run and until he says otherwise I shall stay here" still gives me goose bumps. Great review!

Thanks! I liked that scene, too, particularly because it made Woundwart start speculating about how massive the "chief rabbit" must be if Bigwig was not chief -- it emphasizes the way Hazel and his clan were breaking the mold of expected rabbit behavior/society, despite the way they eschewed the other warrens they encountered as "unnatural."