Chafetz Chaim, Part One, The Prohibition Against Lashon Hara, Principle 3, Opening Comments
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בּוֹ יְבֹאַר, שֶׁאֵין חִלּוּק בְּאִסּוּר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, בֵּין בְּפָנָיו וּבֵין שֶׁלֹּא בְּפָנָיו, וְאִסּוּר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע אְפִלּוּ דֶּרֶךְ שְׂחוֹק, ואֲפִלּוּ אֵינוֹ מְבָאֵר בְּעִת הַסִּפּוּר אֵת הָאִישׁ, שֶׁהוּא מְכַוֵּן עָלָיו וְעוֹד שְׁאָר פְּרָטִים, וּבוֹ ח' סְעִיפִים.
Herein will be explained that there is no difference in the issur of lashon hara between "in his presence" or "not in his presence," and that the issur of lashon hara applies even by way of jest and even if the speaker does not identify, while speaking, the man that he is referring to, along with other details. It contains eight sections.