The Great Library of Alexandria
We've built The Great Library of Alexandria, where we've assembled the greatest texts from across the centuries, making them free and accessible to everyone. We've also developed an intellectual companion named Virgil — a Socratic, empathetic guide designed to help you explore these timeless works. Alexandria is the first library where you can talk to a tutor — in the book itself — as you read.
A new way to read the classics.
Classics
The greatest texts from across the centuries.
"A classic is a book everyone wants to have read, but no one wants to read."
— Mark Twain
Our Story
Two thousand years ago, in the port city of Alexandria, the greatest minds of the ancient world dared to imagine a library that contained all the world's wisdom. They gathered scrolls from every known land, fueled by the belief that knowledge was worth preserving, studying, and sharing. That original Library of Alexandria was eventually destroyed. But we've rebuilt it for the digital age.
"Lightning has done the best job of making old philosophers compelling that I’ve seen. They provide a sense of dignity and historical validity while also coming across as striking personalities."
— Michael Strong, Advisor
