Roman Fleuve is a French literary term that refers to a long novel or epic that traces the story of a family or a community over generations. The spelling of Roman Fleuve in IPA phonetic transcription is /ʁɔmɑ̃ flœv/. The first word, Roman, is pronounced with a nasalized "o" and a silent "n". The second word, Fleuve, is pronounced with a silent "e" at the end, and the "eu" diphthong is pronounced like "eu" in "feud". Understanding the IPA transcription can help non-native speakers to correctly pronounce French words.
Roman Fleuve is a French term used in literary criticism to describe a genre of epic novel that spans multiple volumes or books, often covering a long period of time, focusing on the lives and experiences of multiple characters from different generations or social classes. The term "Roman Fleuve" translates to "river novel" in English, which metaphorically represents the flowing narrative that carries the reader through the extensive storyline.
These novels are characterized by their vast scope, intricate plotlines, and detailed explorations of various themes and historical events. They typically depict the evolution of society and capture the essence of a particular era. The diverse cast of characters allows for a multidimensional portrayal of human experiences, as their lives intertwine and evolve over time. The Roman Fleuve often features intertwining storylines, with characters' paths crossing at various points in the narrative, contributing to the complexity and richness of the overall work.
This genre emerged in the 19th century and became particularly popular in France, with notable examples including Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" and Émile Zola's "Les Rougon-Macquart." The term is now used more broadly to encompass any lengthy novel or series of interconnected novels that depict a vast panorama of society and history.
In summary, a Roman Fleuve is a genre of novel that encompasses multiple volumes and offers a sweeping portrayal of society and history through the lives and experiences of a diverse array of characters.
The term "Roman Fleuve" is of French origin. It is a combination of two French words: "roman" meaning "novel" and "fleuve" meaning "river".
The term was coined in the 19th century to describe a specific type of novel that spans multiple volumes and follows the lives and experiences of multiple characters over an extended period.
The analogy of a "river" was used to reflect the uninterrupted flow and vastness of these novels, which were typically lengthy and immersive, often incorporating various subplots and storylines. The term "Roman Fleuve" became particularly associated with the works of French writers such as Honoré de Balzac (e.g., "La Comédie Humaine") and Marcel Proust ("In Search of Lost Time"), whose expansive narratives exemplified the genre.