“The Conqueror of Africa” is a novel written by Somerset Maugham in 1907 and first published in Russian—one of the key works of the writer’s early period. For the first time, it introduces motifs that would later become distinctive for Maugham: an exotic setting, a sharp plot, and deep psychological insight. The sad story of Lucy Allerton, her admirer—Alec MacKenzie, a traveler and researcher, a true gentleman—and her nervous, frivolous younger brother George, captivates and holds you in suspense. The human tragedy hinted at through the twists of the plot is mesmerized by its authenticity and unmistakable sincerity.