Today, let’s face it, most reported news is negative. 
Casanova would say, he lived for love. Granted he never distinguished physical love from any other type, but imagine. It seems to me that today, too many people seem to live to hate. Because I disagree with someone, doesn’t make me hate them. “Never let a man lay you so low that you hate him.”
All You Need Is Love
I’m sorry to steal from oldies music but The Beatles were so right. There are few things more important to us as human beings that love. Our first emotion is most likely the love for the mother who nurtures us. We grow to love others and always seek to get others to love us. All of this other-centered love sadly misses the point. The most important love of all is to love ones self. Without self love, other loves are pointless.
Giacomo Casanova spent his adult life in search of love. Perhaps, because as a child he got very little. His mother was a beautiful actress that left him with his grandmother when he was just a baby. His grandmother sent him off to school at nine. Senore Casanova spent his life searching for the love he never received. To him love was very specifically the physical love he found in the arms of a woman. Never experiencing much love as a child, I think he was entitled to define love anyway he chose. We modern lovers have many definitions of the word. There is the romantic love, platonic love of friendship, love of one’s family, and even love of ice cream. I propose that just maybe, we need to place more value on self love. How can we love another if we don’t love ourselves?
I have read Casanova’s memoir, Histoire de Ma Vie, many times and am always struck by the sadness of the man through his words. I think because his family thought so little of him, he never learned to love himself and so searched eternally. This search made him immortal. After all, when you call someone a Casanova, everyone know what you mean.
Let’s stop our searching in vain, look in the mirror and love ourselves just a little more. We are thin enough, rich enough, smart enough, pretty enough, successful enough to deserve our own love. Let’s give it a try.
What Would Casanova Think Of Twenty-first Century Women?
What would Giacomo Casanova think of modern independent women? According to History of My Life, his memoir, he could never understand why women let themselves be dominated by their husbands or any man. He often helped some woman or another to escape from an abusive husband or lover. Of course he no doubt expected to be rewarded for his efforts and usually was, handsomely. Casanova studied medicine in his youth. Wouldn’t it be fun to read about him as he meets an ER doc in 2016? In Conjuring Casanova, Dr. Elizabeth Hillman conjures Casanova from 1774 to 2016. How much fun could that be?
If Casanova Was Italian, Why Did is Histoire de M’Vie in French?
Giacomo Giralamo Casanova was born in Venice Italy. His greatest work, his memoir, was written in French because it was the language of the educated in his time. He spent a lot of time and money on French lessons and loved France for its liberty. Why then didn’t he spend his life there? That is story involving the Louis the King of France, a suicide, and his decking a nobleman at the opera.
Elizabeth Hillman reminds him of that fact in 2016 in the pages of Conjuring Casanova, available now for pre-order and in bookstores June 7th.
So Many Books, So Many Other Things to Do…Not
We all know that there are lots of wonderful books in this world. We sit with one on our laps and blissfully turn the pages real or electronic. We go to magical places or learn wondrous things. Too bad the real world of work, chores, and other stuff has to interfere.
Here five suggestions to keep you from doing the things you have to do. I’m glad to be among new books coming this spring from publisher She Writes Press.
Conjuring Casanova and other titles are available for pre-order now!
What Would Casanova Think If He Googled Himself?
Like anyone with an ego, he would first be amazed at all the entries. Second, I think he would be surprised that he was an icon today. He had an endearing humility evident in his writings. He was the son of actors and never claimed to be anything more. Lastly, I think he would be sad to be called an infamous seducer. “I do not seduce, but only submit.” This lovely quote from his memoir was, of course, followed by a story of meticulous seduction. Oh, well, Casanova was Casanova.
It is certainly fun to imagine what he might have thought about his internet presence, and imagine I do. In Conjuring Casanova lonely stressed ER doc, Elizabeth Hillman, conjures him from 1774 to 2016.
Conjuring Casanova is available for pre-order now, and in bookstores June 7th!