The Duel

A sparkling new translation tells the tale of a young libertine who finds his rapier wit matched by actual rapiers. In this autobiographical tale, a young dandy is forced to flee his hometown after falling afoul of the authorities. But sheltering in the royal court he finds treachery and insult and is even- tually positioned into a meaningless confrontation over a woman he cares nothing about. Told with debonair wit and a merciless attitude toward high society, the tale becomes a tense adventure that leads to a surprising outcome.

Giacomo Casanova (1725–1798) was a Venetian adventurer and author. Although he is remembered as a famous womanizer, he is also one of the most important writers of the 18th century.

James Marcus is the translator of Collusion: International Espionage and the War on Terror.