{"product_id":"botts-abroad-9781642340396","title":"Botts Abroad","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe world's best tractor salesman is back in this second installment of Alexander Botts and the Earthworm Tractor. In this series of humorous short stories, Botts and his new bride travel to Europe on a special assignment to bring the solid, American-made machines to the Old World  Nicknamed \"Gadget\" because of her usefulness, Mrs. Botts proves to be as resourceful as her husband in cleverly closing deals in ancient cities previously thought to have no market for crawler tractors.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Alexander Botts was created in 1927 by author William Hazlett Upson, and the stories are based on Upson's work as a factory assembler and sales demonstrator for the Caterpillar Tractor Company. For almost half a century, Botts was beloved by \u003ci\u003eSaturday Evening Post\u003c\/i\u003e readers in more than 100 short stories. This book includes the original illustrations that appeared with the stories in \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eSaturday Evening Post\u003c\/i\u003e, and is part of a series that will be the first to present the entire collection.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Alexander Botts and his Earthworm Tractor will charm readers young and old and entertain with innocent mayhem, timeless humor, and twists of fate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUpson, William Hazlett:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003eWilliam Hazlett Upson was born in Glen Ridge, NJ on September 26, 1891. His father was a Wall Street lawyer and his mother was a doctor of medicine. Upson became a farmer then enlisted in the field artillery in World War I. After the war he worked for several years as a service mechanic and troubleshooter for the Caterpillar Tractor Company. He learned the art of salesmanship which would inspire his later writing. In 1923, he began writing short stories and in 1927 created character Alexander Botts, who has appeared in over a hundred \u003cem\u003eSaturday Evening Post\u003c\/em\u003e stories. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUpson married Marjory Alexander Wright and made a home in Middlebury, Vt. He had a son, John Wright Upson and a daughter, Polly (Mrs. Claude A. Brown).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Octane Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50929648238866,"sku":"9781642340396","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_637d5036-f147-4c1f-8eab-9743a68c3203.jpg?v=1739047982","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/botts-abroad-9781642340396","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}