In the Republic of Venice, a boy is born who will achieve both fame and infamy, whose life will be a story of fortune and misfortune alike. In the early 18th century, Venice is the capital of European pleasure-seekers, a city known for its limitless offerings to gamblers, revelers, and criminals. For Giacomo Casanova, this environment proves both enticing and formative.

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 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 I covers the childhood of Giacomo Casanova in Venice. The eldest of six children, Casanova is raised by actor and actress Gaetano Casanova and Zanetta Farussi at a time of cultural and economic ascendancy for the Republic of Venice. Following his father’s death at the age of eight, Casanova, whose mother was often busy touring Europe for her work in the theater, is sent to a boarding house in Padua. Due to poor living conditions, he is eventually taken into the care of an instructor and priest, whose household introduced the young boy to music, literature, and most importantly, women. In Padua, Casanova discovers the ideals of art and beauty that will drive him for much of his life, remaining with him through all of his trials and triumphs. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Giacomo Casanova’s Memoirs of Casanova is a classic of European literature reimagined for modern readers.