History of My Life, Volumes 1-2Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966 - Adventure and adventurers The name of Giacomo Casanova, Chevalier de Seingalt (1725-98), is now synonymous with amorous exploits, and there are plenty of these, vividly narrated, in his memoirs. But Casanova was not just an energetic lover. In his time he was a diplomat, businessman, trainee priest, traveler, prisoner, magician, confidence man, gambler, professional entertainer, and charlatan. He financed business projects, organized lotteries, wrote opera libretti, and dabbled in high politics. Above all he was an autobiographer of enduring brilliance and subtlety who left behind him what is probably the most remarkable confession ever written. Casanova explored to the full all the possibilities eighteenth-century Venice offered by way of love and profit before being imprisoned, escaping from jail, and fleeing from the city to begin travels that took him across Europe. In Moscow and London, Berlin and Constantinople, he met the famous men and women of his time -- Catherine the Great, Voltaire, Louis XV, Rousseau -- and recorded his encounters for the memoirs he wrote in retirement at the end of his life. History of My Life is by turns touching, thrilling, wonderfully comic, and quite irresistible. |
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Abate Ancona Angela answered arms asked Barbaro beautiful become believe Bellino Bettina Bologna brother called Cardinal Casanova castrato charming Chioggia coffeehouse Constantinople Corfu Cristina dear delighted dine dinner Doctor Donna Lucrezia door dress ducati everything excellent eyes father fear feel felt felucca Francesco Friulian galleass gave girl give hand happy honor hour later hundred zecchini husband kiss knew lady laugh learned leave letter look Marchesa married Monsignore morning mother Nanetta Naples never night once Padua Piazza di Spagna pleasure priest promised reason Rimini Rome Signor Bragadin Signor D. R. Signor Grimani Signor Malipiero Signora F sister sleep soul speak spend spent Steffani supper sure talk tell Teresa thing thought told took Torre del Greco Treviso Venetian Venice wait wanted wife wished woman word young Yusuf zecchini