Ian Kelly (2) (1966–)

Like most people, when I hear the name Casanova, I think of sex. Ian Kelly offers a more rounded view of a fascinating man who has come to be defined by a single facet of his complex life.

Casanova’s autobiography, “The History of My Life”, offers more than the story of one man’s life. It allows us a unique glimpse into the life of people from all walks of life during the eighteenth century. He mingled with prostitutes and kings, actors and bishops, a Tsarina and famous courtesans, show more nobility and tradesmen. He wrote about all of them, detailing their lives and loves, their triumphs and travails.

He seemed to be in perpetual motion, travelling throughout Europe and into Russia, never living anywhere for more than two years. Even his mode of travel was unique. He used public transportation rather than the private coaches used by most travelers of the day. He hitchhiked and even sailed on slave-galleys. He wrote about it all, a veritable treasure trove of information for historians. He details the inns, apartments, castles and prisons where he stayed or was forced to stay.

He loved food, leaving a record of hundreds of meals, many of which featured dishes that are mentioned nowhere else and would have been lost to history if not for Casanova’s writings.

As for his supposedly insatiable sexual appetite, Mr. Kelly rightly points out that his sex life was normal for men who had no fixed address, constantly moving around. More than a few of his contemporaries recorded more numerous encounters than Casanova. Just like modern times, he contracted sexually transmitted diseases over and over. In fact, syphilis may have caused his death. He was apparently bisexual, enjoying encounters with the occasional man, both singly and as part of group sex. Perhaps the most shocking act he committed was the possible incest with one of his daughters leading to the birth of a son that may or may not have been his.

This is an extremely well written book that brings to life both a man and his times. I found it to be totally engrossing for the details it provided of Europe and Russia during the eighteenth century. show less

Expecting a standard sort of biography, I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised by this book. It succeeds not only as a biography of a man, but also as a fashion history of Brummell and his impact on the tastes of both men and women from then up till the present. The descriptions of cloth, cuts and tailoring sent me scurrying to Google a number of times, as many of the terms were unfamiliar to me, but while challenging to the reader it is also very rewarding as I did learn a great show more deal. A reader not so interested in the details can however draw enough inference from the text to continue without the extra research if desired.

Additionally the book serves as an fascinating social history of the period, with much detail on the clubs, the entertainment and other facets of how the privileged kept themselves occupied. The author uses quotes from many primary sources and weaves these together with his narrative in such a way that they help illustrate the tale, rather than bogging it down. It also delves into the complex social relationships that often meant the difference between being a sought after member of the elite and a social pariah, shunned and ignored. This may sound trivial, but it's surprisingly interesting reading.

Finally it should be noted that the book is seriously considered history, not fluff or a pop narrative. There is much depth to the book and serious students of history will find much to appreciate here. show less

I really like the structure of this book-- in that the chapters were broken down in that they were acts of a play performance. Fascinating read.
Best line - (after a section in the Intermezzo extolling his virtues as a lover) "in modern times, Casanova would, of course, be considered a criminal". Don't know why, but this abrupt 'but he was a predator though' tacked on to that paragraph just tickled me

I thought this biography was an extremely interesting and lively account of the life of the preeminent dandy in Regency London. Kelly treats Beau Brummell like a modern celebrity, documenting his ascent from common beginnings to the peak of high society (he was friends with the Prince of Wales and became, basically, the guy everyone wanted to know), and his later descent into debt, prison, and syphilitic insanity. Obviously the subject matter is probably only of interest to Regency geeks show more like me, but if you're into the period, you should definitely read it. It paints a picture not only of Brummell himself, but of the high-society life of the period, and there's an extensive list of sources at the end for further reading. show less