The Peach King

A contemporary fable about the resilience of nature from Inga Simpson, one of Australia's leading nature writers, with paintings by acclaimed illustrator Tannya Harricks

When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, all they could see was row upon row of other peach trees. And, on top of the hill, watching over the orchard - the Peach King.

As seasons pass, bringing cycles of change, Little Peach Tree grows and grows.

But darker changes are stirring. Soon rain is scarce, the forests turn brown, animals flee and the sky turns red.

To protect the orchard, the Peach King faces grave danger and Little Peach Tree must find their voice.

'A modern classic . . . An exquisite book destined to be treasured by generations . . . Its timeless quality and gentle wisdom invite return visits, making it a rewarding and enduring read' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

About the Author

Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel, Mr Wigg, in 2013. Nest, Inga's second novel, was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga's third novel, the acclaimed Where the Trees Were, was published in 2016.

Inga was awarded the final Eric Rolls Prize for her nature writing and has obtained a second PhD, exploring the history of Australian nature writers. Inga's account of her love of Australian nature and life with trees, Understory, was published in 2017. Her first book for children, The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson, was published in 2021. The Last Woman in the World, her critically acclaimed environmental thriller, was published in 2021 and shortlisted for the 2022 Fiction Indie Book Award. Her bestselling and critically acclaimed 2022 novel Willowman was shortlisted for the BookPeople Adult Fiction Book of the Year 2023 and in 2024 was selected by Australia's leading booksellers in BookPeople's 100 Must-Read Australian Novels. Her 2024 literary thriller The Thinning has been shortlisted for the 2025 ACT Literary Award for Fiction and was longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize and the 2025 Fiction Indie Book Award.

Inga lives on the New South Wales south coast among trees.