Clavis Scientiae

The 'key principle' as a complementary procedure to cryptographic writing and deciphering reading is demonstrated here with reference to various narrative texts, beginning with the courtly romance, extending to Chr.M. Wieland's -Geschichte der Abderiten-, Goethe's -Die Leiden des jungen Werther-, and E.T.A. Hoffmann's -Meister Floh-, and proceeding from there to discuss early 20th century novels with artists as their central figures, and the works of Thomas and Klaus Mann (-Mephisto-, -Doktor Faustus-). The roman a clef emerges cleansed of its opprobrium as a 'suspect' form of literary activity, and stands revealed as an instance of covert reference that invariably casts a highly illuminating light on the societies occasioning its use."