The Library
Read Classic Literature in English
Learn English by reading the books worth reading. Every book is the complete text, labelled A2 to C2 — tap any word for an instant translation, hear natural audio narration, and save the vocabulary you meet as you go. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
Level B2ClassicsThe Manager of the B. & A.: A NovelIn the quiet aftermath of a busy day at the struggling Buckhom and Antioch Railroad, a new manager named Oakley arrives, determined to bring order and prosperity to the neglected l…
Level B2ClassicsThe Man: A Story of To-dayIn a candid series of letters and chapters, a bold author challenges societal norms and reveals uncomfortable truths about the struggles between men and circumstances, exploring lo…
Level B2ClassicsThe Man with a ShadowIn a quiet Warwickshire rectory, tensions rise as a mysterious note and a forbidden kiss spark suspicions and secrets among the Salis family, threatening their peaceful existence w…
Level B2ClassicsThe Man Who Lost HimselfVictor Jones, a struggling entrepreneur in London, faces financial ruin after losing a crucial government contract, only to encounter a mysterious man with a strikingly familiar fa…
Level B2ClassicsThe Man That Corrupted HadleyburgIn the incorruptible town of Hadleyburg, a mysterious stranger leaves a sack of gold with a challenge that will test the town’s famed honesty and expose hidden truths in a clever g…
Level B2ClassicsThe Making of a PrigA rebellious young woman challenges the rigid expectations of her family and society while navigating the tensions between duty and personal freedom in a quiet rectory.
Level B2ClassicsThe Making of MaryA young girl wakes alone in an abandoned farmhouse, facing cold, hunger, and loneliness while discovering the remnants of a life left behind.
Level B2ClassicsThe Magnetic GirlTorn between scorn and curiosity, a young woman faces ridicule for the unexpected marriage proposal of Benjamin Morgan, a kind yet physically imperfect man.
Level B2ClassicsThe Lost Word: A Christmas Legend of Long AgoIn ancient Antioch, a young Christian candidate wrestles with doubts and disillusionment on Christmas morning, caught between his past wealth and his new faith.
Level B2ClassicsThe Lost ChildOn a bright Christmas Eve morning in Paris, the powerful and wealthy banker M.
Level B2ClassicsThe Log of the "Jolly Polly"A struggling novelist clings to fading fame when unexpected relatives from Massachusetts arrive, hinting at a mysterious connection that could change everything.
Level B2ClassicsThe Living Link: A NovelIn a quiet boarding school, Edith arrives to a tense silence and a mysterious summons from Miss Plympton, hinting at a terrible secret that will upend the lives of the young ladies…
Level B2ClassicsThe Little Vanities of Mrs. Whittaker: A NovelIn an era when women’s roles are limited, Regina Brown, a determined and educated young woman, wrestles with the confines of middle-class life and her desire for a meaningful purpo…
Level B2ClassicsThe Little Russian ServantA young Russian peasant girl named Mavra enters noble service as an embroiderer, stepping into a world of opulence and strict hierarchy where her skills and quiet presence catch th…
Level B2ClassicsThe Little Room, and Other StoriesA family returns to a remote Vermont farm haunted by the mystery of a vanished "little room" that exists only in memory and imagination, challenging the boundaries between reality…
Level B2ClassicsThe Little MissisIn a humble home filled with old memories and new hopes, Phebe wrestles with love, faith, and promises that may change her future forever.
Level B2ClassicsThe Little Lady of the Big HouseAwakening on his sprawling estate, Dick Forrest navigates a day of careful efficiency, tending prized livestock and overseeing his ambitious plans.
Level B2ClassicsThe Little Dream: An Allegory in Six ScenesIn a remote mountain hut, a daring climber prepares to conquer the formidable Great Horn at sunrise, forging an unexpected bond with Seelchen, a spirited local girl torn between he…
Level B2ClassicsThe Little City of Hope: A Christmas StoryA determined inventor struggles against skepticism and poverty to perfect his revolutionary Air-Motor, clinging to hope despite financial ruin and betrayal.
Level B2ClassicsThe Light That FailedTwo orphans endure harsh guardianship and find solace in secret pistol practice, forging a bond of resilience and defiance amid a world that offers them little kindness or comfort.
Level B2ClassicsThe Life of NancyAmidst the rustic charm bordering bustling Boston, a spirited young girl named Nancy embarks on her first city visit, encountering new faces and the excitement of unfamiliar sights…
Level B2ClassicsThe Lever: A NovelA chance encounter rekindles childhood friendship between Alice and Allen, setting the stage for a story of rekindled bonds, family dynamics, and the pursuit of justice in a world…
Level B2ClassicsThe Last of the Mortimers: A Story in Two VoicesTwo sisters confront family secrets and the mystery of a lost heir, Richard Arkwright Mortimer, as they navigate inheritance, identity, and the weight of their ancestral legacy.
Level B2ClassicsThe Last of the De Mullins: A Play Without a PrefaceAmid the fading grandeur of a centuries-old manor and the looming shadow of a family stroke, the De Mullins grapple with tradition, inheritance, and changing times in a quiet villa…
Level B2ClassicsThe Last of Their RaceIsla Mackinnon stands as the last hope for the ancient Castle of Achree, a crumbling Scottish estate steeped in legend and threatened by hardship.
Level B2ClassicsThe Last StetsonIn a mountain mill shadowed by a long-standing feud, a young boy named Isom navigates the tensions between rival families as old grudges resurface and danger lurks near.
Level B2ClassicsThe Last DitchA chance encounter on a river steamer introduces Romney to a mysterious woman draped in a rare yellow rug, whose fierce love for a child and untamed spirit challenge him to confron…
Level B2ClassicsThe Lady with the Dog and Other StoriesA chance encounter in a seaside town sparks an unexpected connection between Dmitri, a disenchanted family man, and Anna, a mysterious lady walking her dog alone, as they navigate…
Level B2ClassicsThe Lady from the SeaIn a serene fjord town, a mysterious woman haunted by the sea struggles between her past and present life as old acquaintances and new visitors stir long-buried desires and secrets…
Level B2ClassicsThe King's Threshold; and On Baile's StrandAn aging poet confronts the harsh pride and politics of King Guaire's court, where loyalty and art collide on the palace steps.
Level B2ClassicsThe Kentucky WarblerA young boy named Webster feels trapped by school and city life but is irresistibly drawn to the mysterious forest beyond his home, where nature's call promises adventure and a wor…
Level B2ClassicsThe Jucklins: A NovelAn awkward young man longs to prove himself in a society that mocks him, plotting a daring horse trade and a bold confrontation to earn respect and overcome his insecurities in nor…
Level B2ClassicsThe JamesonsA quiet village’s long-held tradition of no boarders is shattered when a well-to-do family opens their home to strangers from the city, stirring curiosity and upheaval among neighb…
Level B2ClassicsThe Jack-Knife ManA weathered man clings to his homemade shanty-boat, his only true home, despite tempting offers to sell it.
Level B2ClassicsThe Isles of SunsetAmidst towering sea cliffs and wild birds, a solitary fisherman named David wrestles with a divine calling after a mysterious vision urges him to follow a shining figure across the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Iron WomanIn a world where childhood means both command and rebellion, Elizabeth Ferguson reigns with fearless audacity, challenging family rules and social expectations while navigating the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Invaders, and Other StoriesA volunteer joins a battalion ordered on a mysterious expedition in the Caucasus, eager to witness the realities of war firsthand.
Level B2ClassicsThe IntriguersIn snowy 1888 London, struggling violinist Nello Corsini and his sister face harsh poverty until a mysterious stranger recognizes Nello’s extraordinary talent, setting in motion a…
Level B2ClassicsThe Inner Sisterhood: A Social Study in High ColorsIn a lively social season filled with parties and admirers, a young woman navigates the complexities of high society, longing for genuine connection amid the dazzling yet fickle wh…
Level B2ClassicsThe Indian's Hand: 1892Tensions rise in a frontier settlement as settlers dismiss warnings of returning Native Americans—until a violent raid shatters their fragile peace, leaving a mother haunted by the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Incubator BabyIn a garden where storks deliver babies from blossoming trees, the smallest infant, Marjorie, is unexpectedly carried to a strange new world inside an incubator, where she must nav…
Level B2ClassicsThe Impending Sword: A Novel (Vol. 1 of 3)In the bustling Empire City, two friends navigate high society’s glittering soirées, where wealth, charm, and intrigue intertwine beneath lavish parties and elegant façades.
Level B2ClassicsThe Imaginary InvalidA hypochondriac obsessed with his health navigates a world of costly treatments and meddling doctors, while his sharp-witted maid challenges his delusions and exposes the absurditi…
Level B2ClassicsThe Hungry Heart: A NovelNewlyweds Richard and Courtney return to the imposing Vaughan homestead, where romance meets the weight of family expectations and old resentments.
Level B2ClassicsThe HoydenIn a sunlit drawing-room filled with whispered schemes and tense hopes, a mother faces the desperate necessity of her son's marriage to a spirited young woman known as the Hoyden,…
Level B2ClassicsThe House with the Mezzanine and Other StoriesAn idle painter encounters the enigmatic Volchaninov family at a remote estate, where fading grandeur and quiet desolation mask deeper tensions and unspoken desires.
Level B2ClassicsThe House of the Misty Star: A Romance of Youth and Hope and Love in Old JapanIn a tranquil Japanese hilltop home, a devoted teacher reflects on decades of quiet life and distant dreams, until a mysterious letter from a student ignites a journey filled with…
Level B2ClassicsThe House of MarthaA devoted grandson shares a quiet village life with his perceptive grandmother while reflecting on his rich experiences abroad, uncovering the subtle dynamics of family, society, a…
Why it works
Why read classics to learn English
Graded by real CEFR level
Every book is labelled B1, B2 or C1 so you can pick something that stretches you without overwhelming you.
Tap any word to translate
Touch a word or phrase to see it in your language instantly — no dictionary, no leaving the page.
Audio narration & pronunciation
Listen to clear, natural narration and read along to train your ear as well as your eye.
Vocabulary from your own reading
Save the words you meet; they become flashcards built from the books you actually read.
Questions
Learning English by reading
Reading exposes you to real grammar, vocabulary and phrasing in context — far more memorably than word lists. With instant translation and audio on every page, you stay in the story instead of stalling on unknown words, which is what builds fluency.
Choose a book one notch above where you feel comfortable: B1 if you read everyday English, B2 if you can follow longer articles, C1 for literary prose. You can always tap words you don’t know — a little stretch is exactly how you level up.
Sample chapters are free to read with no account. To read a full book — with tap-to-translate, audio narration and saved progress — you start your trial at quiz.nikmas.studio.
Not for sample chapters — they open with no signup. To read a whole book you start your trial at quiz.nikmas.studio, which keeps your vocabulary and place across devices.