In the Ring of Fire novel Letters from Gronow, Philip Fröhlich was a legal clerk trying to become a horror writer (inspired by the translated works of Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft and the like appearing in Der Schwarze Kater [The Black Cat]). He had to watch his budget, so he kept a journal of his expenses, with most days looking like:   28 March 1635 Wednesday   Breakfast — 1 cup morning broth 1 pfennig 1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs   Supper — 1 sausage 2 pfennigs 1 mug beer 1 pfennig     These appeared hundreds of times over the course of the book: they made an impression. Which is why I thought of them, since I'm drinking a cup of broth myself. I have a procedure tomorrow, and no solid food is allowed today. Such fun.