The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, Vol. III (of VI), "The Eternal Quest": The First Complete and Unabridged English Translation, Illustrated with Old Engravings

In Short

The third volume of Giacomo Casanova’s autobiographical memoirs, subtitled The Eternal Quest, finds the famed Venetian adventurer traversing Europe between 1757 and 1760. Flush with capital from founding the French state lottery, Casanova moves fluidly through high society and low haunts across France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Along the way, he orchestrates financial windfalls, outwits rival sharpers, conducts elaborate occult deceptions for the wealthy Marchioness d'Urfé, and engages in a non-stop series of theatrical courtships. Yet behind the dazzling tally of duels, gaming tables, and bedroom conquests lies a sharper portrait of an aging libertine. Through detailed accounts of police searches, contract disputes, and narrow escapes from hostile authorities, Casanova reveals the precarious reality of a life lived entirely by one's wits. Volume III captures the height of his fortunes—and the subtle, incurable vanity that constantly threatens to unspool them.

The Story

Volume III opens in Paris in the spring of 1757. Casanova, newly enriched through his establishment of a government lottery, welcomes Count Tiretta, a disgraced young Venetian noble sent to him for protection. Casanova quickly takes the youth under his wing, introducing him to Parisian society and navigating the local social currents. When sharpers try to cheat a private party using a crooked lottery book, Casanova steps in with fierce authority, seizing their bank and their manual under threat of police arrest. His social position grows stronger through his connection to the gullible, wealthy Marchioness d'Urfé, who believes Casanova to be a powerful occult adept. He feeds her alchemical fixations—admiring her laboratory's "Tree of Diana" and interpreting planetary pentacles—to secure massive financial backing and fees.

Seeking to convert French government securities into cash, Casanova travels to Holland. In Amsterdam, he stays at the Etoile d'Orient and negotiates major bills of exchange with the merchant M. d'O----. There he falls deeply in love with the merchant's fourteen-year-old daughter, Esther, an educated and wealthy heiress. Though the two share a passionate intellectual and romantic intimacy, Esther’s strict virtue limits their physical relationship. Casanova promises to settle his affairs in Paris so he can return and marry her, but his own restless disposition and vanity pull him back to the lure of the French capital. Before leaving, he dazzles Esther and her father by using his "cabala" calculations to expose a famous diamond owned by a rival associate as nothing more than worthless paste.

Returning to France, Casanova's private life becomes a tangle of logistical dilemmas and clandestine affairs. He aids Mdlle. X. C. V., a pregnant young woman of good family, devising an elaborate plan using a home-made ointment to assist her while trying to keep her predicament hidden from her conservative Greek mother. Meanwhile, political shifts shake the court: Cardinal de Bernis, Casanova's influential patron, falls out of favor with Madame de Pompadour and is exiled. Recognizing that his own positions are vulnerable, Casanova unwinds his business commitments in Paris, sells his lottery office, settles a lawsuit with an army contractor named Garnier, and sets out on the road again.

His travels through Germany and Switzerland are marked by constant high-stakes gambling and sudden escapes. In Cologne and Bonn, he frequents faro tables, breaking the bank of Count Verita while operating in disguise. In Stuttgart, a night of heavy gambling against court insiders leaves him four thousand louis in debt. Realizing he is being target by a rigged legal process, Casanova orchestrates a daring midnight escape from his inn: he rigs his bed with a wig-block to deceive the guard, slipped past his sentinel in the dark while his servant snuffs a candle, and flees the country.

Reaching Switzerland, Casanova pauses to reflect. At Zurich, he dines with the Abbot of Einsiedeln, briefly contemplating a quiet monastic retreat before the prelate gently reminds him that his true path lies in the world. Passing through Geneva, he visits the famous philosopher Voltaire at his estate. Their meetings feature spirited, tense debates over literature and poetry, with Casanova defending classic authors like Merlin Coccaeus while Voltaire offers sharp, satirical critiques.

Moving through Aix and Geneva, Casanova continues to navigate complex romantic entanglements. He assists a young nun trapped in a convent by her family, offering comfort and arranging for her care without expecting anything in return. Yet nearby, he engages in games of chance, dodging rigged card decks and unmasking dishonest players. Whether tricking an arrogant rival, soothing a distressed lover, or fleeing across borders in a hired carriage with his luggage packed, Casanova lives entirely in the present moment, driven by an insatiable appetite for life, freedom, and the next grand adventure.

How It Unfolds

A disgraced guest arrives — In March 1757, Casanova welcomes Count Tiretta, a young Venetian noble fleeing financial misdeeds at home. Casanova offers him protection, money, and entry into Paris social circles.

Confronting the card sharpers — At a private gathering, Casanova intervenes when two dishonest players cheat the company. Threatening them with the lieutenant of police, he forces them to refund their winnings and confiscates their game book.

Initiation into the occult — Casanova visits the Marchioness d'Urfé, touring her elaborate laboratory and inspecting her alchemical apparatus. By matching her planetary pentacles with his own claims of esoteric knowledge, he cements his influence over her vast fortune.

Business and courtship in Amsterdam — Arriving in Holland to trade government shares, Casanova lodges at the Etoile d'Orient and meets the wealthy merchant M. d'O----. He falls for the merchant's daughter, Esther, engaging in an intense romantic relationship while managing large financial transactions.

Exposing the fake diamond — Using his mathematical "cabala" system, Casanova demonstrates to Esther and her father that a celebrated diamond held by local investors is merely glass paste. The prediction is proven true, elevating his reputation in the city.

Parting from Holland — Despite Esther’s devotion and her father’s offer of financial credit, Casanova’s restless vanity draws him back to Paris. He leaves Amsterdam loaded with fine gifts, cash, and bills of exchange.

Navigating court politics — Following the exile of his patron, Cardinal de Bernis, Casanova realizes his influence in Paris is waning. He sells his lottery office, settles his outstanding legal claims with army contractors, and prepares to tour Europe.

Breaking the bank at Bonn — Attending a masked ball in disguise, Casanova plays high-stakes faro at the table of Count Verita. He wins heavily, breaks the bank, and vanishes into the crowd before his identity can be fully confirmed.

Flight from Stuttgart — After losing four thousand louis in a suspicious gaming session, Casanova is placed under guard at his inn. He trick his sentinel by placing a dressed wig-block in his bed and escapes down the staircase in the dark to cross the border.

A crossroads in Zurich — Stopping in Switzerland, Casanova considers abandoning his nomadic lifestyle for a quiet life in a monastery. A wise abbot convinces him that his real virtues belong in the open world, prompting him to resume his travels.

Debating with Voltaire — Visiting Voltaire near Geneva, Casanova engages the famous philosopher in spirited literary discussions. The two clash over Italian literature and poetry before Casanova departs for southern France.

The People

• Giacomo Casanova — The Venetian narrator and protagonist. Resourceful, proud, and endlessly romantic, he views life as a game of skill, courage, and quick thinking. He seeks financial independence and sensual pleasure, but his incurable vanity and love of freedom prevent him from ever settling down.
• Esther d'O---- — The fourteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy Amsterdam merchant. Cultured, intelligent, and deeply devoted to Casanova, she wants a lasting marriage. Though deeply in love with him, her strict sense of personal honor keeps her from surrendering to his advances without a formal commitment.
• The Marchioness d'Urfé — An elderly, immensely wealthy French noblewoman obsessed with alchemy, occult spirits, and secret knowledge. She seeks spiritual transformation and relies entirely on Casanova’s supposed magical abilities, funding his ventures in exchange for his esoteric guidance.
• Count Tiretta — A handsome, irresponsible young Venetian exiled after mismanaging public funds. He relies on Casanova for money and shelter in Paris, pursuing wealthy older women while showing little concern for the social consequences of his actions.
• M. d'O---- — A prominent Dutch merchant and banker in Amsterdam. A loving, indulgent father to Esther, he trusts Casanova’s financial judgment and business acumen, providing him with extensive lines of credit and accepting his occult predictions.
• Voltaire — The celebrated French philosopher and author living near Geneva. Brilliant, sarcastic, and dismissive of traditional forms, he engages Casanova in sharp intellectual combat, challenging his literary tastes and traditional views.
• Le Duc — Casanova’s personal servant. Faithful and sharp-witted, he assists his master through illegal border crossings, complex disguises, and sudden escapes from debt-collectors and city guards.

In Its Own Voice

"The man who declares his love for a woman in words wants to be sent to school again." — Casanova reflects on his tactical error after making an explicit verbal declaration of affection to Mdlle. Baletti.

"There is no such thing as destiny. We ourselves shape our lives, notwithstanding that saying of the Stoics, ‘Volentem ducit, nolentem trahit’." — Reflecting on his departure from Holland, Casanova rejects the idea that fate controls human choices, placing total responsibility on personal agency.

"It is the same with opportunity as with fortune; one must seize them when they come to us, or else they go by, often to return no more." — Sitting at a lover's bedside, Casanova offers a characteristic rule of conduct regarding the necessity of immediate action.

What It's Really About

Beneath its glossy surface of romantic conquests and high-stakes gambling, Volume III is a sustained study in human self-deception and social performance. Casanova operates in an 18th-century Europe structured by rigid titles and elaborate rituals, yet he repeatedly demonstrates how easily these structures can be manipulated by anyone with sufficient poise, wit, and nerve.

The narrative probes the fine line between belief and gullibility. Whether dealing with the Marchioness d'Urfé's alchemical obsession or the high-society gamblers in Cologne, Casanova shows that people are almost always willing participants in their own deception. They do not merely fall for lies; they demand them because the fantasy fulfills their desires for wealth, status, or secret knowledge.

Yet the book's true underlying subject is the illusion of total personal freedom. Casanova fiercely insists that individuals create their own destinies through choice and intellect, rejecting the notion of predetermined fate. Yet his own choices are repeatedly governed by an irresistible, unyielding vanity. His need to cut a grand figure in Paris drives him away from genuine affection and secure wealth in Holland, proving that even the most calculating pragmatist remains a captive to his own ego.

Why Read It Today

Casanova's memoirs remain one of the most vivid, detailed social records of 18th-century Europe ever written. Unlike grand historical narratives written from the perspective of monarchs or military commanders, The Eternal Quest offers an intimate, ground-level view of an era in motion. Readers step directly into the bustling exchanges of Amsterdam, the damp posting-chaises on muddy winter roads, the secluded rooms of Parisian apartments, and the tension-filled faro tables of German courts.

The prose, translated with rhythmic clarity by Arthur Machen, carries an energetic, conversational cadence. Casanova writes with extraordinary candidness. He rarely pauses to apologize for his moral failings, choosing instead to present his actions, calculations, and missteps with clear-eyed clarity. The reading experience feels like sitting across from an exceptionally articulate, unapologetic raconteur who has seen every layer of society and managed to survive it all with his humor intact.

Modern readers must, however, navigate certain period attitudes that reflect the era's severe inequalities. Casanova’s interactions with women often carry an unmistakable air of transactional pragmatism, and his exploits involve stark class disparities where wealth routinely buys access and immunity. Furthermore, the narrative's sheer length and detailed breakdowns of financial transactions, court cases, and legal disputes require patience.

Yet for those who enjoy psychological depth wrapped in high adventure, the book is endlessly rewarding. Casanova emerges not as a mere mythic lover, but as a complex, remarkably observant human being whose sharp intelligence, flaws, and boundless appetite for experience keep him strikingly alive on every page.

<ElicitationsGroup message="Where would you like to go next with Casanova's memoirs?">

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<Elicitation label="Explore Casanova's escape from the Venice prison (The Leads)" query="Tell me about Casanova's famous escape from The Leads prison in Venice, which took place just before the events of Volume III."/> <Elicitation label="Compare Casanova's historical memoirs with his literary myth" query="How does the historical Giacomo Casanova revealed in his actual memoirs compare to the popular cultural myth of Casanova?"/> <Elicitation label="Examine 18th-century gambling and financial scams in the Memoirs" query="How did games of chance, state lotteries, and financial trading work in 18th-century Europe according to Casanova's memoirs?"/> </ElicitationsGroup>