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A ''roman à clef'' ( ; ; ) is a novel about real-life events that is overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people and the "key" is the relationship between the non-fiction and the fiction. This metaphorical key may be produced separately—typically as an explicit guide to the text by the author—or implied, through the use of epigraphs or other literary techniques.
Madeleine de Scudéry created the ''roman à clef'' in the 17th century to provide a forum for her thinly veiled fiction featuring political and public figures. An author might choose the ''roman à clef'' as a means of satire, of writing about controversial topics, reporting inside information on
A ''roman à clef'' ( ; ; ) is a novel about real-life events that is overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people and the "key" is the relationship between the non-fiction and the fiction. This metaphorical key may be produced separately—typically as an explicit guide to the text by the author—or implied, through the use of epigraphs or other literary techniques.
Madeleine de Scudéry created the ''roman à clef'' in the 17th century to provide a forum for her thinly veiled fiction featuring political and public figures. An author might choose the ''roman à clef'' as a means of satire, of writing about controversial topics, reporting inside information on scandal
A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way a ...
s without giving rise to charges of libel, the opportunity to turn the tale the way the author would like it to have gone, the opportunity to portray autobiographical experiences without having to expose the author as the subject, avoiding incrimination that could be used as evidence in civil, criminal or disciplinary proceeding, the ability to change the background and personalities of key participants and the settling of scores.
Biographically inspired works have also appeared in other literary genres and art forms, notably the .
See also
*Allegory
As a List of narrative techniques, literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a wikt:narrative, narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political signi ...
* All persons fictitious disclaimer
* Autobiografiction
* Autobiographical novel
* Autofiction
* Blind item
* Creative nonfiction
* Defamation
* Gonzo journalism
* Historical fiction
Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the Setting (narrative), setting of particular real past events, historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literatur ...
* List of narrative techniques
* Nomen à clef
* Non-fiction novel
* Real person fiction
* Semi-fiction
* Small penis rule
* Self-insertion
* Author surrogate
* Tuckerization
Notes
References
* Amos, William (1985). ''The Originals: Who's Really Who in Fiction''. London: Cape. . * Busby, Brian (2003). ''Character Parts: Who's Really Who in CanLit''. Toronto: Knopf Canada. . * Rintoul, M.C. (2014). ''Dictionary of Real People and Places in Fiction'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Roman A Clef Literary genres French words and phrases