Monthly Archives: May 2019

Radio Casanova

France Culture radio has just offered a series of four episodes exploring Casanova’s life, as interviews with top Casanovists. Click on each link to read the full description or listen to the interview, all of which are in French. What … Continue reading

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Venetian Emoji #1

Is this an ancient Venetian emoji?

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Dear Venice, Wish You Were Here (#1)

I’m starting a new series for you today! I’ve run out of Gondola Stuff to show you, so instead I’ll occasionally post selections from my postcard collection. It all started when a friend gave me about 20 Venice postcards that … Continue reading

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Casanova, The Fictional Man

American novelist Jewell Parker Rhodes said this about writing: “I love historical fiction because there’s a literal truth, and there’s an emotional truth, and what the fiction writer tries to create is that emotional truth.” When authors take on writing … Continue reading

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“Venice, My Muse:” An Interview with Judith Harris

A mutual friend and Venetophile introduced me to Judith Harris a couple years ago, and I had the pleasure of including her essay on Venice in my book First Spritz Is Free. Judith’s voluminous knowledge of Venetian history enlivens her … Continue reading

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Casanova in the Light and in the Dark

Much work has been done to organize Casanova’s papers, translate his memoirs and other works, and research the people and places he writes about. But the critical analysis of his impact, his place in literature, his place in the 18th … Continue reading

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Casanova, from Tuscany to Spessa

When most people think of Casanova, they think of him in his heyday, surrounded by nobility, beautiful women, dashing men. Certainly, this is Casanova’s place in our collective memory, but his sojourns might also be filled with anxieties about his … Continue reading

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