This transcript of the 2003 Nora and Edward Ryerson Lecture of the University of Chicago takes a close look at the Paris lottery that Casanova was instrumental in founding – here.   Casanova in Paris: The Shadows of the King’ is freely available here.  27 long form articles on Casanova’s life and times are freely available here.

Arriving in Paris penniless but with connections in high places, Casanova was able very quickly to make himself a fortune.  The monarchy was hard up for cash and Casanova claimed to have a plan that could help them out. In reality, he had no such plan at all.  Intrigued, one the chief financiers to the