Afloat

Afloat,originallypublishedasSurl’eauin1888,isabookofdazzlingbuttreacherouslyshiftingcurrents,aseeminglysimplelogbookofasailingcruisealongtheFrenchMediterraneancoastthatopensuptorevealunexpecteddepths,asGuydeMaupassantmergesfactandfiction,dreamanddocumentationinawhollyoriginalstyle.Humorousandtroublingstories,unreliableconfessions,strayreminiscences,andthoughtsonlife,love,art,nature,andsocietyallfindaplaceinMaupassant’spages,whichare,inconceptionandineffect,somanyreflectionsofthefluidseaonwhichhefindshimself–happilybutforeverprecariously–afloat.Afloatisthusabookthatinbothcontentandformcourtsriskwhilesettingouttochartthemeaning,andlimits,offreedom,abookthatmakesitselfupasitgoesalongandindoingsoprovesasstartlingandcompellinglyvitalasthepaintingsofMaupassant’scontemporariesvanGoghandGauguin.