Castle Craneycrow

"Castle Craneycrow" by George Barr McCutcheon is a novel set in the early 1900s that follows Philip Quentin, a likable, rich young man from New York City whose life takes surprising turns involving old flames and new mysteries when his past love, Dorothy Garrison, becomes engaged to a prince. The story begins by showing Quentin's personality through comical moments, most notably his meeting with a burglar, James Turkington (later known as Turk). After catching Turk breaking into his home, Quentin invites him to dinner, creating an odd friendship that turns the burglar into a devoted helper. As the story progresses, Quentin's adventurous side emerges as he finds himself dealing with romantic drama involving Dorothy and the mysterious Prince Ugo; these beginning events setup a mix of humor, romance, and the complications of social class as Quentin handles his feelings and relationships within his fortunate but tangled existence.