The Baron in the Trees

by Italo Calvino

First published 1959

In 18th-century Genoa, young Cosimo Rondò spurns society after a petty squabble, climbing into the trees and vowing to never again touch the ground. From his leafy exile, he builds an entire life in the canopy, befriending philosophers, thwarting his family's schemes, and tending to a passionate romance. As the years pass, Cosimo's symbolic tree-bound existence becomes a testament to the transformative power of individual conviction in the face of a disapproving world.

Genres: classic-literature, historical-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age

Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical

Tropes: found-family, unconventional-hero

Setting: Italy, Liguria, Ombrosa

Period: 1767, 18e siècle

288 pages · Paperback · Vintage Classics

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