A picaresque story is one in which a dishonest but likeable person travels around and has lots of exciting experiences.
[literary]
...a picaresque novel about the life and crimes of Joey Blueglass.
picaresque in British English
(ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk)
adjective
1.
of or relating to a type of fiction in which the hero, a rogue, goes through a series of episodic adventures. It originated in Spain in the 16th century
2.
of or involving rogues or picaroons
Word origin
C19: via French from Spanish picaresco, from pícaro a rogue
picaresque in American English
(ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk)
adjective
1.
of, like, or having to do with sharp-witted vagabonds or rogues
2.
designating or characteristic of a kind of fiction that originated in Spain and deals episodically with the adventures of a hero who is or resembles such a vagabond or rogue
Word origin
Sp picaresco < pícaro, rascal, orig. knavish, vile
Examples of 'picaresque' in a sentence
picaresque
But it was not quite the picaresque journey she presented to you.
Hilton, John Buxton DISPLACED PERSON (2003)
He raised a fist halfway and pressed on further back into the picaresque.