The Sailing Ship Tree: A Liverpool Story

by Berlie Doherty

This is the story of the Big House by the Mersey and the people who lived there. In particular the twins Walter and Dorothy, whose father is the butler; Master George, the desperately lonely son of the wealthy owner; and Tweeny, the little maid treated hardly better than a slave.

In a way the house belongs to all of them, though the lives of the servants and masters couldn’t be more different.

When disaster strikes and Master George needs help, the four children find reguge in the branches of a beautiful chestnut tree in the grounds of the house and there create a daring plot to help him escape to a new world.

Genres: Childrens

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Berlie Doherty née Hollingsworth is an English novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for children's books, for which she has twice won the Carnegie Medal.She has also written novels for adults, plays for theatre and radio, television series and libretti for children's opera.

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, particularly in comparison to a grown up version I was also reading - childrens books are always better!

[Temp · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books growing up, decided to read it again as an adult and loved it just as much 🤍

[Sara-Jayne Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in the first person with each chapter being told by either Walter and Dorothy Hollins, Master George or Tweeny. Each tells the story of life of the servants, children of servants and young master living in a big house in Liverpool in the early 1900s. The Sailing Ship Tree is a large tree with spreading branches which the children like to climb in the garden, and from here they can see the Mersey as well as watch the world go by. Based on the life of Berlie Doherty's dad and his own writings, this is still a work of fiction but one that draws you in to the characters and you want to know what happens.