. . . . . . . . . "Biography"@en . . . . "Biography" . "Anecdotes"@en . "Electronic books"@en . "Anecdotes" . . . . . . "In the spirit of A.B. Facey's A Fortunate Life, Jack Mercer's Hard Times is the true story of the author's amazing adventures. In 1911, growing up in an Ararat pub, he faces the terror of a violent stepfather and a mother who barely acknowledges his existence. But one thing keeps him sane: a plan to run. And once he starts running a page turning story begins. From early Werribee, Sydney, life aboard a Norwegian barque, Chile, Patagonia and Buenos Aires, to working as an elevator boy in New York and riding the trains as a tramp in Virginia, Jack Mercer's hard times and wonderful times capture."@en . . "Hard times : a runaway's adventures in the Americas"@en . "Hard times : a runaway's adventures in the Americas" . . "TRAVEL Museums, Tours, Points of Interest." . . . . "TRAVEL Budget." . . "Literature." . . "TRAVEL Parks & Campgrounds." . . "America" . . "SCIENCE Earth Sciences Geography." . . "Runaways Australia Biography." . . "TRAVEL Hikes & Walks." . .