The title story, "A Tree of Night", was first published in Harper’s Bazaar in October 1945.

Overall the stories are noted for involving "sexual anxiety and dysfunction without solidly grounded detail.

"[2] A Tree of Night and Other Stories received mixed reviews upon its publication.

"[3] Helen Garson considers A Tree of Night and Other Stories to have undoubted appeal to readers and ranks it as one of Capote's top four works, alongside Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and In Cold Blood.

[4] Steven L. Vaughn comments that A Tree of Night and Other Stories proves to be consistent with Capote's earlier fiction, most notably Other Voices, Other Rooms, which he describes as dark and dreamlike.