# Was one of the great novels of the Enlightenment written by a man who thought he was a werewolf?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/was-one-of-the-great-novels-of-the-enlightenment-written-by-a-man-who-thought-he-was-a-werewolf/
- Published: 2026-11-05T09:43:48+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T10:34:07+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/nov/05/the-manuscript-found-in-saragossa-jan-potocki-exhibition-switzerland
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Horror, Travel

## Key points

- A Swiss exhibition revisits Potocki’s sprawling novel.
- Newly found manuscripts revealed two novels.
- A werewolf theory followed an uncertain account of his death.

## Summary

Jan Potocki’s *The Manuscript Found in Saragossa*, an unusual, little-known novel from the early 19th century, is the focus of a new exhibition in Switzerland. Its nested stories range across centuries and continents, and the curators argue that its vision of cultural exchange gives it renewed relevance.

Potocki, a Polish count who wrote in French, drew on interests including Jewish culture and esoteric learning. He died by suicide in 1815, prompting speculation that he believed he was a werewolf, though this is linked to an unverified story about a sugar-bowl lid. In 2002, newly identified manuscripts led scholars to conclude that he had left behind two novels, complicating the book’s publication history.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.