February 4, 2026
Pythagoras, but make it fashion
An interactive version of Byrne's The Elements of Euclid (1847)
Color-soaked geometry has book lovers swooning and Great Books grads cheering
TLDR: A vivid, interactive revival of Oliver Byrne’s 1847 Euclid adds clickable diagrams, cross‑references, posters, and puzzles. Commenters gush over its beauty and usability—some flexing Great Books cred, others itching to replicate proofs—celebrating how classic geometry becomes eye‑candy that actually helps people learn and decorate walls.
Oliver Byrne’s 1847, color-drenched take on Euclid just got a glow‑up: an interactive edition by designer Nicholas Rougeux with tap‑friendly diagrams, cross‑references, posters, and even puzzles. And the community? Positively swooning. One book lover flexed shelf space while declaring it “the most beautiful book I have,” and admitted the site may have sparked their obsession. Another chimed in with a rallying cry—“St. John’s College FTW!”—as Great Books grads treat this like a homecoming.
Beyond the oohs and ahhs, there’s a friendly tug‑of‑war: art piece or study tool? Fans brag about trying to “replicate the proofs,” turning geometry into a party trick, while others are eyeing those wall‑worthy posters. Jokes fly about redecorating apartments with triangles and circles—“Pythagoras, but make it fashion.” Either way, people say this is the rare schoolbook that feels like candy. Curious? Dive into Oliver Byrne’s Euclid, meet Nicholas Rougeux, and nod along with the St. John’s College crowd. Verdict from the comments: math can slap when it’s this gorgeous—and this clickable. Also included: basic plane geometry, circles, ratios, and regular polygons—served in bold colors that make concepts pop for newcomers and nostalgics alike. Even the cross‑references feel like breadcrumbs through a candy‑colored forest. Math, but stylish.
Key Points
- •Reproduction of Oliver Byrne’s 1847 edition of Euclid’s Elements is available online.
- •The site includes interactive diagrams and cross-references for the first six books.
- •Coverage spans plane geometry, geometric algebra, circles and angles, regular polygons, ratios and proportions, and geometric proportions.
- •Information is provided about Byrne’s original publication and the site’s design and typography.
- •Posters and a puzzle of every geometric illustration are offered, with posters designed by Nicholas Rougeux.