An African Millionaire: Episodes in the Life of the Illustrious Colonel Clay

A good popcorn book with some sly humor and a bit of social commentary. Reminiscent of A Prince of Swindlers.

A collection of short stories about a confidence trickster preying on the millionaire of the title.
This con-man,who goes under the name of Colonel Clay is a master of disguise and can change his appearance to a remarkable degree.
He first coup is to get himself invited to a seance as a 'Mexican Seer' and perform a series of seemingly supernatural acts. This in front of a group of people which include Sir Charles Vandrift and his secretary Seymour Wilbraham Wentworth. As as result of his actions he relieves Sir Charles of some £5000.
In most of the other stories he manages by various methods to extract money,diamonds,bonds and cheques from the increasingly desperate millionaire,who tries unsuccessfully to capture him.
The thief pre-dates show more Hornung's A.J.Raffles by a few years,but is very much of the same type - a gentleman thief,that the reader can feel sympathy with.
Although the stories begin to get somewhat similar as the book progresses and the feeling that the millionaire and his helpers are rather more stupid and gullible than necessary,this still,remains after all these years a good read. show less

Amusing stories about a rogue who assumes different identites to swindle a dishonest millionaire.