15 Comments

What a Dirtbag Extraordinaire... popping up in the most unexpected of places, an amazing ability to think on his feet (that priest-angel story is great), I suspect Casanova is a Time Lord, a Renaissance equivalent of Dr Who. He may be walking amongst us now.

PS. I had hoped that in exchange for my subscription you would send me a pint of gin, but in lieu of that would a Dirtbag Order of the Golden Spur be an alternative?

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"I do not understand this man’s fascination with the lottery." Just a thought, but maybe it's related to the mathematician angle. He may have realized that lotteries are really just a type of Ponzi scheme so he thought he could get rich by promoting them. And of course, we all are way too aware of the religion-sex connections that go way back in time. I'm so glad that Mina has recovered. I have to spend about an hour to get my cat in the carrier for a trip to the vet and yes, they never, ever really forgive you.

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I wonder what the priest was banged up for?

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Yeah, Mina, yeah. My cat commiserates with you. 😂

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At some point during this period, Pope Clement XIII gave Casanova the Papal Order of the Golden Spur, a fact at which I literally yelled out loud upon learning. Mister Pope, sir?? Unless the Order of the Golden Spur is given to the horniest weirdos for being fake wizards with gambling addictions who use pasta to commit crimes, I suspect this is not a deserved accolade!

No wait! The Papal Order of the Golden Spur (a dormant order - no living knights) was awarded for propagating the Catholic faith. It’s a little funny, okay a lot funny to me. Casanova, propagating...ahem.

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That prison escape is hilarious! I understand why his name become synonymous with philanderer, but how did a man whore become famous for man whoring?

Another great piece.

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Casanova's life story reads like some mad sequel to the Count of Monte Cristo, and I am so there for it! I agree with the other comment here - this would make such a great novel.

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All I have to say is…he has to be your next historical fiction book. I need to know how you’d write his prison escape.

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*clap clap clap clap* *Orson Welles clapping gif* Outstanding Dirtbagging here, both Casanova by living it, and you in retelling it

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Ok. This has made it into my top 3 favourite “Dirtbag” essays along with “The Nun Also Rises” and “Wake Me Up Before You Dojo”. I laughed out loud on at least three occasions - most notably during your recount of the pasta prison break. What a fabulous way to start the new year! Thank you.

Also, “Assassination Vacation” is such a great name for a book, I had to look it up. Sounds fabulous!

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He was a giver of gifts that just kept on giving! Thanks for writing!

"Throughout the 1760s and 70s, Casanova traveled everywhere: France, Italy, Poland, Russia, England, Spain, you name it. Basically everywhere he went, he gave and received venereal diseases, adopted a new fake name, and brought up the idea of lottery tickets to local royalty. I do not understand this man’s fascination with the lottery. No one explain it to me. I don’t care to learn."

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I will never look at pasta again without snorting.🤣

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Hilarious without pushing the envelope. I'm Italian and not a slightly bit offended. As long as you talk about pasta in a good way, you'll have no problems here. 😋

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I never saw the Heath Ledger movie (and I'm not sure I know who Heath Ledger is although I like the "Bartleby Brontë" vibe), but I've seen the Fellini movie a couple of times, and it says a lot for Casanova's credentials that even FEDERICO FELLINI considered him an irredeemable dirtbag.

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Mina is a beautiful lady cat. :).

And happy New Year to you both.

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