If this be so, all honour to the police, for the destruction of any scholarly rendering of these Memoirs can only be described as an act of vandalism. Because Casanova is not for the multitude, does it follow he is not for the few? Translated into the English tongue, Casanova's Memoirs must be "privately printed" by reason of his plain speech in the matter of amorous intrigue, yet, every erotic word and scene expunged, the work would still be of fascinating interest and inestimable value to the student of history. There exists a bowdlerised and abridged edition of these Memoirs; we have never seen, and we never wish to see, this work. A study of life, without a leavening of human nature, is worse than useless.
Casanova, if any reliance is to be set on his writings, was a sexual athlete—a member of that rare and remarkable class of men who are capable of amazing feats in the lists of love. Frequent reference is made to his prowes and observations by the great sexual psychologists, Havelock Ellis in particular. Bloch, (The Sexual Life of Our Time), quoting from a work by Oscar A. H. Schmitz, has some interesting remarks to make on the character of Casanova.
"Casanova," he says, "is pre-eminently the erotic, also crafty and deceitful (seducer), not, however, for the gratification of his need of power, but rather for the agreable satisfaction of his need for sensual love;……for Casanova each one is 'the woman'……Casanova is human, cares always for the happiness of the woman he loves, and devotes to them a tender reflection;……Casanova is the typical feminist, he possesses a profound understanding of woman's soul, is not disappointed by love, and
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