A revised edition of 18th-century Italian writer, philosopher and bon vivant Giacomo Casanova’s autobiography, reveals his famous sexual exploits in detail.
British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ reports that a new edition of his memoir, ‘Histoire de ma vie’ (Story of My Life), will be released later this month by French publisher Laffont. The revised edition is based on the original 3,682-page manuscript, acquired by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in 2010.
‘Story of My Life’ relates the story of Casanova’s youth in Venice as an ecclesiastic, his carousing and dabbling in the occult, imprisonment and escape. The author writes of his travels and encounters with literary figures, royalty, popes and cardinals, as well as his numerous amorous conquests. The autobiography relates his seductions that gained him fame as a great lover, his swashbuckling adventures and chronicles life in 18th century Europe in vivid detail.
Casanova’s autobiography was published in a bowdlerised version after his death in 1822. A version of the original was published in 1960 but with parts missing. The latest edition of the biography is based on the original manuscript purchased by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and contains text never before published. Other parts of the book have been correctly translated. The resulting memoir is said to reveal details of Casanova’s sexual exploits in greater detail as well as his complexity and love of liberty.
