An African Millionaire: Episodes in the Life of the Illustrious Colonel Clay was written by Grant Allan (1848 - 1899). Allan was a science writer, author and novelist, and supporter of the theory of evolution. Allan wrote one of the first Canadian science fiction books, The British Barbarians, in 1895. He is best remembered for his character Colonel Clay who was a gentleman rogue thief. Episodes in this book include The Episode of the Mexican Seer, The Episode of the Diamond Links, The Episode of the Old Master, The Episode of the Tyrolean Castle, The Episode of the Drawn Game, The Episode of the German Professor, The Episode of the Arrest of the Colonel, The Episode of the Seldon Gold-Mine, The Episode of the Japanned Dispatch-Box, The Episode of the Game of Poker, The Episode of the Bertillon Method, and The Episode of the Old Bailey.