Thursday, January 24, 2019

Casanova: The World of a Seductive Genius by Laurence Bergreen

Finished two books which I was reading in parallel (one hard copy, and one ebook, this one).

Picked up this book as I wanted some true accounts on the fabled Giacomo Casanova who is said to be greatest lover of all time. So much so that Casanova has moved from a Noun to an Adjective.

The book is based upon the accounts written by Casanova himself (12 volumes in total). So this one is like a quick story but not so quick, about 500+ pages fat.

The chapters are loosely based on different girls Casanova was able to seduce. The original list seems to 100+ but there are 20 chapters in this book.

I read the book, and there were a lot many moments when I felt like not going ahead but finally finished it. The Italian adventurer, as he is called, was established as a poet, writer, gambler, seducer, and what not. The narrative is so set in tone that it kind of started taking the enjoyment in describing all the events in the life of a seducer. All the chapters start with a new woman, and the book moves to the next with a new one. And do mind that there are lot many women coming, and going in between.

I couldn't keep a track of age of all but can safely say that these narratives are enough to establish him as a pedophile, and not really the lover as known in common folklore. A man who always keep a trick up his sleeves, the out right liar, petty cheat, and what not.

And to quote him in his own words, "I have never been able to understand how a father could tenderly love his charming daughter without having slept with her at least once,”.

Venice is portrayed in the most debauched state as full of libertine, gambling, and whoring. I've not read much about European history but on the basis of this one book I can say that Casanova was either super exaggerating his life, or he was actually a serial rapist (pedophile). More like a parasite who lived on sucking life from others monetary or otherwise.

In many instances (girls we say) he has projected himself as the most charming of the man whom no girl can say no. But you read a bit close, and you realize that this was not charm, this was money, lie, deceit, and poverty at it's best.

Don't be fooled by what you hear about Casanova in the pop culture. Casanova, is not a compliment, it's a disgraced title. Watch out when the next time you hear it from somebody or for somebody..

Peace.

No comments: