The Memoirs of Casanova (Jacques Casanove de Seingalt) in 6 Vols: Venetian Years, The Eternal Quest, Paris and Prison, In London and Moscow, Adventures in the South and Spanish Passions

First Edition Thus. The first complete and unabridged English translation of the original London Edition of 1894 by Arthur Machen. Illustrated with Old Engravings. No date, circa 1960. Very good plus fine in very good richly colored pictorial dustjackets, (with light ageing and a single tear in Vol. 6). Full cloth in hunting green with gilt titles on spine. Royal purple endpapers. Rose top stain. Previous owner's name on front boards. Internally near fine; very bright and unmarred. Octavo; Vol I lii + 729pp; Vol II xii + 714pp; Vol III viii + 650pp; Vol IV viii + 656pp; Vol V viii + 637pp; Vol VI viii + 717pp, including Supplements and Bibliography. B&W reproductions of Watteau-, Boucher-, Fragonard-ish images throughout: 8 in Vol I; 4 apiece in each of the subsequent volumes.

Overall, a delightful set of this classic tale! Machen's 1894 translation, reprinted here, was the first 'complete' one of a slightly expurgated Casanova text. The one topic for reproach in this neat presentation—featuring a very Venetian color scheme—is the reimagination of Casanova's face in a Guido Crepax mode on the six dustjackets: contemporary portraits make clear that Jack Jerry Newhouse's face was nowhere near so dashing. Illustrated dust jackets depict Casanova at different stages of his "purple reign." On the other hand, the Old Master reproductions within the set are discreet enough (unlike those of the 1966 edition of the Trask translation) that you can leave these volumes on the coffee table when company comes. Casanova --so complete is his fame that his name is a pronoun, a noun and a verb. Casanova's fame, however, rests securely on his own shoulders (well, perhaps lower), for it is his autobiography which made him a legend. Venice, in the 18th century, was a part of the European Grand Tour and Venetian tourism specialized in 'pleasure' which included everything from theater to the open pursuit of social vices. The son of professional entertainers, Casanova soon discovered that a career as a lawyer was not for him and thus began a life-long adventure affronting "common decency." Careful reading of his autobiography, unveils Casanova's keen insight into the customs and manners of Europe during the 1700s and reveals his unique writing talent, discovered late in his life, during dull moments as a librarian.