History of My Life, Vols. 1-2 (Paperback)

~ Giacomo Chevalier de Seingalt Casanova (Author), Willard R. Trask (Translator) "as director of the Academy of Painting. In the course of the three following years, she gave birth to two girls, of whom one died..." (more)
Key Phrases: hundred zecchini, six zecchini, fifty zecchini, Donna Lucrezia, Signor Bragadin, Signora Orio (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This translation of Giacomo Casanova's epic memoir was first published in a multi-volume set more than 25 years ago, but this new paperback edition makes Casanova's story accessible to the general reader. Thankfully, the great Venetian adventurer's memoirs can finally be read as they were written, without the bowdlerizing that plagued them for two centuries. While Casanova is most notorious for his womanizing, his memoirs are also remarkable as they give a top-to-bottom view of European life in the 18th century. Johns Hopkins University Press has done a handsome job, packaging the entire story in six double volumes. And, in keeping with the spirit of the author, it's worth mentioning that a 17th-century painting of lounging nude woman spans across the spines of the set when they're arranged on the shelf.

Review

History of My Life chronicles an action-packed lifetime of sublime sexual conquests, lightly glued together with contemporary anecdote, social vignettes and local color. Its language is a triumph of richly crafted French prose (we know its author worked and reworked his narrative), which was first rendered into excellently apt English by Willard Trask in the 1960s. It is vital, sharp, racy but mercifully discreet--no Anglo-Saxon four-letter words but only "conquests," "combats, "pleasures" and "crimes" committed in the name of "love." The pace never flags--for all of the customary repetitiveness of Casanova's sexual exploits, this is a grippingly good read. -- Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review, Lisa Jardine

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Product Details

• Paperback: 728 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (April 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801856620
• ISBN-13: 978-0801856624
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #443,422 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my goodness, May 2, 2004

By	"mpbower" (New York City) - See all my reviews

Having only dabbled in the terrible Penguin abridged edition, I had no idea of the sheer heaven I would encounter when I picked this up at a used book fair.

Casanova is one astonishing man. He is a philosopher, man of reason, and man of God. He studies religion and is an abbot for a long stretch of his life. The pages are filled with his ruminations, observations, and quotes of literature ranging from Horace to Ariosto. Having a man this educated for author, in this time and place, would have alone made it worth reading.

But the scholarship just scratches the surface. He is also a notorious womanizer, probably the most (im)famous in the West. And the tales are endless, sublime, always something different, and delightfully understated. For a real hoot check out his trysts in carriages or the outrageous experience with cross-dressing castrato Bellino, who is really a woman (don't ask, just read Vol. 2).

But the real treat with this book is how GC can tie it all together with a storytelling verve that far outdistances most novelists. Every page is a fresh, ridiculous surprise that tugs the viewer along. He manages to constantly work in themes and ideas throughout the work, uniting something that would otherwise be a dizzying travelogue. The man's skill with wit, with anecdote, with the unexpected joke is remarkable (I love his anecdote of screwing up his big sermon). And the translation simply jumps off the page, whereas most translations from French read very mechanically.
"In Italy all is show" Barzini reminds us. Some have wondered whether all the show in this work is real or not. To them I say "Does it really matter?" When the show is this good, he could be plagiarizing half of it for all I care! Any fans of Italy, of the European Baroque era, or of wonderful wit and stories has to read this.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, thrilling, engaging, November 9, 2003

By	Luke J. Menkes (George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands) - See all my reviews

Some people have lives that are filled with a certain drama and adventure from start to finish. As a young teenager, Casanova is already thinking, engaging people much older than him in serious conversation, plotting and scheming, and even taking enemies to court!

People often ask if Casanova's stories are embellished. I don't think so; he's too good of a writer, and too smart, and gives too many specific details on the surrounding circumstances and historical events. He wrote twelve volumes of this stuff - if he were making it up he would have become bored long before getting that far. His account of his time on earth rings true from start to finish, and believe me when I say: it is the story of a fascinating life told by a man of outstanding writing ability and social genius.

Casanova will come across to many readers as very self-absorbed. However, he clearly has a deep fascination for his characters and all of the people he comes into contact with. As a child he already had an intellect superior to many of the adults around him. As a man he still viewed each new relationship and circumstance with the fascination of a kid at the carnival.

If you like romance, history, intrigue, drama, with a smart and smart ass young man at the centre of it all narrating for you, you'll love this book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, Insightful, Captivating...there is NO excuse for not giving this a try, December 5, 2005

By	Gorilla "-Gorilla" (Boston/Vienna) - See all my reviews

I started the abridged version in French, and kept thinking..."this *can't* be Casanova's writing; it's clunky, far from eloquent, and lacks style." Thankfully I was right. Though I downloaded the free version from project gutenberg (just do a google search), I was *so* impressed by this translation that I bought the hardcopy anyway.

All historical notes and translation notes aside, the content is fantastic. Casanova's philosophical musings are always interesting, whether you agree with them or not; his writing is that of one of the most intelligent, witty, and confidently masculine men I've ever had the pleasure of reading. What struck me most of all was his radically different mindset, which those who would call him "a seducer!! ahh!" would rather ignore. His success (if you can call it just that) with women was simply another byproduct of his way of thinking, which no doubt is the most interesting thing about Casanova.

This is one of the most personal autobiographies I've ever read. If anything can get you into this guy's head, it's this collection. Be warned, though...(it takes Casanova quite a few pages to issue this warning) the book is intended to be read by people who've already had ample failure and success; the story you might discuss at age 80 in a circle of people who remember exactly as you do what it was like to grow up whenever you grew up. It's honest, insightful, and gives away a whole lot of things that are best learned by experience.

Not that I agree with Casanova's disclaimer; I'm just fine reading it now. However, it's in there and it's only honest to make sure others know.

There's not much more to say. This autobiography is simply fantastic, and should keep me occupied for at least a few years.