"Casanova in Love," by Andrew Miller. Harcourt Brace. 270 pages. $23.
In "Casanova in Love," Andrew Miller offers a carefully written novel that is, at the least, sui generis. And if it is not entirely successful in all it undertakes, it lingers in your head far longer than many novels that meet all their less-daring objectives.
Miller sets himself an unusual task. Basing some of his writing on Casanova's own memoirs - he did live in London, and the lady in question did exist - he tells his story in the great serial lover's own voice. Casanova, an old man and an exile, recounts to a mysterious visitor a tale from his time in London as a much younger man, circa 1764.
It is, of course, the story of a woman. "The day I first met her," he says, "was the unluckiest day of my life." Casanova, 38, has arrived in London under the thin disguise of an assumed name, newly exiled, with a reputation as the ultimate bon vivant, gambler, seducer and connoisseur preceding him.
The woman, Marie, is known as "the Charpillon," a courtesan of about 18 whose family owes Casanova money. The beautiful Charpillon is to be the payment. But in her and her family, Casanova has met his match, and much of the story is spent in a version of bedroom farce, with the seducer trying to bed the elusive beauty as she stays one step ahead of him.
It is sometimes difficult to follow the time sequence or the identity of the characters. This is a book that is best read in a few sittings, not many.
But to say that is not to discount the seductive charm of the writing. Even if you've never understood the lure of the Casanova archetype, as I have not, you may begin to. Here is the trickster achieving some understanding of himself: "His successes had all derived from an ability to convince others that he and he alone had the solution to whatever difficulties confronted him." He sold the sizzle, in other words, and it was more nourishing than the steak.
And as to the question you might well ask: Was Casanova in love with the Charpillon? Ah, my friend, Casanova might say, sometimes the best one can hope for in this life is a worthy opponent.
Pub Date: 12/27/98