Don Juan and Giacomo Casanova

Was Giacomo Casanova one of the most prolific lovers in history, and Don Juan, an unconquerable womanizer whose life choices were driven by his loins, not his mind? Were they intelligent, erotic, unpredictable, and desperate for attention or just amoral egoists driven by lust and desires?
Casanova's description of himself suggests a hero, a lover, a charmer, an intellectual genius, and a man of intense creativity who was able to turn every adversity into a triumph. Yet equally one modern perspective views as an amoral misogynist, a rapist and sexual predator driven by his selfish desires, a chancer who got lucky more times than he deserved.
A rich man of noble blood Don Juan was also a scoundrel of the highest order. Still, for others, Don Juan is a more complicated character than simply being an early Casanova, a Romeo without respect. Not every story observes him as such. The reason Don Juan's story is so famous is probably that there is a bit of him in most men in their dreams, at least. Some say he is more victim than culprit; others that there is nothing wrong with enjoying life, provided doing so harms no one and nobody is induced to do something they would rather not. Our challenge is to find out exactly what kind of man Don Juan was. The answer might surprise us.
Inside you'll read about
- Early years of Casanova and Don Juan
- Catholic life and imprisonment
- Amazing journeys
- The lady who changed Casanova's life
And much more!
History likes to glamorize; it also favors hyperbole and romanticism. The truth of the man is that while he may not have been as bad as we might fear; he certainly was not as good as he liked to boast. When we use the term 'a Casanova' or "Don Juan" to describe someone, it is up to our judgment as to whether we use the term as one of derision or compliment.