novel in which real events are fictionalized crossword clue

The crossword clue "novel in which real events are fictionalized" is commonly answered with the word "ROMAN A CLEF." This term refers to a novel that portrays real people or events under the guise of fiction, often with altered names and details. The term is typically spelled as two words: "roman à clef," which is French for "novel with a key," but in crossword puzzles it may appear condensed as "ROMANACLEF" or as two separate words depending on the puzzle format.