Memoirs of Casanova Volume XII

(Hardback)

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Memoirs of Casanova (1792) is the autobiography of Italian adventure and socialite Giacomo Casanova. Written at the end of his life, the Memoirs capture the experiences of one of Europes most notorious figures, a man whose escapades as a gambler, womanizer, and socialite are matched only by his unique gift for sharing them with the world. More than perhaps any other man, Casanova sought to emulate the lessons of the Enlightenment on the level of everyday life, a sentiment captured perfectly in the opening sentence of his Memoirs: I will begin with this confession: whatever I have done in the course of my life, whether it be good or evil, has been done freely; I am a free agent.Memoirs of Casanova Volume XII finds Giacomo Casanova back in Paris. Using his abundant wit and ability to make connections, Casanova has found success as a spy and diplomat for the French government. At the start of the Seven Years War, he is sent on a mission to Holland to procure financial backing for the treasury through the sale of discounted bonds. There, he acquires the largest fortune of his life, making enough to open a silk manufactory. Turning down a title and pension, he manages to squander his earnings through mismanagement, ill-advised investments, and sexual impropriety. Soon, despite his recent success streak, the mercurial Casanova once again finds himself in trouble with the law. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Giacomo Casanovas Memoirs of Casanova is a classic of European literature reimagined for modern readers.

Author Bio

Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) was an Italian adventurer and author. Born in Venice, Casanova was the eldest of six siblings born to Gaetano Casanova and Zanetta Farussi, an actor and actress. Raised in a city noted for its cosmopolitanism, night life, and glamor, Casanova overcame a sickly childhood to excel in school, entering the University of Padua at the age of 12. After graduating in 1742 with a degree in law, he struggled to balance his work as a lawyer and low-level cleric with a growing gambling addiction. As scandals and a prison sentence threatened to derail his career in the church, Casanova managed to find work as a scribe for a powerful Cardinal in Rome, but was soon dismissed and entered military service for the Republic of Venice. Over the next several years, he left the service, succeeded as a professional gambler, and embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe. Towards the end of his life, Casanova worked on his exhaustive, scandalous memoirs, a 12-volume autobiography reflecting on a legendary life of romance and debauchery that brought him from the heights of aristocratic society to the lows of illness and imprisonment. Recognized for his self-styled sensationalism as much as he is for his detailed chronicling of 18th century European culture, Casanova is a man whose name is now synonymous with the kind of life he led--fast, fearless, and free.