Tree and Leaf was published in 1975 as a revised edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s earlier lecture and essay On Fairy-Stories.
The volume combines Tolkien’s discussion of fairy stories with “Leaf by Niggle,” a short story about an artist whose work is repeatedly interrupted by practical demands. The pairing reflects Tolkien’s interest in creation, imagination, mortality, and the relationship between art and ordinary life.
On Fairy-Stories began as a lecture delivered at the University of St Andrews in 1938 and was later published in expanded form. Tolkien used it to explain why fairy stories should not be dismissed as children’s entertainment. He also discussed concepts including recovery, escape, and consolation, as well as what he called “eucatastrophe,” a sudden joyful turn.
The title Tree and Leaf comes from the two parts of the book and is not the name of a Middle-earth novel. Readers sometimes confuse it with Tolkien’s other short-story collections, but this edition is especially important for understanding his theory of fantasy and his views on creative work.