Casanova: The Man Who Really Loved Women

by Lydia Flem

Offers an unconventional view of Casanova as a benevolent lover of women, an ardent believer in the Enlightment, who grew from a sickly Venetian infant, abandoned by his actress mother, to become a spirited voluptuary

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a interpretation of Casanova's autobiography, History of My Life, instead of a rigorous, academic historical study (there are few external footnotes and no real bibliography). The author's background as a psychoanalyst is clear in the approach to this work in the the emphasis of certain events and themes without it being bogged down by technical jargon.

An empathy for Casanova is present throughout the work and is conveyed clearly to the reader. Her writing style flows easily and a sense of joy in life is easily detected in her words. There are no undertones of judgment for Casanova's relationships with different women. In fact, she says he was usually the passive one in relationships and did not treat them badly. They were partners in their encounters. More than a couple of women regarded him fondly years after their association ended.

Knowing Casanova only as a historical womanizer and supposedly great lover, I was surprised to discover his complexity. His breadth of intellectual interests and connections with leading figures of the day portrays a multifaceted personality I enjoyed learning about. Although I do wish there a larger developed bibliography and more extensive footnotes referring to outside works to substantiate facts and a context for the time period.

[Michael Moseley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was perhaps purchased on the basis of buying a book about a man whose sexual prowess was a fascination, it turned out to be a extraordinary tale of a fascinating man who led a extraordinary life. He also had a outlook on life that is relevant and important in the materialistic twenty-first century as it was in the eighteenth. “I loved, I was loved, I was in good health, I had a great deal of money, I spent it. I was happy and I would tell myself I was. Laughing at the foolish moralists who say there is no real happiness on earth. It is word on earth that make me laugh, as it could be sought somewhere else” Not giving himself to woman, instead pay them the brightest, most tender homage with his prolific pen.
He refuses to believe in the idea of malevolent destiny. If fortune exists, it can only be good life’s setbacks, failures, limits set on unbridled desirer, disappointment fall within the province of individual freedom. We are the authors of our so called destiny. If pleasure exists, and we can enjoy it only in life, then life is a joy. He knows he is the victim of his senses and his passion. His only rule of conduct, if it is one, has been to go where the wind blows.

[Bryonmedina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do recommend this book, so “Why three stars?”, one might ask. While the titular character is a fascinating one, and is worth reading about, the author presents the tale in jarring fashion. Chronologically, this book is in total disarray. Perhaps the author intended to highlight certain aspects of Casanova’s personality by referencing different stories from his life at random, but unless you write out your own time line of events as you go, it seems like a counterintuitive and unhelpful approach.
I also wonder about the author’s very romantic way of describing Casanova and his vicissitudes. Is she constantly making clever literary allusions that Casanova would have understood, but which are not explained in the footnotes, or is she just completely imagining and fabricating qualities to attribute to a man who was all to happy to create his own myth and legend? Either way, much embellishing seemed too superfluous and cumbersome.
That having been said, the author does seem very erudite, and her propensity for literary flourishes often titillate, and flesh out lurid tales from what was clearly an amazing life lived by a singular character that I am the better for having read about.

[Amber Zheng]

who cares about casanova
i didn’t actually finish this but it was literally such a waste of time, i’m never gonna continue reading a book that i’m not enjoying especially having read over half way through like there’s no going up from there

[Lindsey Culver · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is somehow interesting and a chore to read.

[Iris Windmeijer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography of the eternal lover Casanova is a very interesting read. His life is explained with parts from his own memoires as illustrations, making it as complete as possible. Though the book was not very structured, it was entertaining.
Casanova led an extra-ordinary life and I envy him for his adventures and his lively spirit, he is so much more than the lover as we know him, and this biography shows the real Casanova.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like most people, I knew Casanova mostly by name and had no idea what a strange and eventful life he led. I wouldn't recommend this book as the ideal biography, however. It's more of an extended commentary on his life and his memoirs, structured more around themes from his life, with occasionally confusing breaks in chronology.

[Agus]

If you love a women tell her that you really want it and tell her that "my sweet heart you loke like sun shine throught the window every morning and touch to deepest my heart" ..again say her that you love her very much by touched her lips after weak up in the morning...

[Boris Trucco · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the kind of book that left me thinking, "I believe I know this man from somewhere..." I got to know Giacomo Casanova because of this book, and the man is one of my icons now. A true hedonist, lover of all women and bon vivant, Casanova just did his best to enjoy life and avoid drama.