roman à clef

[raw-mah na kle]

noun

French.

plural

romans à clef 

1. a novel that represents historical events and characters under the guise of fiction.

roman à clef

/ rɔmɑ̃ a kle /

noun

1. a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names

roman à clef

1. A novel in which actual people and places are disguised as fictional characters. Roman à clef is French for “novel with a key.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of roman à clef¹

First recorded in 1880–85; literally “novel with a key,” the key being the connection between the fictional and nonfictional elements of the novel

Word History and Origins

Origin of roman à clef¹

literally: novel with a key

Example Sentences

After all, her next book is a roman à clef about Gala, and writing about a woman who might be in dire straits would be exploitative.

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There is no more quotable novel about Hollywood than Carrie Fisher’s roman à clef, “Postcards From the Edge.”

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The seamless overlap between real life and fictional counterparts, and the faithful reproduction of such well-established facts, conveys the author’s intention to offer a crystal clear clé to this roman à clef.

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Also please read his “Jarnegan,” a roman à clef about a thug and criminal who comes to Hollywood, and becomes a great director.

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Originally the book’s nine stories were going to stand alone, but during the writing process Clowes shifted toward telling the story of one person’s life against a backdrop of paranormal suspense: a roman à clef crossed with EC Comics’ “The Haunt of Fear.”

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