{"product_id":"horty-brown-co-9780648002864","title":"Horty Brown \u0026 Co","description":"\u003cem\u003eIn \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e1900s Melbourne\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e, the well-to-do were strolling down fashionable Collins Street enjoying the opulence of the '\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBelle Epoque\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e', the beautiful era, while streets away the hardships of life went on.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor two children, Hortense Brown, and Alistair Lundy, growing up on market gardens outside the once-touted bayside resort of \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMentone\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e, their playground was a paradise of she-oak, tea-tree, and eucalypt on the slopes above the ancient cliffs and sandy beach of Beaumaris Bay.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003einnocence\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e cannot last, and \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eadolescence\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e will not wait.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eBy January 1905, their families' fortunes have taken a dramatic turn and despite Hortense and Alistair's friendship, pressure grows on them to move in different circles. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn a world of great social and scientific change, Horty and Loon, and their friends Sniffle and Perce, embark on adventures throughout the natural beauty, small farmlets, and stately homes of \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMentone, Beaumaris, and Cheltenham, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e while on their way encountering fascinating characters including one of the great personalities of the early twentieth century: \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnnette Kellerman\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Gary Seeary Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50870681960722,"sku":"9780648002864","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1b01481e-b9f8-4cbb-a294-5377e1cd0d10.jpg?v=1737813664","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/horty-brown-co-9780648002864","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}