Crusoe in New York, and other tales

In Short

This collection of nine short stories explores the quiet absurdities, unexpected freedoms, and sudden turns of nineteenth-century American life. Its title novella follows a resourceful young man who secretly builds his own private retreat inside a vacant city lot in New York, turning urban isolation into a game of survival and independent living. Other tales move from newspaper rivalries in distant Samarcand to illicit late-night horse-car rides through city streets, mixing romantic courtships with dry domestic satire. The collection has endured for its warm humor, its clever narrative conceits, and its affectionate view of everyday ingenuity.

The Story

The volume opens with its central work, "Crusoe in New York," narrated by a young man named Robin. Raised in New York by his widowed mother, Robin inherits a passion for practical carpentry and a desire for independence. Spotting an abandoned, walled-in corner lot owned by distant heirs living in Europe, he quietly constructs a frame house hidden completely behind high fences along a church alley. Using heavy pulleys and careful measurement, he raises the timbers himself without drawing the notice of passing pedestrians or city officials. He establishes a secret garden, grows melons, and sets up a quiet homestead shared only with his supportive mother.

Their secluded life changes when a young shipwreck survivor named Frida arrives. Browned by the sea air and deeply grateful for shelter, Frida quickly becomes a devoted member of the household, taking over daily domestic duties while refusing to step outside the protective fence. Robin finds himself captivated by her beauty and gentle nature, and the hidden compound turns into a peaceful refuge for the trio until external circumstances force them to engage with the broader world.

The remaining stories present varied portraits of nineteenth-century life, high romance, and comic misadventure. "Alif-Laila" transposes the framework of Arabian storytelling into a satire of rival newspaper editors in Delhi and Samarcand, celebrating the invention of the serial tale. "A Civil Servant" follows the endless search of an unaccomplished office-seeker who cycles through government applications before settling into small-town obscurity, contrasting his hollow ambitions with the genuine accomplishments of skilled craftsmen. In "Nicolette and Aucassin," the narrator retells the classic medieval song-story of two devoted lovers defying family imprisonment, war, and separation across sea and land until they are reunited.

Other tales turn to modern inventions and domestic complications. "The Lost Palace" centers on an audacious railroad scheme where engineers attempt to fly a train over modified switches. In "The Western Ginevra," a young woman named Hester Bryan faces severe poverty and family coercion to marry a visiting foreign duke, prompting desperate maneuvers among her small-town friends. "Max Keesler's Horse-Car" details the domestic experiment of a young out-of-work husband and his wife who turn an unused paint-shop in their garden into a private transit operation, driving a horse-car through the city during night shifts to earn a living. Finally, "The Modern Psyche" traces the whirlwind courtship of Edward Ross and Psyche, whose quiet life is thrown into chaotic luxury by endless social engagements, grand city balls, and high-society obligations.

How It Unfolds

The urban island Robin carefully constructs a hidden wooden frame house behind a high ten-foot fence on a forgotten New York corner lot. Using multiplying pulleys anchored to a neighbor's wall, he secretly raises the structure and plants a flourishing melon patch inside the hidden yard.

A quiet household Robin brings his mother into the secret compound, where they enjoy their privacy and avoid conflict with the surrounding neighborhood. Their solitude is brightened by the arrival of Frida, a young woman rescued from hardship who quickly endears herself to both of them.

The press at Samarcand In a distant eastern city, a newspaper editor dispatches his top assistant on an arduous journey across deserts and mountains to bring back his long-separated brother. The traveling sub-editor is greeted with great ceremonial honor by rival journalists along the way.

The endless applicant A persistent office-seeker visits President Madison, asking for positions ranging from Chief Justice to foreign diplomat. Turned down at every turn for lack of qualification, he illustrates the contrast between empty political patronage and honest, practical skill.

The lovers' trial Aucassin breaks away from his father's estate and wanders into the forest searching for Nicolette, who has built a rustic hut of leaves and flowers to test his loyalty. After escaping captivity and traveling to Carthage, Nicolette disguises herself as a minstrel to return to her lover.

The midnight transit After losing his factory job during an economic panic, Max Keesler hires a house with an abandoned paint-shop in the garden. Together with his wife Bertha, he sets up a secret late-night horse-car route, managing unpredictable passengers and unexpected visits from transit directors.

The social whirl Edward Ross courts the shy, thoughtful Psyche, discovering her deep character during quiet outings. After their marriage, however, they find themselves swept into a relentless schedule of high-society balls, state visits, and constant entertaining.

The People

• Robin (Crusoe) wants a private space to exercise his practical skills and live independently. Facing the threat of urban intrusion, he overcomes physical construction hurdles alone and ends up creating a peaceful home for his mother and Frida.
• Robin's Mother wants safety, order, and common sense in her household. She cautions Robin against violence toward neighborhood trespassers, keeping him grounded until their quiet domestic life is established.
• Frida wants refuge and security after surviving distress at sea. Shy of the outside street, she gladly takes on every household chore to support Robin and his mother, transforming into a beloved companion.
• Aucassin wants only to be united with Nicolette, scorning courtly expectations and paradise itself if he cannot be with her. Imprisoned and separated by war, he resists his father's demands and eventually secures his true love.
• Nicolette wants to remain faithful to Aucassin despite being captured, sold into slavery, and claimed by foreign royalty. Using her cleverness and musical skill, she escapes her lineage to navigate her own way back to him.
• Max Keesler wants to support his family after losing his job in a financial panic. By converting his rented garden paint-shop into a base for running a horse-car, he establishes a modest, independent income.
• Bertha Keesler wants to keep her household afloat without sacrificing her family's comfort. She steps onto the horse-car platform as a conductor, facing down overbearing directors and difficult passengers with resolve.
• Psyche wants quiet, genuine connection based on shared intellectual interests. After marrying Edward, she finds her peaceful life overwhelmed by the demands of elite social obligations.

In Its Own Voice

"The western wall, if, indeed, a frame house has any walls, was only eight feet high."

Robin describes the simple wooden structure he raises by hand behind the high alley fence.

"There is, however, high authority for teaching by parable--and that parable which has a very great air of probability."

The author defends his use of realistic, invented stories to convey practical human truths.

"She had to send back her engagement ring, and the letters and the songs I told you of."

The narrator outlines the harsh pressure forced upon Hester as her family breaks off her true romance.

What It's Really About

The collection centers on the search for personal sanctuary within a rapidly changing modern society. Whether Robin is framing a hidden house on a vacant Manhattan lot or Max and Bertha are turning an old paint-shop into an independent transit line, the characters constantly seek small pockets of self-reliance. Hale contrasts the quiet satisfaction of productive handiwork with the empty status of political office-seekers and high-society posturing. Beneath the varied settings lies a persistent belief in human resourcefulness, practical ingenuity, and the quiet dignity of building a home on one's own terms.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic American humor, inventive plot conceits, and vintage portrayals of nineteenth-century city life will find much to enjoy here. The title story offers a charming urban twist on the survival narrative, recasting the lonely island trope within the crowded grid of Manhattan. Hale writes with a light, conversational tone that makes the inventive setups—from middle-of-the-night horse-car runs to satirical newspaper rivalries—feel fresh and immediate.

The collection does carry some period eccentricities. The pacing varies between tight domestic comedy and sweeping romantic retellings, and readers must adjust to nineteenth-century cultural references, regional idioms, and occasional melodramatic plot twists. Some secondary tales rely on exaggerated coincidence or romantic tropes of the era. Nevertheless, the book's genuine warmth, crisp dialogue, and celebration of ordinary human resourcefulness leave a lasting, delightful impression.