George Mailath is finally telling his story, from a privileged beginning as part of the Hungarian aristocracy, growing up with maids & butlers to adjusting to life as a penniless refugee waiting for a boat to take him to Australia. Covering the years from 1930 to 1949 George recounts his early life and the sudden changes brought about by the war. From skating on the Tisza river in winter, brewing potato alcohol with his brother in the estate greenhouse and asking way too many questions to travelling across Hungary in a horse & cart to escape the war & returning to a home taken over by peasants. George's early life was shattered by events and he was forced to go from child to adult, from rich to poor but he always looked forward with optimism. This is the 1st of 2 books relating his memories over the years.