Casanova

Name: Casanova
Brand: Blackstone Audiobooks
Availability: InStock
Author: John Masters
ISBN: 9781433296758

Author: John Masters

Narrator: Robert Whitfield

Unabridged: 9 hr 23 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Published: 03/30/2009

Categories: Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography

Synopsis

Giacomo Casanovas reputation rests largely on his obsession with women, but he was much more than the great eighteenthcentury lover. Lawyer, mathematician, poet, translator, and librarian who was fluent in several languages, he was described by one contemporary as the most civilized man in Europe. That he was also a con man, cabalist, spy, revengetaker, and experienced prisoner only enhances his appeal as one who personified the extreme social and moral contradictions of the time. In chronicling the life of this bastard son of Venetian actors, Masters draws from Casanova's own highly expansive memoirs, unavailable until the 1960s, and shows that many of the most racy and unlikely events in his adventurefilled life story have been corroborated by fact.

About John Masters

John Masters, who was born in Calcutta in 1914, was of the fifth generation of his family to have served in India. Educated at Wellington and Sandhurst, he returned to India in 1934 to join the 4th Prince of Wales’ Own Gurkha Rifles. He saw service in Waxiristan in 1937 and, after the outbreak of war, in Iraq, Syria and Persia. In 1944, he commanded a brigade of General Wingate’s Chindits in Burma, and later fought with the 19th Indian Division at the capture of Mandaly and on the Mawchi Road. Masters retired from the army in 1948 as a lieutenant colonel with the DSO and OBE. He went to America and turned to writing. He is best known for his novels, published by Sphere Books Ltd, most famously Bhowani Junction. John Masters died in New Mexico in May 1983, at the age of sixty-eight.

Reviews

Goodreads review by P.J. on July 24, 2016

This book is worth it for the illustrations alone. It is lavishly illustrated with forty-eight full-color plates, in addition to monochromes. The author claimed this to be “the most fully illustrated biography of Casanova yet published.” It includes an extensive portrait gallery of people associated......more

Goodreads review by Jessica on May 22, 2024

DNF @ 13% Pretty dull. I began listening to Casanova's memoirs a while back and thought they were more interesting, though they do seem to be long. Since this seems to be an overview of his life, I would recommend checking out the original source material instead. Even though Casanova is a bit of an......more

Goodreads review by Rasha on March 11, 2015

CASANOVA ! wow ! does that even real? I mean , Is there anyone as same as his personality these days? I just in love with him! I'm ready to read it over and over again without feeling bored ! AWESOME !......more

Goodreads review by B. on December 28, 2012

Interesting read. Well worth it. Casanova was a fascinating individual, and surprisingly honest about himself - though of course not TOTALLY honest! Then again who among us would be totally honest about themselves?......more