Definition

Noun: A roman-fleuve is a literary genre, specifically a French novel structured as a long, multi-volume chronicle that follows the lives of multiple generations of a family or a broad social group over an extended period. It aims to depict the evolution of society through the intimate lens of the characters' interconnected stories.

Usage

The term is used to classify a specific type of extended narrative fiction. * Proust's In Search of Lost Time is often cited as the quintessential roman-fleuve. * The author dedicated decades to writing her roman-fleuve, tracking a dynasty from the 19th century to the present day. * Critics praised the series not merely as a set of novels but as a cohesive roman-fleuve.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be applied metaphorically to any lengthy, interconnected series of works (e.g., in film, television, or even historical studies) that shares the sweeping, generational scope of the literary form.
  • The director's seven-film epic has been called a cinematic roman-fleuve.

Variants and Related Words

• Saga: A more general English term for a long story of heroic achievement or family history. While similar, a "saga" often implies more adventure or legend, whereas a is typically a realistic social chronicle.
• Chronicle: A factual written account of historical events in order of time. A is a fictional work structured like a chronicle.
• Cycle: A series of novels or poems that are connected, often focusing on a central theme or set of characters.

Synonyms

• Family saga
• Generational novel
• Chronicle novel

Antonyms

• Novella
• Short story
• Vignette

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A sweeping epic: This English phrase captures the grand, expansive nature of a .
  • Her life's work was a sweeping epic of 20th-century America.

Noun

1. a French novel in the form of a long chronicle of a family or other social group