The Baron in the Trees

Described as a conte philosophique, or a philosophical novel, The Baron in the Trees (1957) by Italian author Italo Calvino fuses a fictional narrative with questions of philosophy and what it truly means to live a fulfilled life. The story is narrated by the younger brother of Cosimo as he tells the story of how, being bullied by his older sister and tired of his role as a young Baron, Cosmio decided to climb a tree and spend the rest of his life up there. He eventually becomes self-sufficient in the tree, building his own existence up there and changing the lives of everyone he meets during his unconventional existence. Exploring themes of independence, rebellion, and finding happiness, The Baron in the Trees is the second installment of Calvino’s fantasy trilogy Our Ancestors—preceded by The Cloven Viscount and followed by The Nonexistent Knight. Although some Italian critics at the time criticized its second half, it was overall critically and commercially successful, winning the 1957 Viareggio Prize and becoming Calvino’s best-selling work.

The Baron in the Trees is the story of Cosimo Piovasco di Rondo, a young Baron who is growing tired of his strict, structured environment and the bullying of his older sister, Battista. When she tries to force him to eat snails, he’s had enough and climbs a large tree, declaring that he’ll never come down again. The story is narrated by Cosimo’s younger brother, Biagio, his brother’s early partner in exploration and mischief, who helps him out during his early days in the trees. Biagio narrates the events as he remembers them and as he was told them by his brother. Biagio clearly admires his brother, who had many adventures during his life in the trees and was beloved by the townspeople. During his youth, Cosimo first befriended and became a teacher to and defender of a group of impoverished boys who climbed his tree to steal fruit, as well as becoming close to a young girl who lived in a nearby house with an exotic garden. He made a deal with the local bookseller to provide books for his library in the tree, becoming a student of the philosophers and thinkers whose writings led to the French Revolution. He also befriends a passing thief, whom he provides with light reading from his stash and sets on a better path than a life of crime.

As he gets older, he becomes the defender of the trees, rallying the townspeople to protect their forest from fire. He fights pirates and discovers that his father’s half-brother is in league with them. However, he protects his uncle’s reputation so his father never finds out, and his uncle is forever grateful. Cosimo finds great passion in storytelling, telling anyone who passes by of his adventures. This leads to him becoming a beloved character among the townspeople, who tell exaggerated tales of his adventures. In an elaborate adventure, he encounters a group of Spanish exiles, getting his first taste of love in the form of a young woman traveling with them. He also gets his first chance to put the lessons in philosophy he has learned from his books into practice, engaging in a lengthy debate with a devout monk who rejects the lessons of philosophers due to his prejudices stemming from Roman Catholic doctrine.



As a young man, he returns to his hometown and further displays his ingenuity by romancing and entertaining girls in his trees. Many are attracted to his unique lifestyle and lust for life, and they spread the story of the man who lives in a tree around the country. However, he truly falls in love when his childhood neighbor, Viola, returns. All the trivial flings Cosimo had no longer matter to him. She remembers their childhood games as fondly as he does, and the two of them establish a cozy tree house complete with a bed, curtains, and living quarters. However, Cosimo’s heart is broken when his brother finds out that Viola is still encouraging courting by other men, thus ending the romance. As Cosimo ages, he becomes more and more eccentric, but from the trees, still helps his siblings care for his sick mother. He becomes involved with secret societies that pass through, leaving everyone a bit changed. However, all the while he remains himself, never allowing anyone to control him. As he gets old and sick, he realizes that his time is drawing to a close. One day he leaps from his tree to catch a passing hot-air balloon and rides it over to a nearby lake. There, he drops from the balloon and ends his life on his own terms, his feet never touching the ground again.

Italo Calvino was an Italian short story writer, novelist, and journalist. Best known for the Our Ancestors trilogy, he was the most-translated contemporary Italian writer during his lifetime. The author of dozens of works of fiction and essays, as well as three libretti and three screenplays, seven of his works have since been adapted to film and television. He was widely decorated, winning the Legion of Honour in 1981 and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement the following year.