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Casanova, Giacomo, 1725-1798 -- Fiction Books
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Arthur Schnitzler
Casanova's Homecoming
"Casanova's Homecoming" by Arthur Schnitzler is a novel set in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the famed libertine Giacomo Casanova, who, now 53 years old and yearning for his native Venice, grapples with feelings of nostalgia and restlessness as he contemplates returning home after years of exile. This opening introduces readers to his character as more reflective and vulnerable, contrasting sharply with the adventurous young man he once was. At the start of the novel, Casanova reflects on his life, his desires, and the simple yet profound ache of homesickness that drives him back to Venice. He navigates his current mundane existence, beset by memories of past grandeur and the people he has known. As he interacts with others, particularly a young woman named Marcolina, his old charms and urges resurface. However, he discovers that Marcolina is elusive, not easily swayed by his reputation, and involved with a handsome lieutenant, Lorenzi. The opening not only sets the stage for Casanova's return to Venice but also hints at deeper themes of aging, desire, and a longing for genuine connection in a world that seems to have passed him by.
Arthur Schnitzler
Casanovas Heimfahrt
"Casanovas Heimfahrt" by Arthur Schnitzler is a novella published in 1918. The aging Casanova, now fifty-three and impoverished, awaits permission to return home to Venice after twenty-five years of exile. While staying with friends, he becomes obsessed with seducing the young, intellectually formidable Marcolina. When she rejects him, Casanova's desperation leads him down a dark path of manipulation and betrayal. The story chronicles his moral decay as he confronts the unbearable reality of aging and makes devastating choices that transform the legendary seducer into something far more sinister.
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