The Tree

by Walter de la Mare, AI Voice Arthur Lane (Narrator)

This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. A prosperous, hard-headed fruit-merchant comes to call on the half-brother he has always despised – a ruined dreamer living in squalor at the world's edge. But in the wild, neglected garden stands something no ledger can ever account a vast and alien tree, lovely and faintly terrible, that has bound the wastrel to it body and soul. As the two men circle their old contempt, the merchant feels the ground of his certainties begin to tilt, and half-senses – without daring to believe – that his beggared brother may guard the one treasure no fortune on earth can buy.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics

Audible Audio

Published June 13, 2026

About the author

Walter John de la Mare was an English poet, short story writer and novelist. He is probably best remembered for his works for children, for his poem "The Listeners", and for his psychological horror short fiction, including "Seaton's Aunt" and "All Hallows". In 1921, his novel Memoirs of a Midget won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and his post-war Collected Stories for Children won the 1947 Carnegie Medal for British children's books.

Reviews

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining horror listening🎧

I listened to this as part of Classic Tales of Horror - 500+ Stories. This story is very interesting with will developed characters.

I would recommed this individual story and box set to readers of horror stories. 2023

[Julia Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Walter de la Mare, why have I only known about your books recently? The being delayed of my discovery to your writing is genuinely upsetting. Aside from wishing I had known about your works earlier, I also wish that you had written longer books. Though story-wise, your books may not be up to the level of my favorite books from my favorite author, your writing may or may not have dethroned the writing of that author completely.

As I read through this painstakingly short book I kept thinking how disappointed I am at the length of this for I really couldn't enjoy it for as long as I want. At the same time, as I read, I enviously wished I have the ability to write the same way you do.

:(

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trees are for squirrels.

[Per · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Tr...