Allsop and Denys Watkins-Pitchford, who described it as "the greatest animal story ever written". The book has led to Britain's Tarka Trail and to the establishment of the Tarka Country Tourism Authority in North Devon. Audiobook In 1978 Sir David Attenborough narrated an audiobook version of the story, released as a double audio cassette. Film adaptation The novel has been adapted into a film: Tarka the Otter. In 1974, Williamson began working on a script for a film treatment of the novel, but it was not regarded as suitable to film. Having previously rejected two separate offers from Walt Disney, Williamson finally accepted an offer to make the film from English wildlife documentary film-maker David Cobham, whom he trusted. The movie, narrated by Peter Ustinov, was released in 1979, with a screenplay by Gerald Durrell. One of Williamson's sons, Richard, and his daughter-in-law appear in the film. It was voted the 98th greatest family film in a Channel 4 poll. The soundtrack for the film was composed by David Fanshawe and performed by Tommy Reilly. Notable editions 1927, UK, G. P. Putnams Sons, 1927, Hardback 1937, UK, Penguin Books, Paperback 1962, UK, Revised edition, Puffin Books, Paperback 1965, UK, Bodley Head, 1965, Hardback 1971, UK, Puffin Books , January 1971, Paperback (C.F. Tunnicliffe, Illustrator) 1981, USA, Nelson Thornes , March 1981, Hardcover (C.F. Tunnicliffe, Illustrator) 1982, USA, Salem House Publishers , 1982, Paperback 1990, USA, Beacon Press , 1990, Paperback (Concord Library Series) 1995, UK, Puffin Books , June 1995, Paperback (Annabel Large, Illustrator) 2009, UK, Penguin Modern Classics , Paperback (Jeremy Gavron, Introduction) References External links Tarka the Otter manuscript in the Henry Williamson archive at University of Exeter Special Collections 1927 British novels British novels adapted into films Novels about animals Novels set in Devon Male characters in literature Literary characters introduced in 1927 Fictional otters Hawthornden Prize-winning works