Dr. Claudius

by Marion Crawford

Doctor Claudius lives a life of solitude and reflection in Germany. He is both a philosopher and a mathematician, and is content in his ways until his only relative dies in New York, changing everything. His deceased uncle leaves him an enormous fortune of a million and a half dollars, enabling Claudius to adopt a different way of life. When Mr. Barker, a friend of Claudius's uncle, arrives in Germany, he introduces Claudius to a host of other characters. Claudius meets the widowed Countess Margaret and her companion Miss Skeat. Margaret is impressed by Claudius's philosophical nature and ideas about love. A friendship, and possibly a romance, develops between them over conversation and reading. When Barker's friend the Duke invites Margaret to go to America with him, she is delighted to hear that Claudius will be coming along as well, and the group sets off on an extraordinary journey.

265 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2004

About the author

Marion Kirk Buthlay CVO (née Crawford; 5 June 1909 – 11 February 1988) was a Scottish educator and governess to Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II). Known then by her maiden name, Elizabeth and Margaret affectionately called her Crawfie. Crawford worked for the Royal Family from 1933 to 1949. Upon her departure, she agreed to author The Little Princesses, a book which told the story of her time with the family. Although she was given tentative approval by the royal family to publish anonymously, Crawford was completely ostracised by them after her writing appeared under her name; she left Nottingham Cottage, her grace and favour house, and no member of the family ever spoke to her again.