roman à clef


ro·man à clef

R0291900 (rō-mäN′ ä klā′)n. pl. ro·mans à clef (rōmäN′ zä klā′) A novel in which actual persons, places, or events are depicted in fictional guise.
[French : roman, novel + à, with + clef, key.]

roman à clef

(rɔmɑ̃ a kle) n, pl romans à clef (rɔmɑ̃ a kle) (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names[literally: novel with a key]

roman à clef

1. A French phrase meaning novel with a key, used to mean a novel in which real people are described but under false names.2. A story based on real characters and events known to the author, but presented under fictitious names.
Thesaurus
Noun1.roman a clef - a novel in which actual persons and events are disguised as fictional charactersnovel - an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story