What do you think?
Rate this book
The Story of My Life
Seducer, gambler, necromancer, swindler, swashbuckler, poet, self-made gentleman, bon vivant, Giacomo Casanova was not only the most notorious lover of the Western world, but a supreme story teller. He lived a life stranger than most fictions, and the tale of his own adventures is his most compelling story, and one that remained unfinished at the time of his death. This new selection contains all the highlights of Casanova's life: his youth in Venice as a precocious ecclesiastic; his dabbling in the occult; his imprisonment and thrilling escape; and his amorous conquests, ranging from noblewomen to nuns.
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1789
About the author
Giacomo Casanova
1,030 books250 followersGiacomo 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 called "the world's greatest lover". He associated with European royalty, popes and cardinals, along with men such as Voltaire, Goethe and Mozart; but if he had not been obliged to spend some years as a librarian in the household of Count Waldstein of Bohemia (where he relieved his boredom by writing the story of his life), it is possible that he would be forgotten today
He was so famous as a womanizer that his name remains synonymous with the art of seduction and he is sometimes called "the world's greatest lover". He associated with European royalty, popes and cardinals, along with men such as Voltaire, Goethe and Mozart; but if he had not been obliged to spend some years as a librarian in the household of Count Waldstein of Bohemia (where he relieved his boredom by writing the story of his life), it is possible that he would be forgotten today
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
July 10, 2010
Casanova famously replied to a woman who asked him what he sought, ‘A moment that lasts a lifetime.’
Although she flew past him she left an impression, an imprint, like no other. When he was writing his memoirs in old age, impoverished financially but rich in memories, she blazed back into life for him again, untarnished, forever young and forever his.
There’s an instinct to possess, and it’s a hard lesson to finally understand that nobody can possess anything, least of all another human being.
Casanova grasped that the most we can have is fleeting moments that encapsulate transient joys and preserve them in memory like flies in amber, to be contemplated and cherished later, when everything has changed.
There are certain people I would love to gobble up, possess, kiss and love to pieces while there’s still time. But time itself is the problem. These people have changed, though parts of them are scattered across the years like fragments of meteorites that burned up in our atmosphere, and some of those fragments persist and continue to glow incandescently.
Although she flew past him she left an impression, an imprint, like no other. When he was writing his memoirs in old age, impoverished financially but rich in memories, she blazed back into life for him again, untarnished, forever young and forever his.
There’s an instinct to possess, and it’s a hard lesson to finally understand that nobody can possess anything, least of all another human being.
Casanova grasped that the most we can have is fleeting moments that encapsulate transient joys and preserve them in memory like flies in amber, to be contemplated and cherished later, when everything has changed.
There are certain people I would love to gobble up, possess, kiss and love to pieces while there’s still time. But time itself is the problem. These people have changed, though parts of them are scattered across the years like fragments of meteorites that burned up in our atmosphere, and some of those fragments persist and continue to glow incandescently.
October 28, 2016
The rating is for this edition and this translation. Not only is it so heavily edited as to remove any of the power of the original text, but the translator himself has admitted he "modernised" the language to make it "easier" for modern readers. Fuck you is what I say to that. And fuck Penguin.
Also fuck Penguin for this type of crap: http://www.penguin.com/static/html/cl...
Also fuck Penguin for this type of crap: http://www.penguin.com/static/html/cl...
February 2, 2012
What an extraordinary, exhilarating, brilliant book! Of course this is an abridged version: the original manuscript of Casanova's memoir takes 14 volumes, so who knows what amazing episodes are missing from this edition! But to be honest, the editors seem to have done a great job at patching all the present chapters together, and at explaining each times briefly what happens during the ones that have been cut: the fluidity of the book, as well as its comprehension, are therefore never a problem. Casanova wrote in French - I would have read the book in its original language had I known that when I bought it, but I found the translation flawless. I was not sure what I was getting into when I opened this book, except that it seemed like a good read while sipping coffee in Venice after having visiting the cavernous jail where Casanova was once incarcerated. I was in for quite a surprise. First, Casanova writes marvelously well: his style is surprisingly modern, it's laced with a great sense of humor and fantastic wittiness, his vast knowledge is fascinating. Second, his life is so incredibly filled with adventures of all sorts that it's as entertaining as any popular best-seller. You'll find everything, in this book. Absolute suspense. Diabolical political intrigue. Intelligent religious discourse. Intense historical drama. Convoluted romance. Wild sex. Lots of wild sex. Esoteric mysteries. And much more. Casanova travels all of Europe, from France to Russia, from Poland to Spain, from Turkey to Germany, while Venice remains at the heart of his complicated life: reading this book is like going through an incredible voyage across XVIII century Europe. Everywhere he goes, Casanova encounters the most brilliant minds of his time (the likes of Voltaire or Catherine the Great, for example), but he also falls madly in love (either with innocent or dangerous women), and engages himself in situations that become sometimes so complicated that you just wonder how he'll find his way out of them. Is it all real? Maybe. Maybe not. Who cares. It's just amazing. Casanova's reputation as a great lover is not usurped, and some scenes are wonderfully naughty - I have in mind the torrid love affair he had at some point with a nun, or some delirious orgies to which he participated. But there's much more to him than that, and if sex is often his downfall, it's certainly not all that this memoir is about. Capable of laughing at himself (always a good point, as far as I'm concerned), Casanova is also quite proud of himself, but never to the point of becoming conceited. And, actually, he's quite humble in his own way, and he does not shy away from narrating dubious episodes which cast him in a rather bad light. He was a scoundrel, and a thief, and he's not hiding it. There is, especially toward the end, when his constant wandering seems to take a toll on him, a hint of melancholy that is quite touching. As for people who think that what happens today in our society is new, read this book - Casanova's life as a debauched student makes the Spring break students look tame in comparison, and his descriptions of religious intolerance, and political tyranny, invite chilling comparisons. Quite simply a great, great book.
October 6, 2009
I actually read the unabridged version of this book (Diaries of Casanova Vol 1-6) but I think its important to put this review here as I believe it will get the most exposure.
Critics hailed this as the best slice of 1700s culture throughout Europe and I have to agree.
What drew me most about the book was the nature in which it pulled me in. I mainly read psychology and business type books, so for me to get engrossed in a story is a rarity. On top of that - I'm usually not one for books more than 300 pages (this was nearly 2400 pages in total). But, despite all of that, the conversational nature as well as the perspective from which it was written was amazing.
Because it was a true story (or at least it is told as such, and while many facts were verifiable, it is impossible to prove some of the adventures Casanova writes of) the introspection that you get is very real and easy to relate to. I found myself caring a great deal about all of the characters as they were painted in such a way that they became real to me.
My only complaint is the sheer amount of names in the book. Casanova did a great deal of traveling, and was a very popular person, so it is very reasonable that he would meet 20 new people in each region, but it became a bit tedious trying to keep up with them as time went on.
All in all, I suggest that if you wish to read this, you attempt to find a copy of the unabridged Vol 1 (I bought my copy from a rare book dealer for $15). If you like that, continue on, otherwise I guess you can just shoot for this shortened version.
Critics hailed this as the best slice of 1700s culture throughout Europe and I have to agree.
What drew me most about the book was the nature in which it pulled me in. I mainly read psychology and business type books, so for me to get engrossed in a story is a rarity. On top of that - I'm usually not one for books more than 300 pages (this was nearly 2400 pages in total). But, despite all of that, the conversational nature as well as the perspective from which it was written was amazing.
Because it was a true story (or at least it is told as such, and while many facts were verifiable, it is impossible to prove some of the adventures Casanova writes of) the introspection that you get is very real and easy to relate to. I found myself caring a great deal about all of the characters as they were painted in such a way that they became real to me.
My only complaint is the sheer amount of names in the book. Casanova did a great deal of traveling, and was a very popular person, so it is very reasonable that he would meet 20 new people in each region, but it became a bit tedious trying to keep up with them as time went on.
All in all, I suggest that if you wish to read this, you attempt to find a copy of the unabridged Vol 1 (I bought my copy from a rare book dealer for $15). If you like that, continue on, otherwise I guess you can just shoot for this shortened version.
February 22, 2013
Let me say that if I could have dinner with ten people - regardless of the time period - I would DEFINITELY want Giacomo Casanova there! He had adventure after adventure. I loved the story! It was a really wild ride. And the thing I liked most about it was it was so fresh and exciting - not your average book from the 1700s! This guy knew how to get what he wanted out of life. I recommend it highly.
June 22, 2010
The guy was an asshole pervert with no regard for females, but he was also genius. And I named my dog after him.
November 15, 2022
In terms of enjoyability I should really be giving this book a lower rating as I found it quite boring and hard to read.
However, since this is an historical, autobiographical account I have to give credit for its historical significance and validity.
While most of the stories concerning Casanova's escapades are exaggerated or probably made up in parts it was still interesting to see what he got up (and who he got up 👀).The most interesting parts of the book were definitely about his sexual exploits.
Just read a wikipedia summary of his adventures, it's not essential to read his entire autobiography.
Overall,
⭐⭐⭐
However, since this is an historical, autobiographical account I have to give credit for its historical significance and validity.
While most of the stories concerning Casanova's escapades are exaggerated or probably made up in parts it was still interesting to see what he got up (and who he got up 👀).The most interesting parts of the book were definitely about his sexual exploits.
Just read a wikipedia summary of his adventures, it's not essential to read his entire autobiography.
Overall,
⭐⭐⭐
February 2, 2012
When I read old book, I don't often consider them to be "instructional". Any advice of a philosophical or scientific nature that has been written more than a few years ago is likely to contain assertions that are remarkable for their time, but laughable for our time. Casanova is not like this at all. His memoirs could be titled "Bad advice for a good life."
He has all qualities that a bad person would need. He keeps bad company. He drinks. He gambles. He falls in an out of love unimaginably quickly... and yet we like him. Despite his bad habits and inconstancy, we like him because he always means well.
His conquests in love stand up to any memoir I've ever read, though at times his stories have the ring of the unbelievable. One might question whether they are complete fictions, but I'm inclined to believe every one despite the assertion of the occasional critic. Casanova's hedonistic philosophy ends up as admirable as any I've ever read, if not impossible to follow. If I could sum it up only in a line it would be, "Be a slave only to your passion."
He has all qualities that a bad person would need. He keeps bad company. He drinks. He gambles. He falls in an out of love unimaginably quickly... and yet we like him. Despite his bad habits and inconstancy, we like him because he always means well.
His conquests in love stand up to any memoir I've ever read, though at times his stories have the ring of the unbelievable. One might question whether they are complete fictions, but I'm inclined to believe every one despite the assertion of the occasional critic. Casanova's hedonistic philosophy ends up as admirable as any I've ever read, if not impossible to follow. If I could sum it up only in a line it would be, "Be a slave only to your passion."
January 4, 2013
اهم حكمة كتبت فى مذكراته
انه يجب على الشخص ان يكون تقى
وان لم يستطع يتظاهر بالتقوى فى كل الاحوال
انه يجب على الشخص ان يكون تقى
وان لم يستطع يتظاهر بالتقوى فى كل الاحوال
Read
October 7, 2022"Струваше ми се, че, за да бъда щастлив, ми бе достатъчна една библиотека."
April 22, 2020
The entire story of Casanova's life is about seven volumes. After reading this edition -- which consists of what the editors think are the best parts -- I want to read the entire thing one day. It's hard to believe all of this is true as it reads more like an adventure novel. If you enjoyed the Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tom Jones, The Three Musketeers and other picaresque tales, you will definitely want to read this.
Casanova's name of course has become synonymous with flagrant womanizing, and there is a lot of that here (including a few instances which readers may find a little disturbing in that they seem more like child prostitution). There is however, much more to this story.
Casanova was someone who moved between the high and the low worlds. Born to an actress, he managed to get enough of a good education as to be able to hobnob with the intellectuals and courtiers of his day who found his conversation and person amusing.
It seems he almost always had large sums of money, even if it is not always clear how he got it (odd translation jobs for noblemen, setting up lotteries, and gambling seemed to be his main sources of income). However, as is often the case, many of his powerful friends distanced themselves from him later in life after too much reckless behavior won him the enmity of more conservative elements of society who sought to banish him from their cities.
Particularly gripping was the account of his escape from the "Leads" prison in Venice and his soujourns to Paris and Madrid (where he was again thrown into prison "by mistake"). His observations of the people and customs still ring true today.
Casanova's name of course has become synonymous with flagrant womanizing, and there is a lot of that here (including a few instances which readers may find a little disturbing in that they seem more like child prostitution). There is however, much more to this story.
Casanova was someone who moved between the high and the low worlds. Born to an actress, he managed to get enough of a good education as to be able to hobnob with the intellectuals and courtiers of his day who found his conversation and person amusing.
It seems he almost always had large sums of money, even if it is not always clear how he got it (odd translation jobs for noblemen, setting up lotteries, and gambling seemed to be his main sources of income). However, as is often the case, many of his powerful friends distanced themselves from him later in life after too much reckless behavior won him the enmity of more conservative elements of society who sought to banish him from their cities.
Particularly gripping was the account of his escape from the "Leads" prison in Venice and his soujourns to Paris and Madrid (where he was again thrown into prison "by mistake"). His observations of the people and customs still ring true today.
July 24, 2007
It's just so good. Where else are you going to meet a complete dirt bag who can tell you everything about meeting Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin and who gets congratulated by doctors for giving people VD?
This version is very puritanical. The original is 1400 pages and this version is cut down to 400 and you will read dozens of pages about the food he ate and then in italics the authors will cut between chapters Casanova soon met a pair of sisters whom he pitted against each other in a threesome, which is where he lost his virginity. And after reading all about pre-enlightenment Venetian life for 200 pages you kinda want to read about pre-enlightenment threesoms.
This version is very puritanical. The original is 1400 pages and this version is cut down to 400 and you will read dozens of pages about the food he ate and then in italics the authors will cut between chapters Casanova soon met a pair of sisters whom he pitted against each other in a threesome, which is where he lost his virginity. And after reading all about pre-enlightenment Venetian life for 200 pages you kinda want to read about pre-enlightenment threesoms.
April 4, 2010
Even though this is the abridged version, it is a must read. Many people think Casanova was a romantic, which he was, but he was also a seducer of nuns, a thief, con-man, charlatan, and addict! After a visit to Venice I believed I needed to read about the man I'd heard of, in his own words. There is sex of course, but there is also humor, action, and adventure. I learned much about Italian history, geography, privilege, and politics all while thoroughly enjoying an entertaining - and yes, sensual - story.
May 21, 2021
1 star for Casanova because he is just a self-centered, narcistic, bastard, who's thinking with his d and was totally full of himself 🙄
5 stars for Benedict Cumberbatch's audiobook reading 😂🤪🤭
5 stars for Benedict Cumberbatch's audiobook reading 😂🤪🤭
October 15, 2015
I have read the complete set, several times and it astonishes friends when I say that. Why? (If you are reading this, you probably know why, or can guess from all other contributions here). Because his entire life story consumes more than 1,000,000 words, or roughly 16 standard length novels.
I read it once in book form in college and probably surprised my English professor when I wrote it up. Then I read it twice on a Palm Pilot. Now, I have embarked upon Willard Trask's translation.
Casanova's story, when brought to the public by others, often gets trashed beyond recognition. Fellini's effort is truly abyssmal, and many of the video conceptions that have followed are insipid at best. All lack the vitality, honesty, and presence found in the original; and prefer to play to those authors' juvenile imaginings or haunted self-loathing.
I read it once in book form in college and probably surprised my English professor when I wrote it up. Then I read it twice on a Palm Pilot. Now, I have embarked upon Willard Trask's translation.
Casanova's story, when brought to the public by others, often gets trashed beyond recognition. Fellini's effort is truly abyssmal, and many of the video conceptions that have followed are insipid at best. All lack the vitality, honesty, and presence found in the original; and prefer to play to those authors' juvenile imaginings or haunted self-loathing.
April 23, 2015
The greatest book I ever read! This book changed my outlook on life.. And I would never be the man I am now if I didn't read this while at secondary school. Casanova lived his life to the full, took every opportunity he was given, and flourished. He was a philosopher, an adventurer.. Though he tried to write novels and plays, his greatest achievement was in the life he led, and the autobiography he wrote..
May 13, 2024
לסקירה מפורטת בעברית ואנגלית, קישור לבלוג שלי -
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/קזנו...
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/קזנו...
February 2, 2023
As much as this book offers a unique and interesting contemporary and personal perspective on historical events and figures I cannot rate this book higher than a 2/5. The guy is truly an arse and I cannot find enjoyment in the degenerative manner in which Casanova speaks of others (and in particular women). It truly feels as though he cannot imagine a mind other than his own.
December 13, 2019
Kitap kaç gündür elimde sürünüyordu, bu akşam bitirmek için zorladım kendimi ve çok şükür ki bitirdim.
Casanova'ya dair bilgim "you're just a foolish casanova" düzeyindeydi. Bir de Casanova'yı Heath Ledger'ın canlandırdığı Casanova filmini keyifle izlemiştim, o kadar. Bu kitabın arka kapağını okuyunca bende Casanova'nın yalnızca "dünyanın en ünlü çapkını" olmadığı, bunun ötesinde bir karakter olduğu intibası uyanmıştı ve bu sebeple bu kitabı satın almıştım. Yanlış bir düşünceye kapıldığımı kitabı okumaya başladıktan elli - altmış sayfa sonra fark ettim.
Öncelikle şunu söylemek lazım, bu kitap aslında kitabın bir kısaltılmış versiyonu. Diğer bir ifadeyle, Casanova'nın otobiyografisinden seçilen parçalardan oluşuyor. Bu parçaların yüzde doksanı da Casanova'nın birlikte olduğu kadınlara dair anılarını içeriyor. Yani okuyucu, yaklaşık olarak üç yüz sayfa boyunca Casanova'nın farklı kadınlara âşık olma ve onlarla ilişkiye girme sürecini okuyor. Bu da benim için bir yerden sonra baygınlığa sebep oldu. Hele bazı yerleri okurken fenalık bastı.
Kitabın orijinal metninin de büyük kısmı farklı kadınlarla ilişkilere dair anılardan mı oluşuyor bilmiyorum; fakat ben Casanova'nın arka kapakta belirtilen o "farklı", "filozof" yanını okuyabilmeyi isterdim. Bu haliyle yalnızca beni sıkıntılara gark eden bir kitap oldu; sadece çeviriden keyif aldım.
Casanova'ya dair bilgim "you're just a foolish casanova" düzeyindeydi. Bir de Casanova'yı Heath Ledger'ın canlandırdığı Casanova filmini keyifle izlemiştim, o kadar. Bu kitabın arka kapağını okuyunca bende Casanova'nın yalnızca "dünyanın en ünlü çapkını" olmadığı, bunun ötesinde bir karakter olduğu intibası uyanmıştı ve bu sebeple bu kitabı satın almıştım. Yanlış bir düşünceye kapıldığımı kitabı okumaya başladıktan elli - altmış sayfa sonra fark ettim.
Öncelikle şunu söylemek lazım, bu kitap aslında kitabın bir kısaltılmış versiyonu. Diğer bir ifadeyle, Casanova'nın otobiyografisinden seçilen parçalardan oluşuyor. Bu parçaların yüzde doksanı da Casanova'nın birlikte olduğu kadınlara dair anılarını içeriyor. Yani okuyucu, yaklaşık olarak üç yüz sayfa boyunca Casanova'nın farklı kadınlara âşık olma ve onlarla ilişkiye girme sürecini okuyor. Bu da benim için bir yerden sonra baygınlığa sebep oldu. Hele bazı yerleri okurken fenalık bastı.
Kitabın orijinal metninin de büyük kısmı farklı kadınlarla ilişkilere dair anılardan mı oluşuyor bilmiyorum; fakat ben Casanova'nın arka kapakta belirtilen o "farklı", "filozof" yanını okuyabilmeyi isterdim. Bu haliyle yalnızca beni sıkıntılara gark eden bir kitap oldu; sadece çeviriden keyif aldım.
December 14, 2023
I was riding a gondola on a recent trip to Venice and the gondolier mentioned that we were passing “the palace of Casanova”. I was intrigued as I’d heard the name but only knew that it was synonymous with someone known for their promiscuous pursuits with women. I had no idea Casanova was from Venice and regretted that I hadn’t read this book, his autobiography, prior to visiting, so that I could visit some of the places mentioned therein. I started reading the Wikipedia article on his life on the way home but was so riveted, I forced myself to stop and subsequently got this book so I could read the full story.
This edition, put out by Penguin Classics, is not actually the full story. The complete edition has something like 3,500 pages, while this edition only has close to 500 pages. Penguin assures the reader though that the excluded portions of the story are summarized. I had no problem with this, assuming that the parts that were excluded were more filler and not very interesting. I quickly realized I was dead wrong about this assumption.
We learn in the first summary that the first time they decided to exclude a few years of his life was not only Why would THOSE be the stories they’d want to remove? I was so upset by this that I downloaded a PDF of the entire book online so I could read those portions in it before returning back to this book. And this was the first of many times the summaries of the edited out sections made absolutely no sense as to why they were excluded while far less interesting stories were included. A major mishap on the part of the editors in my opinion.
Now to the story itself. Casanova led an incredibly interesting life and his writing style is captivating throughout. The fact that I still feel this even today, I can only imagine how shocking the book was to the world in its frankness and honesty when it first came out 200 years ago. Part of the appeal of reading his accounts are the vivid glimpses he gives of European life in the 1700s and these small, intimate portrayals of people and cultures he meets as he travels all over. The interactions with individual people he has are so vividly portrayed, that you wonder what happened to them after their encounter with Casanova as they lived out the rest of their lives.
Casanova was not a great person, which I’ll get to here in a moment. He was intelligent and capable of great things and, in fact, set himself up for incredible success multiple times in life. He had an uncanny ability to travel to a new city where he knew almost no one, somehow rise to the actual top of that society, gain the trust and admiration of all there, set himself up with a great job and money, only to seemingly self-sabotage it every time, usually resulting in him being kicked out of the place. He seemed to be obsessed with the excitement of the challenge of getting others to do what he wanted for his own pleasure, whether that be with women or with men in power. But it seems that when he was able to obtain those pleasures, it was like a drug, where he then would have to leave where he was, go to somewhere else where no one knew him, and do it all over again.
As I mentioned, I thought of Casanova as someone who women could just not keep their hands off of. And he does sleep with many women who seemingly wanted him just as much as he wanted them. But one’s impression of Casanova starts to go south when one reads about him
I would absolutely recommend reading the story of Casanova’s life. It is fascinating on many levels and a riveting read. I would definitely recommend finding a different edition though to read than this one. One final thing on this edition - there were about 15 pages or so that were out of order or missing entirely so I will be reaching out to get a refund. Just another thing to note about this one.
This edition, put out by Penguin Classics, is not actually the full story. The complete edition has something like 3,500 pages, while this edition only has close to 500 pages. Penguin assures the reader though that the excluded portions of the story are summarized. I had no problem with this, assuming that the parts that were excluded were more filler and not very interesting. I quickly realized I was dead wrong about this assumption.
We learn in the first summary that the first time they decided to exclude a few years of his life was not only Why would THOSE be the stories they’d want to remove? I was so upset by this that I downloaded a PDF of the entire book online so I could read those portions in it before returning back to this book. And this was the first of many times the summaries of the edited out sections made absolutely no sense as to why they were excluded while far less interesting stories were included. A major mishap on the part of the editors in my opinion.
Now to the story itself. Casanova led an incredibly interesting life and his writing style is captivating throughout. The fact that I still feel this even today, I can only imagine how shocking the book was to the world in its frankness and honesty when it first came out 200 years ago. Part of the appeal of reading his accounts are the vivid glimpses he gives of European life in the 1700s and these small, intimate portrayals of people and cultures he meets as he travels all over. The interactions with individual people he has are so vividly portrayed, that you wonder what happened to them after their encounter with Casanova as they lived out the rest of their lives.
Casanova was not a great person, which I’ll get to here in a moment. He was intelligent and capable of great things and, in fact, set himself up for incredible success multiple times in life. He had an uncanny ability to travel to a new city where he knew almost no one, somehow rise to the actual top of that society, gain the trust and admiration of all there, set himself up with a great job and money, only to seemingly self-sabotage it every time, usually resulting in him being kicked out of the place. He seemed to be obsessed with the excitement of the challenge of getting others to do what he wanted for his own pleasure, whether that be with women or with men in power. But it seems that when he was able to obtain those pleasures, it was like a drug, where he then would have to leave where he was, go to somewhere else where no one knew him, and do it all over again.
As I mentioned, I thought of Casanova as someone who women could just not keep their hands off of. And he does sleep with many women who seemingly wanted him just as much as he wanted them. But one’s impression of Casanova starts to go south when one reads about him
I would absolutely recommend reading the story of Casanova’s life. It is fascinating on many levels and a riveting read. I would definitely recommend finding a different edition though to read than this one. One final thing on this edition - there were about 15 pages or so that were out of order or missing entirely so I will be reaching out to get a refund. Just another thing to note about this one.
May 24, 2018
Utterly fascinating Memoirs, well deserving twelve volumes. By comparison, my boring life will barely occupy several sheets of paper.
My only regret is that I didn't have the means to acquire the unabridged edition, translated by William R. Trask. This 'Everymans' Library' is a heavily abridged edition, although on good paper and well-bound hardback. For instance, the last volume, consisting of 14 chapters, is not even included.
My only regret is that I didn't have the means to acquire the unabridged edition, translated by William R. Trask. This 'Everymans' Library' is a heavily abridged edition, although on good paper and well-bound hardback. For instance, the last volume, consisting of 14 chapters, is not even included.
November 16, 2016
Talk about wild. Giacomo Casanova was well known in his lifetime, but even he likely couldn't have imagined how his infamy would grow over the next couple centuries. Even now, his name is familiar to people who have no idea he was actually a real person.
But, of course, he was real. An adventurer and professional gambler in his youth, Casanova ended his days as a librarian and writer. He wrote several books, including novels and part of the libretto for Mozart's Don Giovanni. His longest and most famous book is his sprawling memoir, which stretches out for over 3,000 pages and only covers part of his life. It is, predictably, interesting stuff.
His reputation as a ladies man comes straight from his memoir, filled with stories of passion and sex. He sleeps with commoners, ladies of high standing and even a few men. His sexual appetite is voracious, even by modern standards; I can only imagine what 18th Century Europe thought of them.
At the same time, his memoir is far more than just a ladies man bragging about notches on his bedpost. Honestly, the most exciting parts of the memoir are the stuff happening away from the bedroom; at it's most exciting, Casanova's life is something straight out of romantic fiction. For example, there's the daring account of him escaping from prison in his native Venice under a full moon, crawling across lead roofs with just a sharpened spike to keep him plunging to death. There's a pistol duel with a Polish noble, a tale which seems straight out of A Hero of Our Time. Or there's his verbal duel with Voltaire where both try to outshine the other in wit, learning and translation. Or the time he tricked an aging noblewomen into thinking he was a magician who'd get her pregnant and give birth to herself, allowing her to live another 70-odd years (for a huge fee, naturally).
The Penguin Classics edition is admittedly pretty heavily abridged - it's trimmed from over 3,000 pages to about 500 - and slightly censored. The translation's less than 20 years old, but translators Stephen Sartarelli and Sophie Hawkes can rarely bring themselves to call a sexual act by it's name, or even call people gay/homosexual (they instead rely on dated, insulting terms). You could argue it's in the spirit of Casanova's memoirs, but one assumes the footnotes reflect their writing, not his.
That annoyance aside, it's an enjoyable read, with nice segues between the episodes chosen for translation. It gives you a taste of how the longer book reads, without it being as weighed down as a huge, multi-volume memoir usually is. I can't speak to how it compares to other translations - Modern Library has another single-volume edition, while Johns Hopkins University Press has the whole thing in translation - but like most Penguins, it's an easy read, not bogged down with notes, but also lacking in things like a map or cast of characters. All in all, I had a fun time here.
But, of course, he was real. An adventurer and professional gambler in his youth, Casanova ended his days as a librarian and writer. He wrote several books, including novels and part of the libretto for Mozart's Don Giovanni. His longest and most famous book is his sprawling memoir, which stretches out for over 3,000 pages and only covers part of his life. It is, predictably, interesting stuff.
His reputation as a ladies man comes straight from his memoir, filled with stories of passion and sex. He sleeps with commoners, ladies of high standing and even a few men. His sexual appetite is voracious, even by modern standards; I can only imagine what 18th Century Europe thought of them.
At the same time, his memoir is far more than just a ladies man bragging about notches on his bedpost. Honestly, the most exciting parts of the memoir are the stuff happening away from the bedroom; at it's most exciting, Casanova's life is something straight out of romantic fiction. For example, there's the daring account of him escaping from prison in his native Venice under a full moon, crawling across lead roofs with just a sharpened spike to keep him plunging to death. There's a pistol duel with a Polish noble, a tale which seems straight out of A Hero of Our Time. Or there's his verbal duel with Voltaire where both try to outshine the other in wit, learning and translation. Or the time he tricked an aging noblewomen into thinking he was a magician who'd get her pregnant and give birth to herself, allowing her to live another 70-odd years (for a huge fee, naturally).
The Penguin Classics edition is admittedly pretty heavily abridged - it's trimmed from over 3,000 pages to about 500 - and slightly censored. The translation's less than 20 years old, but translators Stephen Sartarelli and Sophie Hawkes can rarely bring themselves to call a sexual act by it's name, or even call people gay/homosexual (they instead rely on dated, insulting terms). You could argue it's in the spirit of Casanova's memoirs, but one assumes the footnotes reflect their writing, not his.
That annoyance aside, it's an enjoyable read, with nice segues between the episodes chosen for translation. It gives you a taste of how the longer book reads, without it being as weighed down as a huge, multi-volume memoir usually is. I can't speak to how it compares to other translations - Modern Library has another single-volume edition, while Johns Hopkins University Press has the whole thing in translation - but like most Penguins, it's an easy read, not bogged down with notes, but also lacking in things like a map or cast of characters. All in all, I had a fun time here.
September 20, 2023
A splendid description of 18th-century society in the capitals of Europe.
The son of an actor, Casanova was expelled as a young man from the seminary of St. Cyprian for scandalous conduct and launched on a colourful, dissolute career. After a time in the service of a Roman Catholic cardinal, he was a violinist in Venice, joined the Masonic Order (1750) in Lyon, then traveled to Paris, Dresden, Prague, and Vienna. Back in Venice in 1755, Casanova was denounced as a magician and sentenced to five years in the Piombi, prisons under the roof of the Doges’ Palace. On October 31, 1756, he achieved a spectacular escape and made his way to Paris, where he introduced the lottery in 1757 and made a financial reputation and a name for himself among the aristocracy. Wherever he went, Casanova relied on personal charm to win influence and on gambling and intrigue to support himself.
The son of an actor, Casanova was expelled as a young man from the seminary of St. Cyprian for scandalous conduct and launched on a colourful, dissolute career. After a time in the service of a Roman Catholic cardinal, he was a violinist in Venice, joined the Masonic Order (1750) in Lyon, then traveled to Paris, Dresden, Prague, and Vienna. Back in Venice in 1755, Casanova was denounced as a magician and sentenced to five years in the Piombi, prisons under the roof of the Doges’ Palace. On October 31, 1756, he achieved a spectacular escape and made his way to Paris, where he introduced the lottery in 1757 and made a financial reputation and a name for himself among the aristocracy. Wherever he went, Casanova relied on personal charm to win influence and on gambling and intrigue to support himself.
October 16, 2018
I picked this audiobook up because it's read by Benedict Cumberbatch, and honestly I thought I could listen to him read *anything* to me. I've been proven so, so very wrong. In fact, the bit that is essentially detailing a gang rape, but couched in words that reassure the reader/listener that Casanova and his buddies meant no harm and in fact after the first go-round the girl was pretty okay with it and actually liked what was being done to her was so much worse than its already horrendous nature would suggest because of the incongruity of it being delivered via the dulcet timber of Cumberbatch's voice. Even worse is reading/listening to this in the days of Kavanaugh et al. and letting it sink in in an even more absorbing way that this is all the Same Shit, Different Century. Cripes.
March 17, 2018
Well that was an interesting read. Both what I expected and not what I expected. I will be travelling to Venice in a couple weeks and this book gave me perspective on the Venetian Republic in its twilight years. I found the humor in this book, though quite old, to still be funny today.
February 19, 2019
Krátka knižôčka o milostných radovánkach, cestách, Taliansku, irónie. Nikdy som presne nevedela, kto ten Casanova bol a teraz už viem. Chlipníček, trochu mysliteľ, trochu glosátor. Potom si ešte pustite ako tento príbeh číta Benedict Cumberbatch ♥
December 2, 2016
New drinking game: shots every time Casanova compares a sexual encounter to flowers! Result: hammered! (Pun intended)
October 20, 2021
Nope. Couldn't finish this, it's so rape-y and I really don't feel like reading hundreds of pages of this garbage.
January 13, 2023
Casanova'nın ilerlemiş yaşıyla kadınların gözünden düşüp bir şatoda "kütüphane görevlisi" olarak ölümü beklerken, can sıkıntısından kaleme aldığı anıları normalde 3000 sayfada fazla.
Everest yayınlarından çıkan bu kitap, anıların yaklaşık 300 sayfalık bir seçkisini sunuyor.
Bir de Dorlion yayınevinden çıkmış yaklaşık 500 sayfalık bir Türkçe çeviri var. Bu çeviri daha kapsamlı olabilir, bir bilgim yok.
(Anıların İngilizce olarak tamamına ise aşağıdaki linkten ulaşmak mümkün:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2981/... )
Yazmayı değil yaşamayı öncelemiş bir insanın, yazmaya ancak can sıkıntısından ve içinde bulunduğu maddi durumdan dolayı yönelmiş olması şaşırtıcı değil. Kitabı okuyunca göreceksiniz ki, Casanova; zeki ve "hasta" ve tutkulu bir adam. An'dan yaşayan bir kumarbaz, bir dolandırıcı, bir aşık, özgür bir macera tutkunu.
Kitapta; Casanova'nın hastalık derecesindeki şehveti ve macera tutkusuyla birlikte, Zweig vari ruhsal/cinsel gerilimleri aktardığı anılar var. Bunun yanı sıra rahatsız edici pedofili ve ensest anıları da. Bazı dillerdeki çevirilerde okuyucular bu kısımların çevrilmediğinden ve eserin sansüre uğradığından yakınmışlar. Türkçe çeviri de bu kısımlar sansürlenmemiş.
Kitabın analizini yapacak çok vaktim yok ama Casanova'nın anılarını okuyanların mutlaka Stefan Zweig den Kendi Hayatının Şiirini Yazanlar: Casanova - Stendhal - Tolstoy kitabını okumasını öneririm. Zweig'in, Casanova tahlili muhteşem.
"Çağdaşlarından hiçbir yazar Casanova'nın yaşadığı kadar varyasyon ve durum yaratamamıştır ve yüzyıl içinde böylesine cüretkâr, inişli çıkışlı bir başka yaşamöyküsü yoktur. (...) Burada karşımıza çıkan şey, sanatçının yardımına ihtiyaç duymayan, kendisi yeterince dolu, olgun ve mükemmel bir sanat eseri olan hayatın kendisidir."
Everest yayınlarından çıkan bu kitap, anıların yaklaşık 300 sayfalık bir seçkisini sunuyor.
Bir de Dorlion yayınevinden çıkmış yaklaşık 500 sayfalık bir Türkçe çeviri var. Bu çeviri daha kapsamlı olabilir, bir bilgim yok.
(Anıların İngilizce olarak tamamına ise aşağıdaki linkten ulaşmak mümkün:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2981/... )
Yazmayı değil yaşamayı öncelemiş bir insanın, yazmaya ancak can sıkıntısından ve içinde bulunduğu maddi durumdan dolayı yönelmiş olması şaşırtıcı değil. Kitabı okuyunca göreceksiniz ki, Casanova; zeki ve "hasta" ve tutkulu bir adam. An'dan yaşayan bir kumarbaz, bir dolandırıcı, bir aşık, özgür bir macera tutkunu.
Kitapta; Casanova'nın hastalık derecesindeki şehveti ve macera tutkusuyla birlikte, Zweig vari ruhsal/cinsel gerilimleri aktardığı anılar var. Bunun yanı sıra rahatsız edici pedofili ve ensest anıları da. Bazı dillerdeki çevirilerde okuyucular bu kısımların çevrilmediğinden ve eserin sansüre uğradığından yakınmışlar. Türkçe çeviri de bu kısımlar sansürlenmemiş.
Kitabın analizini yapacak çok vaktim yok ama Casanova'nın anılarını okuyanların mutlaka Stefan Zweig den Kendi Hayatının Şiirini Yazanlar: Casanova - Stendhal - Tolstoy kitabını okumasını öneririm. Zweig'in, Casanova tahlili muhteşem.
"Çağdaşlarından hiçbir yazar Casanova'nın yaşadığı kadar varyasyon ve durum yaratamamıştır ve yüzyıl içinde böylesine cüretkâr, inişli çıkışlı bir başka yaşamöyküsü yoktur. (...) Burada karşımıza çıkan şey, sanatçının yardımına ihtiyaç duymayan, kendisi yeterince dolu, olgun ve mükemmel bir sanat eseri olan hayatın kendisidir."
April 2, 2018
Buku ini adalah salah satu memoar dari Giacomo Casanova yg terkenal sbg perayu wanita paling terkenal dalam sejarah. Jadi boleh dibilang dlm novel ini hanya segelintir wanita saja yg benar² memberikan kesan pd petualangan Casanova ini.
Diawali pertemuannya dgn Henriette yg diajak (dan diakuinya) sbg istrinya, Casanova memanjakan wanita ini dgn seringnya mereka menonton opera. Bab berikutnya mengisahkan petualangan Casanova menaklukkan biarawati yg sebenarnya adalah simpanan seorang duta besar, yg hobi voyeurism. Dan ditutup dgn penipuan pd seorang marquesse kaya yg kepingin terlahir kembali sbg seorang pria. Disini Casanova dibantu seorang wanita jelita bernama Marcolina, yg hebat dlm memberikan Ciuman Florentine (alias blowjob). Dan saya ngakak dalam hati saat membaca bagian ini krn teori dan prakteknya, Casanova tidak bisa menerapkannya secara gemilang.
Sosok Casanova sendiri menurur saya kelewat hedonis (Casanova selain hobi mengejar wanita, juga seorang penjudi akut) yg sudah sulit tertolong lagi. Dia masih bisa hidup hingga mencapai usia 73 tahun sudah benar² keajaiban bagi saya.
Bagi saya, memoar ini kurang mengesankan krn mungkin sudah ditulis lebih dari 200 tahun yg lampau sehingga gaya bahasa Casanova walaupun terkadang lucu dan satir, tetapi kebanyakan membosankan kalimat²nya. Tampaknya Casanova lebih bagus difilmkan drpd dibaca.
Diawali pertemuannya dgn Henriette yg diajak (dan diakuinya) sbg istrinya, Casanova memanjakan wanita ini dgn seringnya mereka menonton opera. Bab berikutnya mengisahkan petualangan Casanova menaklukkan biarawati yg sebenarnya adalah simpanan seorang duta besar, yg hobi voyeurism. Dan ditutup dgn penipuan pd seorang marquesse kaya yg kepingin terlahir kembali sbg seorang pria. Disini Casanova dibantu seorang wanita jelita bernama Marcolina, yg hebat dlm memberikan Ciuman Florentine (alias blowjob). Dan saya ngakak dalam hati saat membaca bagian ini krn teori dan prakteknya, Casanova tidak bisa menerapkannya secara gemilang.
Sosok Casanova sendiri menurur saya kelewat hedonis (Casanova selain hobi mengejar wanita, juga seorang penjudi akut) yg sudah sulit tertolong lagi. Dia masih bisa hidup hingga mencapai usia 73 tahun sudah benar² keajaiban bagi saya.
Bagi saya, memoar ini kurang mengesankan krn mungkin sudah ditulis lebih dari 200 tahun yg lampau sehingga gaya bahasa Casanova walaupun terkadang lucu dan satir, tetapi kebanyakan membosankan kalimat²nya. Tampaknya Casanova lebih bagus difilmkan drpd dibaca.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews