Publication
Penguin Classics (2001), Edition: Reissue, 576 pages
Original publication date
1789 - 1798
Collections
Subjects
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — Translation — 1967)
Description
An abridged version of the Italian rogue's memoirs presents the most famous episodes in the life of the spy, swashbuckler, self-made gentleman, entrepreneur, poet, bon vivant, and lover of numerous women.
User reviews
LibraryThing member nicky_too
It took me a few months to read all 6 volumes, but it was well worth it. I really like Casanova's style of writing and his sense of humor.
These books really give you some insight in Europe in the 18th century. The man lived to be 73, so he's seen plenty! He also traveled a lot, he was, after all,
What really got me is that compared to today, the people then seemed quite free and modern man quite narrow-minded.
For example: it was very normal for a woman to have a lover. Especially if this lover had a higher status than her husband this could turn out very beneficial. The husband actually benefited from his wife's lover! Unimaginable today.
The justice 'system' then is incomparable with what we have today. Sometimes I was quite perplexed by some of the 'solutions' and sometimes they (almost?) made sense.
And Mr. Casanova himself? I think he rather liked himself, but he was quite pompous and arrogant. Still, a very good read.
These books really give you some insight in Europe in the 18th century. The man lived to be 73, so he's seen plenty! He also traveled a lot, he was, after all,
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banned from Venice for quite some years.What really got me is that compared to today, the people then seemed quite free and modern man quite narrow-minded.
For example: it was very normal for a woman to have a lover. Especially if this lover had a higher status than her husband this could turn out very beneficial. The husband actually benefited from his wife's lover! Unimaginable today.
The justice 'system' then is incomparable with what we have today. Sometimes I was quite perplexed by some of the 'solutions' and sometimes they (almost?) made sense.
And Mr. Casanova himself? I think he rather liked himself, but he was quite pompous and arrogant. Still, a very good read.
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LibraryThing member JayLivernois
Four stars for the rarity of this book and illustrations in it by Minelli.
LibraryThing member electrascaife
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
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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. Show Less
Language
Original language
French
ISBN
0140439153 / 9780140439151
Physical description
576 p.; 5.1 inches
Pages
576