Origin
As a baby, Joseph Josephin was abandoned by his american mother in a french orphanage. After being wrongly accused of stealing an orange, he faked his death and ran away, at a very young age.
At age 16, he started working for a parisian newspaper named “L’époque” (“The Time”, in french), as a junior reporter. His first success was the discovery of the missing left foot of a murdered prostitute.
He was given the nickname “Rouletabille” (“roll your marble” in french) by his editor, because of his very round forehead.
Description
Joseph Rouletabille is a very young and short man, with a round head, and a quite red skin (sometime described as “as red as a tomato”). Almost always in a good mood, he has a lot of humor, and most people enjoy his company.
He is also incredibly smart, and able to solve the hardest mysteries, just by using logical thinking. His always says that any problem must be taken by the right end of reason (“par le bon bout de la raison”).
Creation
Rouletabille was created by french author Gaston Leroux. He made his first appearance in the novel The Yellow Room Mystery (Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune).
Major Story Arcs
Most Rouletabille’s adventures are connected. In two of them, his archenemy is the legendary thief and murderer Ballmeyer, an evil Arsène Lupin-like figure, who turns out to be Rouletabille’s father.
Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune (The Yellow Room Mystery)
Rouletabille investigates the attempted murder of Mathilde Stangerson, daughter of an american physisist. When she was attacked, Mathilde was sleeping in a locked room, with no way of getting in or out. Rouletabille must find out how the murderer entered the yellow room, and how he escaped.
Le Parfum de la dame en noir (The Parfume of the lady in black)
Direct sequel of the previous story : the legendary thief Ballmeyer is still running, and will probably try to kill Rouletabille’s mother. In a castle of the south of France, Rouletabille gets ready for his final battle against Ballmeyer.
Rouletabille chez le Tsar (Rouletabille and the Czar or The Secret of the Night)
Rouletabille goes to Russia to prevent a terrorist attack against one of his friend.
Le Chateau Noir (The Black Castle or Rouletabille at war 1)
During the Balkan Wars, Rouletabille (and his friends La Candeur and Vladimir) must go the Black Castle, base of operation of the terrorist Gaulow, who kidnapped Rouletabille’s fiancee, Ivana.
Les Etranges Noces de Rouletabille (The Strange wedding of Rouletabille or Rouletabille at war 2)
Right after the events in the Black Castle, Rouletabille keeps trying to catch Gaulow. He also tries to understand why Ivana betrayed him.
Rouletabille chez Krupp (Rouletabille at Krupp’s)
During World War I, Rouletabille becomes a secret agent for France. His mission : to free the scientist Fuelber, who created the Titania, a giant missile capable of destroying an entire city. Fuleber is forced to work for the germans, in the Krupp’s factories.