by G. K. Chesterton
About this book
G. K. Chesterton's "The Trees of Pride" weaves a captivating mystery around three legendary trees and the ambitious wager that unravels everything the villagers believe to be true.
Squire Vane, a skeptical gentleman with more boyish impulse than wisdom, dismisses the local legend of the Peacock trees—ancient oaks blamed for a devastating fever that has claimed countless lives. The superstitious peasants fear these gnarled sentinels, but Vane's pride demands proof. He accepts a reckless wager to spend the night among them, confident he can dispel the rumors with rational explanation. By morning, Squire Vane has vanished without trace.
His disappearance ignites urgent questions that consume the village: Is he dead? If so, who bears the guilt—the mysterious poet with secret knowledge, the calculating lawyer with hidden motives, the woodsman bound to the forest, or something far more sinister dwelling within the trees themselves? Chesterton masterfully constructs a mystery that challenges readers to separate folklore from fact, superstition from reality.
This captivating short story exemplifies Chesterton's genius for blending philosophical inquiry with adventure and atmospheric storytelling. Ideal for listeners who relish classic mystery fiction and tales that explore the tension between enlightenment skepticism and ancient belief, "The Trees of Pride" offers thought-provoking entertainment that lingers long after the final revelation.
