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 believe Bellino Bettina Bologna brother called Cardinal Casanova castrato Cesena charming Chioggia coffeehouse Constantinople Corfu Count Cristina daughter dear delighted dine dinner Doctor Donna Lucrezia door dress ducati excellent eyes father fear feel felt felucca Francesco Friulian galleass gave girl give Greek hand happy honor hour later hundred zecchini husband Italian kiss knew lady laugh learned leave letter look Mantua Marchesa married Monsignore morning mother Nanetta Naples never night once Orlando furioso Padua patrician pleasure priest promised Rimini Rome scudi Signor Bragadin Signor D. R. Signora F sister sleep soul speak spent Steffani supper sure talk tell Teresa thing thought told took Torre del Greco Treviso Venetian Venice wait wanted wife wine wish woman word young