Dictionnaire des calembours et des jeux de mots, lazzis, coqs-à-l'âne, quolibets, quiproquos, amphigouris, etc.

A lively showcase of 19th‑century French wit, this anthology gathers more than a thousand clever puns, riddles and word‑games into a single, alphabetically arranged volume. Readers will wander through playful entries that turn ordinary letters into mischievous characters—“the captain of twenty‑four soldiers” becomes the letter A, while “the most respectable A’s” are the Aloyaux. Each slip of humor is delivered in a compact, puzzle‑like format that invites you to pause, decode and delight in the surprise of the twist.

Beyond the jokes themselves, the work offers a glimpse into the social chatter of its era, with quips about priests, soldiers, lawyers and even bakers, all rendered in the same breezy, tongue‑in‑cheek style. Listeners can savor the rhythm of the clever constructions, feeling the pleasure of a well‑timed punchline while catching subtle commentaries on language, class and everyday life. It’s a charming auditory journey for anyone who loves a good linguistic tease.