Résumé
Les Guêpes (The Wasps), written by Alphonse Karr, is a collection of satirical essays published in monthly installments starting in November 1839.
Set against the backdrop of 1830s–1840s France, it offers a sharp, witty critique of contemporary society, politics, and culture.
Karr addresses his "unknown friends" with a candid, irreverent voice, mocking the absurdities of government, the press, and social pretensions.
He critiques the commercialization of journalism, the hypocrisy of political parties, and the quirks of public figures, blending humor with biting social commentary.
Through anecdotes and aphorisms, Karr exposes the follies of the bourgeoisie, the monarchy, and the legal system, while reflecting on broader human behaviors and societal trends, all delivered with a playful yet incisive tone.