Conversations with Casanova

What a fascinating idea. I was delighted to be chosen to receive a copy of this and whizzed through it. Particularly enjoyed his reflections on Paris and England.

Short but tantalising up-close-and-personal with one of history's most intriguing figures.

There are biographies of almost any historical person you can imagine. The usual form would be a chronological look at their lives, from birth to death, with a look at their influence on their own world and that of future generations.

This biography takes a different and rather novel approach. As well as a look at Casanova's life in the traditional way, the author 'interviews' his subject, asking questions to an imagined interviewee about his life and loves, giving him a voice and bringing the biographical details more vividly to mind (one example - the use of condoms surprised me).

With a passionate introduction from Dita Von Teese that sets out the tone of the book (that Casanova was much more than just a talented lover), the book succeeds in opening up his life and character, making him more than a description. Casanova did not merely sleep with many women, he "claimed that he sincerely fell in love with every woman he had ever known, even if it were just for one night." He is shown as more human, more likeable. More honourable. It was good to see the attitude that "the idea of rape nauseated him. He liked to be sure that his partners enjoyed themselves." He even talks about his experiences (mostly polite one) with homosexuality.

The world of his time is also expanded upon, the travels he undertook for a living taking him around Europe and the author notes the differences between cities, their cultures and attitudes.

And in the answering of his interviewer's questions, it did feel as though the man of the biography really was just continuing the story, and with a lot of genuine honesty: "there's certainly a sense in which I have been all my life, a highly successful parasite." This follows on well from what has been described, and the reader will not fail to agree to some degree.

The format was a striking one, and made the details much easier to take in, with the kind of questions you might yourself want to ask of the man. There were also further biographical sources at the end for those interested.

All I knew of Casanova before this came from the BBC/David Tennant miniseries, and it was good to recall names from that being discussed here. Both were sympathetic and gave a full account of a full and most enthralling life.

With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.