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History of My Life
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. The present edition, which includes approximately one third of Casanova's enormous (and unfinished) book, contains all his major adventures and all his greatest affairs of the heart.
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. The present edition, which includes approximately one third of Casanova's enormous (and unfinished) book, contains all his major adventures and all his greatest affairs of the heart.
1512 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2007
24 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Giacomo Casanova
1,434 books274 followersA seminary expelled Giovanni Jacopo Casanova de Seingalt, Italian adventurer, who afterward wandered Europe, met luminaries, worked in a variety of occupations, established a legendary reputation for lust, and chronicled his memoirs.
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt, a Venetian, authored book. People regard Histoire de ma vie ( Story of My Life ), his main book, part autobiography, as one most authentic source of the customs and norms of social life during the 18th century.
He, sometimes called the greatest lust of the world, so famously womanized with his synonymous name with the art of seduction.
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt, a Venetian, authored book. People regard Histoire de ma vie ( Story of My Life ), his main book, part autobiography, as one most authentic source of the customs and norms of social life during the 18th century.
He, sometimes called the greatest lust of the world, so famously womanized with his synonymous name with the art of seduction.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 23, 2011
Abridged by Peter Washington, and with a good Introduction by John Julius Norwich
October 11, 2022
I read this on again off again over the last 10 months-
Long- even this abridged version is about half of the full 12 volume original- but lively and teeming with stories and observation of the European sophisto life of the late 18th century when things were certainly brewing — funny, a Rabelaisian life- improbable and eye opening through out, occasionally blood curdling in the stark realities it shows. Most valuable in its frank depiction of society, it’s codes and the veneer of society- Casanova is clear eyed about himself and the the morals that lay just behind the veneer of his time. In his life as a writer, mathematician, financier, mountebank, occultist, gambler Casanova encounters Voltaire, Cagliostro, Catherine the Great, an innumerable roster of counts, dukes, clergy and other regents. He swallows his times- exceeding the spirit of the era and living on the outer edge of society- his adventures toward the end become a kind of mania he can’t outrun and that he just barely outlives. Too many fascinating passages to recount here. I’m struck most by his own admissions as he aged of being swindled and nearly destroyed by a woman who plays him completely- and though he sees he’s being played he’s powerless to resist her charms - excruciating as it’s told from his perspective- yet somehow deeply gratifying to consider this anti-heroine able to beat the player at his own game so thoroughly. Perhaps intensified by the virtuoustic centerpiece, describing his life and escape from imprisonment at the hands of the Venetian Inquisitors (for loving the wrong woman of course)…
Long- even this abridged version is about half of the full 12 volume original- but lively and teeming with stories and observation of the European sophisto life of the late 18th century when things were certainly brewing — funny, a Rabelaisian life- improbable and eye opening through out, occasionally blood curdling in the stark realities it shows. Most valuable in its frank depiction of society, it’s codes and the veneer of society- Casanova is clear eyed about himself and the the morals that lay just behind the veneer of his time. In his life as a writer, mathematician, financier, mountebank, occultist, gambler Casanova encounters Voltaire, Cagliostro, Catherine the Great, an innumerable roster of counts, dukes, clergy and other regents. He swallows his times- exceeding the spirit of the era and living on the outer edge of society- his adventures toward the end become a kind of mania he can’t outrun and that he just barely outlives. Too many fascinating passages to recount here. I’m struck most by his own admissions as he aged of being swindled and nearly destroyed by a woman who plays him completely- and though he sees he’s being played he’s powerless to resist her charms - excruciating as it’s told from his perspective- yet somehow deeply gratifying to consider this anti-heroine able to beat the player at his own game so thoroughly. Perhaps intensified by the virtuoustic centerpiece, describing his life and escape from imprisonment at the hands of the Venetian Inquisitors (for loving the wrong woman of course)…
April 5, 2014
Casanova led one of the more fascinating lives in history and this memoir, albeit the abridged version of the several volumes he originally wrote, is a wonderful look into his many adventures, romantic and otherwise.
I picked this up after watching the David Tenant version of Casanova's life. I was curious how much of the "facts" were just that. It turns out, more than I had originally thought. Sure, his life was squished into a 3 hour mini-series by BBC, yet they touched upon many important time periods and aspects of his life.
What the memoirs do, though, is give a much thorough view of not only the man, but the society values and mores of the time period. The man is proud of his achievements, humbled by his foibles, and seems to have no problem with laughing at himself. He shares insights into his nature like very few people can.
I picked this up after watching the David Tenant version of Casanova's life. I was curious how much of the "facts" were just that. It turns out, more than I had originally thought. Sure, his life was squished into a 3 hour mini-series by BBC, yet they touched upon many important time periods and aspects of his life.
What the memoirs do, though, is give a much thorough view of not only the man, but the society values and mores of the time period. The man is proud of his achievements, humbled by his foibles, and seems to have no problem with laughing at himself. He shares insights into his nature like very few people can.
October 27, 2008
Bought this book little before my trip to Italy, because I had thought that nothing could quite match reading Casanova at a café in Venice, a few yards from where he was kept as a prisoner. But my schedule was so crazy that I never opened the book in those 15 days -- and only now have I resumed reading it.
June 13, 2013
The narrative concerning the author's imprisonment under "the Leads" and his subsequent legendary escape from there are without doubt the most exciting and engaging part of these memoirs and they are worth reading for that section alone. There are of course other notable and memorable anecdotes, but they do tend to blend one into another after a while.
December 30, 2020
Some really strange editorial decision-making here. Some dull stories have been fully included while genuinely exciting and ludicrous tales are given literally a sentence. There's definitely enough here to entertain, but the abridgement could be a lot better.
January 4, 2012
I love it....the life story of the luckiest and charming man ever, Giacomo Casanova. It is great fun to read and surprising to know why mostly woman is aggressively reacted to him:)
September 16, 2012
not retelling but reliving you could be there.
June 28, 2021
Very repetitive and rarely entertaining. I did like Casanova's moments with Henriette and Theresa tho
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews