Dictionnaire érotique Latin-Français

A surprisingly vivid window into the playful side of ancient literature, this 17th‑century manuscript gathers the most colorful Latin expressions of love, desire and intrigue, pairing each term with a careful French rendering. Compiled by a Parisian lawyer who also oversaw the region’s book‑censorship, the work survived centuries of wary censorship, resurfacing in a nineteenth‑century auction before finally being prepared for print. The modern edition enriches the original list with scholarly notes that trace the sources, reveal the manuscript’s tangled provenance, and explain the delicate balance between scholarly curiosity and moral alarm that surrounded such texts.

Listening to the recording brings the dictionary to life, as each entry is pronounced with attention to rhythm and nuance, while the editor’s commentary offers context on how classical poets and satirists wielded erotic language. The result is an engaging exploration of linguistic artifice and cultural attitudes, perfect for anyone fascinated by the interplay of language, history and the timeless human fascination with the erotic.