Adventurer: The Life and Times of Giacomo Casanova

Giacomo Casanova was an iconic libertine of the Enlightenment, known for his autobiography Histoire de Ma Vie, which recorded his love affairs, dramatic sagas, and adventures. Leo Damrosch's biography offers a gripping and mature account of Casanova's life, exploring his psychology, self-conceptions, and self-deceptions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Yale University Press

The life of the iconic libertine Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798) has never been told in the depth it deserves. An alluring representative of the Enlightenments shadowy underside, Casanova was an aspiring priest, an army officer, a fortune teller, a con man, a magus, a violinist, a mathematician, a Masonic master, an entrepreneur, a diplomat, a gambler, a spy—and the first to tell his own story. In his vivid autobiography Histoire de Ma Vie, he recorded at least a hundred and twenty love affairs, as well as dramatic sagas of duels, swindles, arrests, and escapes. He knew kings and an empress, Catherine the Great, and most of the famous writers of the time, including Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin.

Drawing on seldom used materials, including the original French and Italian primary sources, and probing deeply into the psychology, self-conceptions, and self-deceptions of one of the worlds most famous con men and seducers, Leo Damrosch offers a gripping, mature, and devastating account of an Enlightenment man, freed from the bounds of moral convictions.

Casanova was born in Venice in 1725, the son of a musician. He was a brilliant student, but his parents disapproved of his interest in the arts and sent him to a military academy. However, Casanova soon left the academy and began traveling the world, seeking adventure and excitement.

Casanova was a skilled diplomat and was able to charm his way into the hearts of many powerful people, including kings and queens. He was also a skilled seducer, able to seduce women with his wit, charm, and intelligence.

Casanova was also a skilled gambler and was known to win large sums of money at the casino. He was also a skilled spy, and was often hired by governments to gather information on their enemies.

Casanova was also a skilled writer and was known for his witty and entertaining memoirs. His memoirs were published after his death and have become a classic of literature.

Casanova was a controversial figure, and his life was often portrayed as a scandalous and immoral tale. However, Damrosch argues that Casanova was a complex and fascinating character, and that his life should be seen as a testament to the power of human sexuality and the human desire for adventure.

In conclusion, the life of Giacomo Casanova is a fascinating and complex tale that has never been fully told. Leo Damrosch's masterful biography offers a gripping and mature account of an Enlightenment man, freed from the bounds of moral convictions. Casanova was a skilled diplomat, seducer, gambler, spy, and writer, and his life is a testament to the power of human sexuality and the human desire for adventure.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300271027