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    What's the origin of the phrase "roman à clef"?

    Question #107874. Asked by Datsmeharse. (Aug 10 09 7:09 PM)


    ghosttowner

    		The phrase "roman a clef" comes from the French and means "a novel with a key."

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwwodarch.pl?Jun.27.2009

    Aug 10 09, 8:19 PM
    trans991

    		Etymonline indicates the phrase was first used in England around 1893-
    roman à clef, novel in which characters represent real persons, lit. "novel with a key" (Fr.), first attested in Eng. 1893.
    http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=roman+a+clef
    In 1894, the Robert Hichens novel The Green Carnation was published. Said to be a roman a clef based on the relationship of Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, it would be one of the texts used against Wilde during his trials in 1895.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Douglas


    Aug 10 09, 8:32 PM

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