Weary, down-and-out Giacomo Casanova, the legendary Venetian seducer, recalls his dense, turbulent life. Left to rot in the impenetrable Piombi prison, incarcerated Giacomo escapes death by the skin of his teeth and abandons his beloved city forever. With his illustrious reputation preceding him, the proud, sophisticated intellectual meanders through the bustling cities of 18th-century Europe searching for inspiration and excitement, only to find himself up against a formidable adversary: the irresistible, almost uncanny attraction between him and all women.—Nick Riganas