The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Volume 29: Florence to Trieste

In the bustling streets of 18th‑century Florence, a learned wanderer seeks sanctuary from political exile. He presents himself to a young grand duke, promising independence and a devotion to study, while the city’s luminous salons promise far more than quiet scholarship. A chance encounter in a bookseller’s shop leads to a friendship with a Florentine collector of Greek epigrams, and a fleeting romance with a charming niece who will later rise to fame as a musician.

Yet the calm of scholarly life is shattered when the charismatic Count Stratico enlists him to accompany his reckless young protégé, the Chevalier Morosini. Between opulent operas, wild riding, and midnight trysts, our narrator finds himself repeatedly rescuing the impetuous noble from danger while battling his own desire for restraint. As the city’s pleasures swirl around him, the promise of deeper intrigue looms on the horizon.