Understory

By: Inga Simpson

Narrated by: Inga Simpson

'a controlled and literate work that earns its emotional peaks' - Saturday Paper

'a delight' - The Australian


A memoir about staying in one place, told through trees, by the award-winning author of MR WIGG, NEST and WHERE THE TREES WERE.

"The understorey is where I live, alongside these plants and creatures. I tend the forest, stand at the foot of trees and look up, gather what has fallen."

This is the story of a tree-change, of escaping suburban Brisbane for a cottage on ten acres in search of a quiet life. Of establishing a writers retreat shortly before the Global Financial Crisis hit, and of losing just about everything when it did.

It is also the story of what the author found there: the beauty of nature and her own path as a writer. Understory is a memoir about staying in one place, told through trees, by the award-winning author of MR WIGG, NEST and WHERE THE TREES WERE.


'Something powerful ... takes hold of the reader and transports [you] to the forest floor in a kind of awe' - Sydney Morning Herald

'I love the way the reader gets lost in the trees and then lost in Inga's life and then lost in the trees again. Understory feels so rich and nourishing, as if the restorative power of the Australian bush is transmitted through her words.' - Richard Glover, bestselling author and radio presenter

'a fine addition to the genre of Australian nature writing' Books + Publishing

Critic reviews

'It is a fine addition to the genre of Australian nature writing.' (Lindy Jones)

What an amazing story!

I LOVED this book, I learned so much about trees as well as about myself.
I have a different perspective on nature.

Needs a different narrator

I believe I would enjoy the story if it were read by a skilled narrator. As it is, the narration is very monotonous - one sentence sounds just like the next. I will give the written book a try and pass on the rest of this audiobook.

Brilliantly written and beautifully narrated

Listening to Understory, narrated by the author Inga Simpson, was a delightful experience it was. Anybody who loves nature deeply can relate to this book. Her way of blending descriptions of how she sees the natural world that is her home with a deep exploration of her own inner emotional landscape is touching and brilliant. She goes deep on so many levels, and I really liked her uncompromising honesty when writing about her own feelings. This made this book such a pleasure to listen to. Living among the trees myself, I could relate on so many levels. I didn't want the book to end, and I keep thinking about it days later. It stays with you. Looking forward to reading and listening to Inga's other books.