The legendary Library of Alexandria, synonymous with intellectual freedom, tolerance and scholarly curiosity, went up in flames. The largest collection of scholarly, philosophical and literary texts of Antiquity fell victim to neglect, prosecution and destruction. Yet sixteen centuries later, one man has made it his life’s work to once more gather together the knowledge of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and to revive its spirit of civilization in our times: Ismail Serageldin, founder and president of the New Library of Alexandria.

With over a million visitors a year, the Library symbolizes the increasing self-confidence, also intellectual and democratic, of the Arab world, where Ismail Serageldin is considered a leading voice of reason. His plea for Islamic liberalism, freedom of expression, tolerance, nonviolence and rationalism makes Serageldin, who senses the hopeful eyes of the entire world upon him, today’s foremost Arab Enlightenment thinker.

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Agenda 2011

14 May: Nexus Conference - Muziektheater - Amsterdam

2 September: Nexus Masterclass - Tilburg University

30 October: Nexus Lecture - Tilburg University

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