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 Europe's 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
: "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 III
covers the young adulthood of Giacomo Casanova. When his religious career ends in disgrace and imprisonment, Casanova joins the Venetian military at Corfu. Following a brief sojourn in Constantinople, he enters the service of the Republic of Venice and slowly rises through the ranks to become an officer. Casanova soon grows tired of military life, however, and spends most of his time in Corfu gambling and socializing with the local elite. When he is arrested for disobedience, he begins looking for a way out of military life, and devotes much of his time to the service of Madame F., a beautiful noblewoman who enlists his services around the home. When an injury leaves her bedridden, his duties bring him closer to her than ever before, and soon threaten to turn a professional relationship into a forbidden romantic tryst. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Giacomo Casanova's
is a classic of European literature reimagined for modern readers.