«Non-conforming Pleasures»: Representations of Homosexuality in Casanova’s "Histoire de Ma Vie"

Giacomo Casanova’s Histoire de Ma Vie offers an interesting perspective for exploring same-sex eroticism in the eighteenth century. Despite its reputation as a clas- sic focused on heterosexual adventures, the Memoirs reveal references to sodomy and eroticism between same-sex individuals. This article aims to identify and place in the historical context traces of this theme within the literary source. It documents bias- es and captures shifts in sensibilities through Casanova’s firsthand account, delving into male homoeroticism, lesbian encounters, and the evolution of Casanova’s attitude towards male sodomy at a time when terms like «homosexuality» had yet to be defined. The challenge of anachronism is addressed by acknowledging that the absence of a spe- cific terminology in earlier periods does not negate the existence of same-sex love and intimacy. Examining the representations of same-sex eroticism in Casanova’s Histoire provides insights into the historical contextualization of male subjectivity, the under- standing of emotions, and the physiological-moral discourse regarding the body-mind connection, during a pivotal turning point in the history of emotions and sexuality.