roman a clef
A roman a clef is a novel that is based on real events and/or people. The term was coined in France in the 17th century by the writer Madeleine de Scudéry, who wrote about public figures under the guise of fiction.
Well known contemporary roman a clefs include Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, and Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.
Formerly About.com’s contemporary literature guide and a Kirkus Reviews contributor, Mark is the founding editor of Run Spot Run. He was also progenitor and co-conspirator behind Infinite Winter, a ridiculous thirteen week dive into Infinite Jest he'd love an excuse to reprise. He typically refrains from referring to himself in the third person.
Latest posts by Mark Flanagan (see all)
- Just Kids by Patti Smith (Illustrated Edition) - February 1, 2020
- We Are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer - September 20, 2019
- Fall, or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson - June 18, 2019
