IRB Intro #1 The Venetian Years: Ciacomo Casanova

The book that I chose for this marking period's IRB is The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova De Seingalt Vol, 1 of 6: The Venetian Years written by Giacomo Casanova translated by Arthur Machen. This book is the first book of six in Casanova's autobiography series in which he tells the story of his early life growing up in Venice and the many regions surrounding this unique city.  Casanova was a venetian author, intellectual and adventurer form the Republic of Venice.  He was known to socialize with Royalty, and high ranking Clergy of the Catholic Church.  He was also known to associate with the likes of Voltaire, Goethe and Mozart. Casanova uses this book, and the ones that precede it, as a means to show the world what hardships and glory he had lived through.  Today his autobiography are used as the most accurate representation of 18th century Europe, its social norms and customs, as well as various events in the 18th century such as the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.  I chose to read this book because I am always interested in learning about history especially when it involves the Venetian Republic.  I am also interested in this book because it gives a first hand account of many historical events and helps anyone view the 18th century through the eyes of someone who actually lived in that time period and not a historian retelling the event.  I believe I will understand the 18th century on a new level be reading this book as will how things operated back then.  I also hope that by reading this book I will get a better understand of many historical people, events and a new perspective of the 18th century through the eyes of Casanova.