Summary of In Lucia’s Eyes
“In Lucia’s Eyes” is a historical novel set in 18th-century Amsterdam and northern Italy. It tells the story of Lucia, the youthful sweetheart of Giacomo Casanova. The daughter of domestic staff at a castle in Pasiano, near Venice, Lucia falls for Casanova, who deems her too young and promises to come back after six months. Before he does, she contracts smallpox, which leaves her face disfigured. Stricken by shame, she leaves home and reappears in Amsterdam as a veiled courtesan. Many years later, she encounters Casanova again—now a celebrated libertine—who fails to recognise the girl he once adored. As they resume a relationship, Lucia is torn over whether to disclose her identity and explain why she vanished from his life.
Reasons to read In Lucia’s Eyes
“In Lucia’s Eyes” draws inspiration from the memoirs of Casanova himself, in which he identifies Lucia as one of only two women he mistreated during his lifetime. He recounts her sudden disappearance in Pasiano and their unexpected reunion in an Amsterdam brothel. Arthur Japin takes these autobiographical fragments as the foundation for a reimagined story told from Lucia’s perspective. A celebrated Dutch novelist, Japin received the Libris Literature Prize for this book. He is also the author of “The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi”, based on the true story of two African princes brought to the Netherlands in the 19th century. Readers who want to read more about Casanova may also enjoy “Casanova” by Andrew Miller, Casanova’s Homecoming” by Arthur Schnitzler, or “Casanova in Bolzano” by Sándor Márai.
Setting: Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Pasiano di Pordone (Italy)
Original title: Een schitterend gebrek
Year of publication: 2003
Nr of pages: 256
