In The Peach King, Inga Simpson brings her signature sensitivity to the natural world into a fable for our times – one that feels both timeless and urgent.
With luminous paintings by Tannya Harricks, the book unfolds as a story about growth, resilience, and the fragile bonds between people, place, and the more-than-human world.
We meet Little Peach Tree, a sapling in a vast orchard, who looks up to the Peach King – a majestic tree standing proudly at the hill’s crown.
Through the turning of seasons, Simpson charts the rhythms of renewal and change, her prose carrying the cyclical music of nature itself.
But the idyll is not to last: rains dwindle, forests wither, animals scatter, and the skies burn red. Harricks’ sweeping, textured artwork deepens the sense of both beauty and impending loss. At the heart of this tale is courage: the Peach King’s sacrifice to shield the orchard and Little Peach Tree’s discovery of its own strength.
Though framed as a fable, the story resonates deeply with contemporary anxieties about fire, drought, and ecological precarity. Yet Simpson offers more than a cautionary parable; she gives readers a vision of hope, renewal, and the enduring power of nature to speak, if only we are willing to listen.
The Peach King is both an environmental storybook and an allegory, accessible to children yet profound enough for adults. It’s a work that invites quiet reflection, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all living things, and the responsibility we share in protecting them.
“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
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.
Inga’s second novel, Nest, was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Her 2024 literary thriller The Thinning 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.
Tannya Harricks is an illustrator and artist who lives in Sydney. Her award-winning art practice draws inspiration from the Australian landscape, its animals and her love of adventure.
The Peach King is published by Hachette Australia (Lothian Children’s Books) and is available from all leading book sellers including QBD Books.
Image: The Peach King – courtesy of Hachette Australia (Lothian Children’s Books)