We Shook the Family Tree

by Christopher Sergel (Adaptor), Hildegarde Dolson

Stage adaptation of the novel by Hildegarde Dolson.

Hildegarde is desperately trying to attract a date for the school dance. She wins the school debate with an impassioned plea against drinking, but instead of dazzling some handsome senior with her brilliance, she merely convinces everyone her father must be a drunkard. Hildegarde turns to her mother for help and her mother picks Freddie, the one boy in school who wears funny clothes. Hildegarde pleads to break the date but Father is still mad. Because of Hildegarde's debate, his job at the bank is threatened, and Freddie is the only son of the boss! In a whirlwind finish, a happy solution is reached.

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Christopher Sergel's interests and talents led him on many adventures throughout the world. As captain of the schooner Chance, he spent two years in the South Pacific; as a writer for Sports Afield magazine, he lived in the African bush for a year; as a lieutenant commander during WWII, he taught celestial navigation; as a playwright, his adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio was seen on Broadway. But throughout his life, his greatest adventure and deepest love was his work with Dramatic Publishing. During this time, he wrote adaptations of To Kill a Mockingbird, Cheaper By the Dozen, The Mouse That Roared, Up the Down Staircase, Fame, Black Elk Speaks and many more. His love of theatre and his caring for writers made him a generous and spirited mentor to many playwrights here and around the world. His inspiration and integrity attracted to the company fine writers including C.P. Taylor, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Arthur Miller, Roald Dahl and E.B. White - to name just a few. He once said he hoped to be remembered as E.B. White described Charlotte…
"…a true friend and a good writer."

Reviews

[Tressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't thought about this book in decades. The only reason I thought about it on this sunny day is that I was drawing the shades and thinking about how sun fades rugs and furniture, and I had a flashback of Hildegarde's mother raising the shades so that the sun WOULD fade the rugs and furniture for a comfortable lived-in look.

This book is a treasure. This is Hildegarde's memoirs of her childhood, teen years, college years, and when she moved to the city as a young lady to work as a secretary at a publishing company. (Or I think it is a publishing company, it's been so long).

Full of G-rated family humor of simpler times. I'm going to seek this one out through interlibrary loan. Very recommended!