Here lies a collection of some of Grant Allen’s lesser-known stories, many of which have not been reprinted since the original 19th century publications. They have remained largely unread since then. They cover a wide range of genres from detective fiction and romance, to science fiction, each story depicting Victorian British society with a humour and wit which has stood the test of time.

Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen was a prolific and versatile writer. An Oxford graduate, Allen had a gift for writing and earned himself quite a reputation, on anything from physics and botany, to interior design and travel. During his career in writing fiction, which he frequently claimed he stumbled into, he wrote more than two hundred short stories, along with numerous novels and poetry.

His works were published in some of the biggest magazines of the time, including the Cornhill and Belgravia. Despite an initially hostile attitude toward the medium, Allen became truly involved with much of his fiction.