John Barclay (poet)

John Barclay (1582 – 1621) was a Scottish satirist, neo-Latin poet, and novelist. Born in Pont-à-Mousson, France, where his father, William Barclay, was a professor of law, John Barclay received a Jesuit education, although he later turned against the order. His early works established him as a promising Latinist. He is best known for his satirical novel Argenis, published posthumously in 1621. This work, written in Latin, is an allegorical political romance offering thinly veiled commentary on European politics and society of his time. It was widely read and translated into several languages, influencing political thought and literature for decades. Other notable works include Euphormionis Lusinini Satyricon (1603-1605), a satirical attack on court life, and Icon Animorum (1614), a character study of various European nations. Barclay spent his later years in Rome, where he died at a relatively young age. His work is significant for its sophisticated use of Latin, its biting satire, and its contribution to the development of the political novel.