Henri Chabrillat, born on December 28, 1841 in Marseille, was a multifaceted French journalist, playwright, and novelist renowned for his adventurous and dramatic works. A prolific writer during the Second Empire and early Third Republic, Chabrillat garnered acclaim for his incisive reportage and creative literary ventures. He worked with prominent newspapers, contributed to theatre as a director and librettist, and authored novels that intertwined social commentary with imaginative narrative. His collaboration with Paul d’Ivoi on works such as Les Cinq Sous de Lavarède brought him lasting fame in the adventure genre. Chabrillat’s dynamic career reflected the turbulent political and cultural climate of 19th-century France. Although his life was marked by financial difficulties and personal challenges, his literary and theatrical contributions remain influential. Today, Henri Chabrillat is celebrated for his versatility and his role in pioneering modern narrative techniques in adventure fiction, indeed a true pioneer.