Casanova, Casanova

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Casanova himself suspected his biological father to have been Michele Grimani, a member of the patrician family that owned the San Samuele theatre where Zanetta and Gaetano had worked.

Instead Venice thrived as the pleasure capital of Europe, ruled by political and religious conservatives who tolerated social vices and encouraged tourism. It was a required stop on the Grand Tour, traveled by young men coming of age, especially Englishmen. The famed Carnival, gambling houses, and beautiful courtesans were powerful drawing cards. This was the milieu that bred Casanova and made him its most famous and representative citizen. Casanova (2006).

His father died when he was eight. As a child, Casanova suffered nosebleeds, and his grandmother sought help from a witch: Leaving the gondola, we enter a hovel, where we find an old woman sitting on a pallet, with a black cat in her arms and five or six others around her. Casanova (2006), p. 29 Though the unguent applied was ineffective, Casanova was fascinated by the incantation. Childs (1988), p. 5.

For Casanova, the neglect by his parents was a bitter memory. So they got rid of me, he proclaimed flatly. Masters (1969), p. 13.

Casanova moved in with the priest and his family and lived there through most of his teenage years. Masters (1969), p. 15.

Casanova (2006), p. 40 Although she subsequently married, Casanova maintained a life-long attachment to Bettina and the Gozzi family. Childs (1988), p. 7.

He shuttled back and forth to Padua to continue his university studies. By now, he had become something of a dandytall and dark, his long hair powdered, scented, and elaborately curled. He quickly ingratiated himself with a patron (something he was to do all his life), 76-year-old Venetian senator Alvise Gasparo Malipiero, the owner of Palazzo Malipiero, close to Casanovas home in Venice. Masters (1969), pp. 15-16.

No one in Venice could understand how an intimacy could exist between myself and three men of their character, they all heaven and I all earth; they most severe in their morals, and I addicted to every kind of dissolute living. Casanova (2006), p. 247 For the next three years under the senators patronage, working nominally as a legal assistant, Casanova led the life of a nobleman, dressed magnificently, and as was natural to him, spending most of his time gambling and engaging in amorous pursuits. Childs (1988), p. 41.

However, not much later, Casanova was forced to leave Venice, due to further scandals. Casanova had dug up a freshly buried corpse in order to play a practical joke on an enemy and exact revengebut the victim went into a paralysis, never to recover. And in another scandal, a young girl who had duped him accused him of rape and went to the officials. Masters (1969), p. 63.

The joy which flooded my soul was far greater when I conversed with her during the day than when I held her in my arms at night. Having read a great deal and having natural taste, Henriette judged rightly of everything. Casanova (2006), p. 299 She also judged Casanova astutely. As noted Casanovist J. Rives Childs wrote: Perhaps no woman so captivated Casanova as Henriette; few women obtained so deep an understanding of him. She penetrated his outward shell early in their relationship, resisting the temptation to unite her destiny with his. She came to discern his volatile nature, his lack of social background, and the precariousness of his finances. Before leaving, she slipped into his pocket five hundred louis, mark of her evaluation of him. Childs (1988), p. 46.

Casanova primarily in public outrages against the holy religion, their Excellencies have caused him to be arrested and imprisoned under the Leads. Childs (1988), p. 72.

Without a trial, Casanova was sentenced to five years in the unescapable prison. Masters (1969), p. 102.

In his new cell, I sat in my armchair like a man in a stupor; motionless as a statue, I saw that I had wasted all the efforts I had made, and I could not repent of them. I felt that I had nothing to hope for, and the only relief left to me was not to think of the future. Casanova (2006), p. 519 Overcoming his inertia, Casanova set upon another escape plan. He solicited the help of the prisoner in the adjacent cell, Father Balbi, a renegade priest. The spike was passed to the priest in a folio Bible carried under a heaping plate of pasta by the hoodwinked jailer. The priest made a hole in his ceiling then climbed across and made a hole in the ceiling of Casanovas cell. To neutralize his new cell-mate, who was a spy, Casanova played on his superstitions and terrorized him into silence. Masters (1969), p. 106.

They rested until morning, changed clothes, then broke a small lock on an exit door and passed into a palace corridor, through galleries and chambers, down stairs, and out a final door. It was six in the morning and they escaped by gondola. Eventually, Casanova reached Paris, where he arrived on the same day (January 5, 1757) that Robert-Franois Damiens made an attempt on the life of Louis XV. Masters (1969), pp. 111-122.

However, some physical evidence does exist in the state records, including repairs to the cell ceilings. Thirty years later in 1787, Casanova wrote Story of My Flight , which was very popular and was reprinted in many languages, and he repeated the tale a little later in his memoirs. Childs (1988), p. 75.

His first task was to find a new patron. He reconnected with old friend de Bernis, now the Foreign Minister of France. Casanova was advised by his patron to find a means of raising funds for the state as a way to gain instant favor. Casanova promptly became one of the trustees of the first state lottery, and one of its best ticket salesmen. The enterprise earned him a large fortune quickly. Masters (1969), p. 126.

Unfortunately, though he was released, his patron de Bernis was dismissed by Louis XV at that time and Casanovas enemies closed in on him. He sold the rest of his belongings and acquired another mission to Holland to distance himself from his troubles. Masters (1969), p. 141.

Weary of his wanton life, Casanova visited the monastery of Einsiedeln and considered the simple, scholarly life of a monk. He returned to his hotel to think on the decision only to encounter a new object of desire, and reverting to his old instincts, all thoughts of a monks life were quickly forgotten. Masters (1969), p. 151.

It is a belief shared by all nations, each thinking itself the best. And they are all right. Casanova (2006), p. 843 Through his connections, he worked his way up to an audience with King George III, using most of the valuables he had stolen from the Marquess d'Urf. While working the political angles, he also spent much time in the bedroom, as was his habit. As a means to find females for his pleasure, not being able to speak English, he put an advertisement in the newspaper to let an apartment to the right person. He interviewed many young women, choosing one Mistress Pauline who suited him well. Soon, he established himself in her apartment and seduced her. These and other liaisons, however, left him weak with venereal disease and he left England broke and ill. Masters (1969), p. 203, 220.

But a meeting with Frederick the Great bore no fruit and in the surrounding German lands, the same result. Not lacking either connections or confidence, Casanova went to Russia and met with Catherine the Great but she flatly turned down the lottery idea. Masters (1969), pp. 221-224.

Both duelists were wounded, Casanova on the left hand. The hand recovered on its own, after Casanova refused the recommendation of doctors that it be amputated. Masters (1969), p. 230.

Casanova was permitted to return to Venice in September 1774 after eighteen years of exile.

Even the Inquisitors wanted to hear how he had escaped from their prison. Of his three bachelor patrons, however, only Dandolo was still alive and Casanova was invited back to live with him. He received a small stipend from Dandolo and hoped to live from his writings, but that was not enough. He reluctantly became a spy again for Venice, paid by piece work, reporting on religion, morals, and commerce, most of it based on gossip and rumor he picked up from social contacts. Masters (1969), pp. 257-258.

He got into a published dispute with Voltaire over religion. When he asked, Suppose that you succeed in destroying superstition. With what will you replace it? Voltaire shot back, I like that. When I deliver humanity from a ferocious beast which devours it, can I be asked what I shall put in its place. From Casanovas point of view, if Voltaire had been a proper philosopher, he would have kept silent on that subject ... the people need to live in ignorance for the general peace of the nation. Childs (1988), p. 273.

Although Casanova got on well with the Count, his employer was a much younger man with his own eccentricities. The Count often ignored him at meals and failed to introduce him to important visiting guests. Moreover, Casanova, the testy outsider, was thoroughly disliked by most of the other inhabitants of the Castle of Dux. Casanovas only friends seemed to be his fox terriers. In despair, Casanova considered suicide, but instead decided that he must live on to record his memoirs, which he did until his death. Masters (1969), p. 272, 276.

Casanova died on June 4, 1798 at age 73. His last words are said to have been I have lived as a philosopher and I die as a Christian.

He puts a happy face on his days of loneliness, writing in his work, I can find no pleasanter pastime than to converse with myself about my own affairs and to provide a most worthy subject for laughter to my well-bred audience. Casanova (2006), p. 17 His recollections only go up to the summer of 1774.

Casanova (2006), p. 1178 The memoirs open with: I begin by declaring to my reader that, by everything good or bad that I have done throughout my life, I am sure that I have earned merit or incurred guilt, and that hence I must consider myself a free agent...Despite an excellent moral foundation, the inevitable fruit of the divine principles which were rooted in my heart, I was all my life the victim of my senses; I have delighted in going astray and I have constantly lived in error ... my follies are the follies of youth. You will see that I laugh at them, and if you are kind you will laugh at them with me. You will laugh when you discover that I often had no scruples about deceiving nitwits and scoundrels and fools when I found it necessary. As for women, this sort of reciprocal deceit cancels itself out, for when love enters in, both parties are usually dupes. Casanova (2006), p. 16.

Their gratitude, if reading my memoirs will have given instruction and pleasure. Their esteem if, doing me justice, they will have found that I have more virtues than faults; and their friendship as soon as they come to find me deserving of it by the frankness and good faith with which I submit myself to their judgment without in any way disguising what I am. Casanova (2006), p. 22.

He celebrates the senses with his readers, especially regarding music, food, and women. I have always liked highly seasoned food. ... As for women, I have always found that the one I was in love with smelled good, and the more copious her sweat the sweeter I found it. Casanova (2006), p. 20 He mentions over 120 adventures with women and girls, with several veiled references to male lovers as well. Casanova (2006), page xix.

For Casanova, it was an open field of sexual opportunities (and disease).

Feeling that I was born for the sex opposite of mine, I have always loved it and done all that I could to make myself loved by it. Casanova (2006), p. 20.

Most gamblers were on guard against cheaters and their tricks. Scams of all sorts were also common, and Casanova delighted in them. Childs (1988), p. 266.

He was not above occasionally cheating. At times, he even teamed up with professionals. Casanova claims that he was relaxed and smiling when I lost, and I won without covetousness. However, when outrageously duped himself, he could act violently, sometimes calling for a duel. Childs (1988), p. 268.

Casanova was one of the foremost chroniclers of his age. He was a true adventurer, traveling across Europe from end-to-end in search of fortune, seeking out the most prominent people of his time to help his cause. He was a man of contradictory traitsgenerous and mean, honest and deceptive, fawning and aloof, skeptical and gullible, superstitious and rational. He was a servant of the establishment and equally decadent as his times, but also a participant in secret societies and a seeker of answers beyond the conventional. He was religious, a devout Catholic, and believed in prayer: Despair kills, prayer dissipates it; and after man trusts and acts. But he also believed in free will and reason and clearly did not subscribe to the notion that pleasure-seeking would keep him from heaven, if heaven did indeed exist. Casanova (2006), p. 15.

According to Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., the noun Casanova means Lover; esp : a man who is a promiscuous and unscrupulous lover. The first usage of the term in written English was around 1852. References in culture to Casanova are numerousin books, films, theater, and music.

Source: Wikipedia > Giacomo Casanova