Explore Oxford University Voltaire free on trial until 30 April

The recently published Oxford University Voltaire brings together Voltaire’s works and correspondence to provide source material for historical and philosophical research into the Enlightenment. As a National Library of Finland customer, you can access the platform remotely during a trial period until 30 April. If you would like to see it added to our permanent collection, please send us an acquisition proposal!

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 currently encompasses Voltaire’s complete works and his correspondence, and will be further enriched in summer 2026 with the addition of his annotations in the books from his personal library, now available in digitised form.

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 database in the National Library’s search service via this link.

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

Access to the database 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 the National Library's website. 

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

Would you like us to purchase the database for use after the trial period? Submit our acquisition proposal form.