The Whispering Tree

A heart-warming, moving and brilliantly-told novel inspired by The Canterbury Tales, The Whispering Tree is a beautiful celebration of the power of storytelling for readers of all ages, from Michael Morpurgo, the best-selling and award winning author of beloved books including War Horse, Kensuke's Kingdom, and Private Peaceful.

By the end of the day, after it was all over, I could think only of the stories.

When the Chief Nurse tells the seventy patients who have filled her A&E waiting room that they won't be seen by a doctor for at least twelve hours, some of them leave … and the rest decide to pass the time by telling stories to each other – just as the pilgrims in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales did for each other.

And so they tell all kinds of tales – exciting stories, heartwarming stories, funny stories; stories about the past and the present; about family and friends; about history; about nature and the world around us.

The stories they tell do more than just pass the hours – they transport their audience to different times and places, connecting people who are separated by hundreds of years and thousand of miles, like an act of magic. Every story transforms not just the listener, but the storyteller, too – and they last a lifetime.

Beautifully written with Michael Morpurgo’s warm, accessible and inimitable style, with stunning interior illustrations by Michael Foreman and beautiful jacket artwork by Oliver Jeffers, The Whispering Tree is a wonderful tribute to the magic of storytelling.

About the author

Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE FRSL FKC DL is a writer, playwright, performer and librettist. The author of more than 150 children’s books, he has sold over 35 million copies worldwide and in almost 40 languages. A former teacher and vocal spokesperson for the benefits of reading for pleasure, he is currently the President of Book Trust. Between 2003–2005 he was Children’s Laureate and in 2018 he was knighted for services to literature and charity. Many of Michael’s books have been adapted for stage and screen, including the phenomenal National Theatre adaptation of War Horse, which has been seen by over 10 million people in over 100 cities around the world, broke the West End record for weekly ticket sales, and won 5 Tony Awards and 2 Olivier Awards. Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.