The Baron in the Trees

The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino is the enchanting tale of Cosimo di Rondò, a rebellious young nobleman who, after a quarrel at the family table, climbs into the trees and vows never to come down. True to his word, he spends his entire life among the branches, building a world of freedom, curiosity, and independence high above the ground. From his arboreal kingdom he observes human society, befriends peasants and bandits, discovers books and philosophy, and even experiences love. Blending adventure, satire, and fable, Calvino’s novel explores the tension between individual liberty and social duty, offering a poetic meditation on the art of living differently.