Behind Closed Doors: Voltaire’s Secret Library in Russia

I am sharing photos of a remarkable place—one of the inner rooms of Voltaire's personal library, now preserved within the Voltaire Library in Russia.

This is no ordinary collection. After Voltaire's death, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia purchased his entire library from his heirs. The two had shared over 15 years of correspondence and intellectual friendship—Catherine considered Voltaire her mentor and admired his Enlightenment ideals.

For many years, this treasured library remained hidden from public view, kept under lock and key by successive Russian tsars. In fact, during the reign of Nicholas I, only one person was ever granted access to it: the great poet Alexander Pushkin. He was deeply immersed in studying Russian history at the time.

Interestingly, Voltaire himself had written a "History of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great" at the request of the Russian crown. So yes—there is even a "Voltaire's History of Russia"!

Stay tuned for a glimpse into this extraordinary space where the minds of two of history's greatest thinkers once met across time and letters.

Voltaire's 

"History of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great" 

This workis a landmark Enlightenment work that portrays Tsar Peter I as a transformative ruler. Commissioned by Catherine the Great, the book reflects Voltaire's admiration for Peter's efforts to modernize Russia by reforming its military, government, and society. Voltaire presents Peter as a rational, enlightened monarch who brought European science, education, and industry to a once "barbaric" land. Though not always historically precise, the work served as political propaganda and philosophical reflection, aligning Russia with Enlightenment ideals. It remains a fascinating blend of history, ideology, and literary flair.