“Someone told me the delightful story of the crusader who put a chastity belt on his wife and gave the key to his best friend for safekeeping, in case of his death. He had ridden only a few miles away when his friend, riding hard, caught up with him, saying 'You gave me the wrong key!”

French-born American diarist and writer

Anaïs Nin was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, she later became an established author in the United States. She spent her early years in Spain and Cuba, then lived in Paris for about sixteen years before settling in the United States for the second half of her life. Her work is centered on diaries, fiction, and erotic writing, and she is known for moving between personal reflection and literary experimentation.