Jan Nepomucen Potocki

Jan Nepomucen Potocki (1761–1815) was a Polish nobleman, traveller and writer, author of Manoscritto trovato a Saragozza. He travelled in Europe and beyond and published works on history and geography; he died in 1815.

Born 1761, died 1815. Author of Manoscritto trovato a Saragozza (first published 1813). Traveled widely; wrote Recherches sur la Sarmatie and Histoire primitive des Peuples de la Russie (mentioned in contemporary accounts). Historical accounts record that he died by suicide in 1815.

The review by Dan Erre highlights Jan Potocki (1761–1815) as a Polish noble, traveller and author whose Manoscritto trovato a Saragozza blends Enlightenment encyclopedism with a subterranean romantic tension. The text is described as a polyphonic, hallucinatory, story-within-a-story work with mystical and allegorical layers. Stylistically urgent and fast, the review places the work in the fantastic-adventurous tradition while noting its philosophical preoccupations.

For:Readers of classic European fantastic literature; students of Enlightenment and Romantic-era writing; those interested in travel writing and early ethnography.