“This Diary contains no story and no very thrilling adventure. While cruising about on the coasts of the Mediterranean last spring, I amused myself by writing down every day what I saw and what I thought. I saw but the water, the sun, clouds and rocks – I can tell of nought else –, and my thoughts were mere nothings, such as are suggested by the rocking of the waves, lulling and bearing one along.” Guy de Maupassant