The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete

An expansive, episodic autobiography traces a vividly indulgent life across many European cities, narrating travels, amorous encounters, social intrigues, gambling and theatrical scenes, episodes of arrest and a dramatic prison escape, and long periods of exile and employment in service of patrons. The narrator offers lively portraits of salons, courts, and provincial life, interweaving personal reflection, wit, practical observation, and moral ambivalence. Organized as sequential episodes and chapters, the account blends anecdote, travelogue, and philosophical asides to portray a restless quest for pleasure, recognition, and self-understanding.