Oxford University Voltaire now permanently available

The recently published Oxford University Voltaire brings together Voltaire’s works and correspondence to provide source material for research into the Enlightenment. After a trial period in spring 2026, the National Library of Finland has now acquired the resource for permanent use. You can access it remotely with your National Library card.

The French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire (1694–1778) wrote and published prolifically across genres, from poetry and plays to history and philosophy. He also produced pamphlets and a vast body of correspondence. Oxford University Voltaire gathers this remarkable literary legacy into a single, easily searchable resource.

The platform centrepiece is the 205-volume Complete Works of Voltaire / Œuvres complètes de Voltaire (OCV) (Oxford, Voltaire Foundation, 1968–2022). Oxford University Voltaire is more than a collection of digitised works; it is a digital edition that promises an entirely new way of retrieving information. The platform brings together Voltaire’s complete works, his correspondence, and the marginalia, paper markers and other bookmarks left in the books in his personal library.

The platform is the result of a collaborative effort between three organisations: the Voltaire Foundation, Open Creative Communications and dancan Ltd.

You can access the platform in the National Library’s search service via this link.

To get started, explore the user instructions and FAQ (under ‘Using the platform’).

Access requires a National Library card and a login to the National Library’s search service. On-site use at the library also requires logging in to the search service. Please note that when logging in with Haka or Finna credentials, you must have a National Library card attached to the account. If you do not have a National Library card, please see the instructions for applying for the card on our website.

Prior to using the platform, please read the general terms of use for e-resources. These conditions are mandatory for all users.

Feedback: nationallibrary@helsinki.fi