The American Claimant (1892) is a continuation of the story of Colonel Sellers, a character introduced in The Gilded Age. In this novel, Colonel Sellers is full of hope for the future. He's the rightful duke, after all; and, his inventions are bound to bring him riches sooner or later (he believes). Of course, Colonel Sellers jumps from one thing to another, never quite satisfied, often losing his money and everything with every hair-brained scheme. He can't quite seem to say "No" to the downtrodden, so they take advantage of his kindness; and he's left off in a worse situation.