Many classic novels are also probably in the roman a clef category (like Little Women and Great Gatsby). It’s more fun when you know the (veiled) subjects, of course. Primary Colors is a great contemporary one, as is Postcards from the Edge. Curtis Sittenfeld’s American Wife is maybe more “inspired” by the Bushes but also borrows heavily from Laura Bush’s life (including a really tragic incident that is apparently true).
Anonymous
04/11/2025 07:43
Subject: Roman a clef
The thread about the Crazy Rich Asians made me wish for books like CRA, or The Devil Wears Prada (movie, frankly, more than the book), Bergdorf Blondes, The Nanny Diaries, that show a peek into an insider world.