The series introduces Rocambole[1] as a highly resourceful adolescent, an orphan adopted by the wily crone Maman Fipart.

A major protagonist in the battle is a courtesan with a heart of gold and a fearless temper, Louise Charmet, a.k.a.

But Baccarat again thwarts his evil schemes, and he ends up imprisoned in the hard labor camp of Toulon (like Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables.)

The later novels portray Rocambole as a fearless hero fighting a variety of dastardly villains such as the Thuggee, etc.

Rocambole anticipates characters such as A. J. Raffles, Arsène Lupin, Fantômas, The Saint, Doc Savage, Judex and The Shadow.