Much of the fortnight I spent in Belgrade last month was dedicated to interviews about my two books recently published there, Belgrade Postcards and Istrian Postcards. All in all, I had six interviews, two each for newspapers, radio, and television. My primary aim was to promote Miša Jovanović and Vračarski Breg, the publishing house he had set up a couple of years back with several friends, but I had to say a few words about my books, as well. To begin with, I had to explain that both were selections from my Residua, and then I had to explain what that book was all about. And that is far from easy. Looking for a formula of sorts, I first called it an “intellectual diary.” This is a term I have stumbled upon years ago, and it felt right. Trying to put it in an historical context, I cited Montaigne and Pascal as my precursors. This surprised me at my first interview, for I had never said anything like this before, but my choice gradually grew on me during all the interviews that followed. Exactly a month since I left Belgrade, I am more comfortable with my precursors than ever before. This morning’s search through my Residua on World Wide Web actually bears me out. Montaigne’s name appears in nineteen pieces, and Pascal’s in eleven. They appear in many titles, also. Two among these are homages to Montaigne and Pascal.