Grant Allen 
An African Millionaire (Annotated) 

• This edition includes the following editor’s introduction: Grant Allen, the life of one of the most versatile writers of English literature

Originally published in 1897, ‘An African Millionaire’ is a classic of crime and adventure by Canadian author Grant Allen. ‘An African Millionaire’ is one of the first books to feature a
gentleman crook and it is perfect for fans of books such as Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Thief.



This classic in rogue fiction tells the story of Sir Charles Van Drift, a confident and handsome South African millionaire that spends his time jetting to exotic locales with his wife and in-laws. But on one fateful trip to the Riviera, Van Drift meets his match in Colonel Clay. Posing alternately as a seer, a curate, and a German professor, the master of disguise swindles Van Drift through three continents and poses a serious risk to his South African diamond fortune. Colonel Clay, the notorious con artist and thief, has triumphed. But who is this master of disguise, really?