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The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova, Vol 1: Venetian Years (Memoirs of Casanova #1)
(Jacques) Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt (1725-1798) was a Venetian adventurer and author. His main book Histoire de Ma Vie (History of My Life), part autobiography and part memoir, is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century. So famous a womanizer was the Italian-born libertine Giacomo Ca...more
Paperback, illustrated, 644 pages
Published
December 1st 2008
by Dodo Press
(first published 1790)
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I have this shelved as nonfiction--it is a memoir--but it might as well be fiction, because I hardly believe a word of it. It comes off as an extremely unreliable narrator bragging. That being said, it was very entertaining, if not plausible, and I enjoyed it greatly. The narration by Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastic, and perfect for the part. I wish he would narrate more parts of the memoirs, because no other voice will ever be Casanova to me.
Those of you who prefer your characters likeable,
...more
I'm not usually one to listen to books-on-tape... but I'd pay to hear Jeremy Irons, Alan Rickman or Benedict Cumberbatch read a shampoo bottle, let alone an entire book.
I'm about half-way through it and it's wonderful. I'd read the book as a teenager, but it's so different to hear the book read to you. Cumberbatch is an amazing narrator. I hope he does more books in the future. On par with Irons' reading of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.
I'm about half-way through it and it's wonderful. I'd read the book as a teenager, but it's so different to hear the book read to you. Cumberbatch is an amazing narrator. I hope he does more books in the future. On par with Irons' reading of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.
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Casanova was a much, much better plotter than Rousseau was.
... Though really, my cat is a better plotter than Rousseau was.
And now, an addendum:
The comparison to Rousseau, and how light this narrative was when placed alongside JJR, was the first thought that sprang to mind. And they are similar projects, especially in these earlier years, though Casanova moves us ahead far more briskly.
But more particular to Casanova, what I find myself coming back to is how different it was being a teenager. T...more
... Though really, my cat is a better plotter than Rousseau was.
And now, an addendum:
The comparison to Rousseau, and how light this narrative was when placed alongside JJR, was the first thought that sprang to mind. And they are similar projects, especially in these earlier years, though Casanova moves us ahead far more briskly.
But more particular to Casanova, what I find myself coming back to is how different it was being a teenager. T...more
Hmm. I don't think the story was believable, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Plus, needless to say, one couldn't ever help liking something Benedict Cumberbatch has read - his voice is made for storytelling, and he uses it well.
I rarely if not ever listen to audio books, since I'm highly suspicious towards actors' influence on my opinion of the story itself, fearing my dislike of the narrator forces me to dislike the story too, but my prejudice can be lessened, apparently: this evening of listenin...more
I rarely if not ever listen to audio books, since I'm highly suspicious towards actors' influence on my opinion of the story itself, fearing my dislike of the narrator forces me to dislike the story too, but my prejudice can be lessened, apparently: this evening of listenin...more
Well, I'll be honest and admit I sort of cheated-this was an audio book, narrated by the one and only Benedict Cumberbatch....
This was the only reason why I even bothered reading/hearing a story written by the world's greatest womanizer who clearly states than in his lifetime he's slept with approximately over a thousand women.
The story was weak, and immensely unbelievable with chronological mistakes and an incredible muddle of names. Casanova seems to be the world's luckiest guy, always runnin...more
This was the only reason why I even bothered reading/hearing a story written by the world's greatest womanizer who clearly states than in his lifetime he's slept with approximately over a thousand women.
The story was weak, and immensely unbelievable with chronological mistakes and an incredible muddle of names. Casanova seems to be the world's luckiest guy, always runnin...more
Despite the fact that I can't possibly believe that everything written in Casanova's memoirs is true, I still enjoyed reading this first volume of his memoirs and I'll probably read the rest of them. It was better than I expected.
Yes, Casanova can be a little self occupied and he does brag about his love adventures a lot (that will not really be a surprise to any reader considering that Casanova's name is synonymous with womanizer- and his memoirs are the reason for it). However, when describing...more
Yes, Casanova can be a little self occupied and he does brag about his love adventures a lot (that will not really be a surprise to any reader considering that Casanova's name is synonymous with womanizer- and his memoirs are the reason for it). However, when describing...more
Ich hab das Buch gekauft weil ich dachte, es wäre quasi das Buch zum Film mit Heath Ledger, immerhin ist draußen groß ein Sticker mit Referenz auf den Film drauf. Und etwas mit historischem Hintergrund lese ich eigentlich immer gern, zudem ich von Casanova nicht viel weiß.
Jetzt nahm ich das Buch endlich mal zur Hand, und habe dann feststellen müssen, dass es inhaltlich doch ganz anders ist. Nämlich eine Neuauflage eines Teils der Aufzeichnungen von Casanova - von 1754 bis zu seiner Flucht aus de...more
Jetzt nahm ich das Buch endlich mal zur Hand, und habe dann feststellen müssen, dass es inhaltlich doch ganz anders ist. Nämlich eine Neuauflage eines Teils der Aufzeichnungen von Casanova - von 1754 bis zu seiner Flucht aus de...more
Turns out that Casanova was a prize jackass and a complete waste of space. Everything in his life is tedious repetition of what has gone before and I cannot summon any sympathy or empathy. By that age, in that era, he would have been considered an adult, but he behaved like a modern teenage walking hard-on. The memoirs are supposedly genuinely written by him, but the tales of excess and adventure are as plausible and sincere as a James Bond movie and smell rather strongly of a need for an old ma...more
Well, of course I adored it since it was read by Benedict Cumberbatch (I would listen to him read the phone book, I think), but I was somewhat stumped by the ending. It just...ended. After a little research, I figured out that this recording is just the first part of Casanova's memoirs. If BC reads the rest, I'm all over it. And maybe even if he doesn't.
And if you thought STDs weren't prevalent in the 1700s, think again. Yowza.
And if you thought STDs weren't prevalent in the 1700s, think again. Yowza.
From this book, I get the feeling that one shouldn't read Casanova hoping for erotica. When it comes to the actual deeds done, he's remarkably discreet. However, he's an excellent storyteller and this book is worth reading for the stories alone (whether or not they're "true" or this is the real version of the actual events). Cumberbatch is a fantastic reader--he captures Casanova's voice and adds a touch of sensuality to the narration, despite the redaction of specifics.
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I really liked this more than I thought I would. This man was a total womanizer and skeez. His life would have made a terrific reality show. At times the language was a little slow and it was hard to keep track of where he was and what politics were involved, but it was easy enough to keep the gist of it.
The narration was awesome, but we all know that I am completely prejudiced when it comes to Mr. Cumberbatch.
The narration was awesome, but we all know that I am completely prejudiced when it comes to Mr. Cumberbatch.
Casanova is a great big bag of dicks. The only reason I finished the book was because it was read by Benedict Cumberbatch, he could read the yellow pages and I'd still listen. The only thing that made me smile in this novel was when Casanova got an STD proving that at least there is some justice in the world.
Let's get this out of the way: yes, I only listened to this book because it's read by Benedict Cumberbatch. I ended up enjoying this book much more than I thought I would. Casanova can weave an entertaining story. And for talking about sex nonstop, he's actually pretty discrete when it comes to the specific acts.
This abridged version was good, but I'm not sure that I have enough interest to read the entirety of his memoirs.
This abridged version was good, but I'm not sure that I have enough interest to read the entirety of his memoirs.
Foi a minha primeira experiencia com um audioboook. Gostei da experiencia, mas acho que não é muito a minha onda. Achei uma história interessante, se bem que dei por mim muitas vezes a tomar mais atenção à voz, entoação, sotaque e essas coisas do Cumberbatch do que ele estava realmente a ler. Ainda assim gostei e foi uma experiencia que vou tentar repetir.
Another book I've added because of the narrator. When Benedict Cumberbatch, whose voice is made of sex and chocolate and silk, reads the memoir of famous lover Casanova, I'll listen.
Beyond the novelty of Benedict Cumberbatch reading this, found this mildly interesting but am not tempted to find out what else happened to the guy. It was kind of like listening to some frat boy talk up his exploits. It was funny and eye-rolling.
On audio: Was at first in giggles over Cumberbatch, but when I got over that I realized he pretty much leers through the entire thing.
On audio: Was at first in giggles over Cumberbatch, but when I got over that I realized he pretty much leers through the entire thing.
That one star is given for Benedict, his voice is heavenly. The story is too boring and definitely NOT real. Too narcist
Cannot rate it anything less than 5/5 because I got to know the compelling tale of the scoundrel in Benedict Cumberbatch's voice.
I had no idea man whores had such an illustrious history! Of course I knew of Casanova's reputation, but seriously, how many horny sisters can one man possibly run into? His method of seduction is basically "grope around in the dark," and it works marvelously every time. I've learned so much.
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Grocery list of conquests - if Benedict Cumberbatch hadn't been reading it I wouldn't have even listened to the end. Yawn.
This audiobook was wonderfully read by Benedtict Cumberbatch.
It's part of the Casanova autobigraohy, focusing on his early years in Venice and thus missing a lot of the story and ended very suddenly in the middle of the actual book.
It's fun to imagine how this might have been an adventourus, outragous read in his times. For me the constant love affairs became a tad boring and repetitive after a while, athough I had a lot of fun with all the euphemisms used to describe sexual acts and pleasures....more
It's part of the Casanova autobigraohy, focusing on his early years in Venice and thus missing a lot of the story and ended very suddenly in the middle of the actual book.
It's fun to imagine how this might have been an adventourus, outragous read in his times. For me the constant love affairs became a tad boring and repetitive after a while, athough I had a lot of fun with all the euphemisms used to describe sexual acts and pleasures....more
Benedict Cumberbatch makes this worth listening to.
Could listen to Benedict Cumberbatch narrate the phone book - lovely way to learn more about the man behind the rumors.
But 5 stars for the reader/narrator!
I listened to the CSA Word Classics audiobook. Overall, I found it to be an interesting subject made even better by Benedict Cumberbatch's talent for voice acting.
Before I started, I hadn't realized this version is abridged. There were one or two sections of the narrative I found to be a little jumpy and difficult to follow. Whether that is because of the abridgments, because it is a memoir, or because I listened while being partially distracted by driving, I can not tell.
Before I started, I hadn't realized this version is abridged. There were one or two sections of the narrative I found to be a little jumpy and difficult to follow. Whether that is because of the abridgments, because it is a memoir, or because I listened while being partially distracted by driving, I can not tell.
I loved listening to Benedict Cumberbatch reading the story, but I found the words themselves to be rather dull.
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Ah, into the psyche of a 20-year old male. Nothing has really changed from the 1700s to now, but at least back then they dressed, acted, and spoke eloquently!
I got this as an audiobook and listened while doing mundane things (ie washing dishes). I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I had sat down to read the book, as it quite a fluff read, but listening to his adventures and conquests was certainly entertaining.
I got this as an audiobook and listened while doing mundane things (ie washing dishes). I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I had sat down to read the book, as it quite a fluff read, but listening to his adventures and conquests was certainly entertaining.
I liked it, but he kept switching between the present and past tenses, and to be honest, it got a bit repetitive after a while. "Move to a new town, found a woman, gambled, sex and gambling, loose everything on a gamble, leave town for a newer one." I didn't get to volume two, which is a pity, because the Russian volume is subtitled "Nights of Passion." Too bad Catherine the Great couldn't stand him. ;)
La edición española de Atalanta es una verdadera joya. Después de 1.700 páginas de aventuras y desventuras amorosas mezcladas con los avatares políticos de la època y las descripciones sobre todas las ciudades que forman parte de su vida, no se puede pedir mas. Que buen ejercicio literario y ahora a por el segundo tomo. Merece la pena leer con mucha calma y disfrutarlo capítulo a capítulo.
Casanova Modus Operandi:
1. Arrive in new town
2. Engage in a con.
3. Seduce the aristocracy (and the women)
4. Escape
5. Repeat
Note: abandoned halfway because the audio book (from LIbrivox) is of an indifferent quality. Definitely not a
book to be listened to.
1. Arrive in new town
2. Engage in a con.
3. Seduce the aristocracy (and the women)
4. Escape
5. Repeat
Note: abandoned halfway because the audio book (from LIbrivox) is of an indifferent quality. Definitely not a
book to be listened to.
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Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt was a Venetian adventurer and author. His main book Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life), part autobiography and part memoir, is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century.
He was so famous as a womanizer that his name remains synonymous with the art of seduction and he is sometimes ca...more
More about Giacomo Casanova...
He was so famous as a womanizer that his name remains synonymous with the art of seduction and he is sometimes ca...more
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“youth runs away from old age, because it is its most cruel enemy”
—
3 people liked it
“If you refuse me, I shall be compelled to believe that you are cruelly enjoying my misery, and that you have learned in the most accursed school that the best way of preventing a young man from curing himself of an amorous passion is to excite it constantly; but you must agree with me that, to put such tyranny in practice, it is necessary to hate the person it is practised upon, and, if that be so, I ought to call upon my reason to give me the strength necessary to hate you likewise.”
—
3 people liked it
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