The ever-reliable roman-à-clef

[BiscuitHammer]

'A roman-à-clef is a novel which depicts real-world people and events, with fictional names. Usually, details concerning the people and events are changed in minor ways in order to sustain the pretense of fiction. The amount of fictionalization in a roman-à-clef can vary widely. The term roman-à-clef is derived from a literary form invented by French author, Madeleine de Scudéry, in the 1600s. She wrote novels concerning public figures of the day.'

- Grammarist

I use it a lot, in both the Alexaverse, and Time Rider. Oddly, the device sees more use in the former work than the latter. The Alexaverse takes place in high society using today's setting, so if I include important figures in the world of arts or politics, I'm rather oblique about it.

Time Rider is easier, since the vast majority of the people Mark and Becky visit are long dead. There are exceptions, like Mark being determined to fuck a young and stunning Ann-Margret in 1965. But mostly the people are from way in the past.

I don't need to be oblique about Becky shooting Porthos or kicking Cardinal Richelieu in the nuts during the Battle of the Louvre. I name them quite directly. What are they gonna do, sue me?

Becky and Nanu dropped the Colosseum on the emperor of Rome to rescue Mark from getting eviscerated by gladiators, no need to conceal his name, because he can't be litigious about it.

I change or modify names in the Alexaverse so that people can be included in the story, although sex with them is very rarely involved. Ironic, given the nature of the site and the stories. For me, though, these people add flavour and context to my setting.

Who else uses the concept actively in their stories? What are some examples to this point in your stories? Who are they meant to be?

I rather enjoy using the concept.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

My latest story, 1990, relies heavily on real world people and events, particularly related to the year referred to in the title.

An example is the scene of the bowling alley robbery, which is based upon the actual "Los Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre" that occurred that year. The names of the victims were about the only thing changed (along with the fictional retribution that the perpetrators eventually faced).

All of my "Before They Were Stars" series stories are based upon real people currently still alive and active in their careers.

 

[gunhilltrain]

My latest story, 1990, relies heavily on real world people and events, particularly related to the year referred to in the title.

An example is the scene of the bowling alley robbery, which is based upon the actual "Los Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre" that occurred that year. The names of the victims were about the only thing changed (along with the fictional retribution that the perpetrators eventually faced).

All of my "Before They Were Stars" series stories are based upon real people currently still alive and active in their careers.

Interesting that a much worse incident occurred the following month: the Happy Land Social Club fire on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, March 25, 1990. A spurned boyfriend set fire to the place where his girlfriend was working as a hat check clerk. Eighty-seven people were killed, one of the worst fires in New York history.

I guess there is a story in that too.

https://fgpreporting.wordpress.com/tag/happy-land-fire/

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Interesting that a much worse incident occurred the following month: the Happy Land Social Club fire on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, March 25, 1990. A spurned boyfriend set fire to the place where his girlfriend was workings as a hat check clerk. Eighty-seven people were killed, one of the worst fires in New York history.

I guess there is a story in that too.

https://fgpreporting.wordpress.com/tag/happy-land-fire/

I actually considered that event too, but it didn't fit the locale or the continuity of the story.

 

[Euphony]

Interesting that a much worse incident occurred the following month: the Happy Land Social Club fire on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, March 25, 1990. A spurned boyfriend set fire to the place where his girlfriend was working as a hat check clerk. Eighty-seven people were killed, one of the worst fires in New York history.

I guess there is a story in that too.

https://fgpreporting.wordpress.com/tag/happy-land-fire/

Wild. Apparently Duran Duran wrote a song about it b/c those details seem familiar to me but I know nothing of the events (and was a kid and nowhere near NY at the time)

 

[Rob_Royale]

I did https://literotica.com/s/the-hedonism-house which is set in 1962. I did what you're describing though I didn't know there was a word for it.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Wild. Apparently Duran Duran wrote a song about it b/c those details seem familiar to me but I know nothing of the events (and was a kid and nowhere near NY at the time)

Yes, it's Sin of the City, which mentions the club by name.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Yes, it's Sin of the City, which mentions the club by name.

Great album.