Book excerpt: Claude Duneton was a French literary figure of note (1935-2012) and a versatile and prolific writer, whose Parler croquant (1973) first brought him public acclaim. He enjoyed most of all the weekly language articles he wrote for Le Figaro littéraire, from 1994 to 2010, when his life as a writer was cruelly cut short by a severe, disabling stroke. When Claude Duneton succeeded Maurice Chapelan (Aristide) as resident chroniqueur du langage at Le Figaro, he was not without experience in the field, having successfully composed such pieces for the women’s magazine Elle during the late 1970s. That period served him well as a preparation for his sixteen years at Le Figaro. The title of his articles, Le plaisir des mots, was perfectly fitting, since his work as chroniqueur brought him the greatest delight and satisfaction, les mots, words, their meaning, their etymology, their often amusing history, their every aspect, being his grande passion.