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 Sagebrusher: A Story of the WestIn the rugged Two-Forks Valley, Sim Gage wrestles with the harsh realities of frontier life, haunted by dreams of fortune and the unyielding wilderness that both traps and defines…
Level B2ClassicsThe Safety Curtain, and Other StoriesIn a packed theater, a mesmerizing dancer known as the Dragon-Fly captivates the audience until a sudden fire traps the performers on stage.
Level B2ClassicsThe Runaways: A New and Original StoryIn a snowbound manor, Redmond Maynard grapples with guilt and loss as his estranged son vanished after a bitter accusation two years prior.
Level B2ClassicsThe Rules of the GameIn the late 1890s, an aging outdoorsman reunites with an old friend by a quiet river, hoping to steer his son toward a rugged life in the lumber industry despite the call of politi…
Level B2ClassicsThe Root of EvilA young Southern lawyer in New York clings to love and memories of home while navigating the ambitions and schemes of his fiancée’s social-climbing mother.
Level B2ClassicsThe Road BuildersAs a sweltering train waits to head west, tensions flare among laborers and delays mount over a missing chief cook, while engineers and officials prepare for an ambitious railroad…
Level B2ClassicsThe RoadA hungry hobo navigates the harsh streets of Reno, facing rejection and suspicion as he desperately seeks a meal before catching a westbound train.
Level B2ClassicsThe Rising TideIn a fading neighborhood where old wealth clings to decaying grandeur, the Payton family confronts the tides of change and the strains within their once-stately home.
Level B2ClassicsThe Rise of Silas LaphamA self-made Boston businessman opens up to a journalist about his humble Vermont beginnings, revealing the grit, morals, and ambition behind his rise to success.
Level B2ClassicsThe Rise of Roscoe PaineIn a Cape Cod village, the steady Roscoe Paine navigates small-town life, family quirks, and lively debates about work and politics, while unraveling the humor and hardships of eve…
Level B2ClassicsThe Rider in Khaki: A NovelAmidst the opulent world of Trent Park, a young heir wrestles with duty, love, and a legacy he’d rather avoid.
Level B2ClassicsThe Revolt: A Play In One ActIn a strict academy where scrubbing is hailed as the foundation of household science, Pauline struggles to earn her tuition while questioning the true meaning of education and woma…
Level B2ClassicsThe Revolt of the OysterIn a prehistoric world where primal instincts and social customs collide, Probably Arboreal navigates love, family quarrels, and the rough beginnings of civilization.
Level B2ClassicsThe Redheaded Outfield, and Other Baseball StoriesIn a minor league baseball season charged with rivalry, the Redheaded Outfield trio—eccentric Red Gilbat, showman Reddy Clammer, and swift Reddie Ray—take the field, blending wild…
Level B2ClassicsThe Redemption of FreetownIn a troubled district plagued by crime, a judge grapples with the limits of justice and the desperate need for true redemption.
Level B2ClassicsThe Red Court Farm: A Novel (Vol. 1 of 2)On a remote English coast, the isolated Red Court Farm overlooks a perilous, nearly inaccessible beach steeped in superstition and haunted whispers.
Level B2ClassicsThe Re-Creation of Brian KentA chance encounter with Auntie Sue, a dignified schoolteacher in the remote Ozarks, sets the stage for a story of life’s quiet strength and transformation amid the rugged beauty of…
Level B2ClassicsThe Ranch at the WolverineIn a rugged Idaho valley, a tough pioneer woman and her shiftless husband battle harsh wilderness to tame a hidden cove, while a spirited girl named Billy Louise grows up amid rugg…
Level B2ClassicsThe Radiant CityIn a town shadowed by despair and revelry, a young man named Amer faces a mysterious herald whose dire prophecies challenge the mirth and meaning of their lives.
Level B2ClassicsThe Quiet Hotel: A Farcical Sketch in One ActIn a hilariously quiet country hotel run by the multi-tasking Susan, an aspiring actor and a dramatic actress disrupt the peace with their antics, turning a simple lodging into a s…
Level B2ClassicsThe QuickeningIn a small valley revival led by the fervent Reverend Silas Crafts, the townsfolk wrestle with faith, sin, and redemption as young Thomas Jefferson navigates the stirring transform…
Level B2ClassicsThe Queen of Spades, and other storiesDive into a collection where haunting mysteries, duels, and vivid tales from Russian life intertwine, revealing passion, intrigue, and the shadows lurking beneath society’s polishe…
Level B2ClassicsThe Queen Of SpadesIn a frostbitten night of gambling, a young officer becomes obsessed with a legendary secret held by an enigmatic countess—a secret promising unstoppable luck with three mysterious…
Level B2ClassicsThe Purple HeightsIn a humble South Carolina cottage, young Peter navigates life without his father, finding comfort in his mother's sewing and the soulful songs of Emma Campbell.
Level B2ClassicsThe Puddleford Papers; Or, Humors of the WestStep into the rough-and-tumble life of Puddleford, where rugged pioneers forge order and justice with grit and humor.
Level B2ClassicsThe Public SquareA nineteen-year-old girl arrives in New York with dreams of writing, renting a modest room in a mysterious green-painted house near Washington Square.
Level B2ClassicsThe Professor's HouseA disenchanted professor faces the echoes of his past as he moves from the home where he raised his family and cultivated a tranquil French garden, confronting the tensions between…
Level B2ClassicsThe Prodigal Village: A Christmas TaleIn a quiet village shaken by the chaos of new technology, a young boy named Bob Moran, forever changed by an accident, finds joy and companionship in tending to the birds of a gran…
Level B2ClassicsThe Privet HedgeTwo sisters guard their quaint cottage and cherished fields against the encroaching tide of modern suburbia, clinging to old values and quiet defiance amid change and gossip.
Level B2ClassicsThe Princess SoniaIn a Paris art studio where silence and solitude reign, a shy American student finds herself captivated by the poised and enigmatic Princess Sonia, whose presence blurs the lines b…
Level B2ClassicsThe Price of ThingsIn war-torn Paris, a young bride encounters a mysterious Russian whose words challenge her innocence and awaken deep questions about fate, desire, and the true cost of happiness in…
Level B2ClassicsThe Preliminaries, and Other StoriesA young man’s love for the daughter of a convicted embezzler faces fierce loyalty, family secrets, and the challenge of winning approval from both sides.
Level B2ClassicsThe Preacher of Cedar Mountain: A Tale of the Open CountryIn a rugged Ontario town shaped by sawmills and wilderness, young Jim Hartigan faces loss and hardship that threaten to define him.
Level B2ClassicsThe Power of DarknessIn a remote Russian village, tensions simmer as a sickly peasant struggles to manage his household, laborers, and family disputes, revealing the harsh realities and simmering confl…
Level B2ClassicsThe Post OfficeA sick boy confined indoors dreams of freedom beyond distant hills, while those around him wrestle with hope, care, and the yearning to embrace life beyond walls.
Level B2ClassicsThe PortygeeA seventeen-year-old arrives at the bleak South Harniss railway station, feeling utterly isolated amid the raw December wind and desolate landscape.
Level B2ClassicsThe Plumed SerpentOn a tense Sunday after Easter in Mexico City, a group of outsiders confronts the strange, thrilling spectacle of a bullfight, caught between fascination and unease in a harsh and…
Level B2ClassicsThe Phantom HerdIn the rugged Bad Lands, film director Luck Lindsay battles studio cutbacks that threaten his commitment to authentic storytelling, as he strives to capture the spirit of real Nati…
Level B2ClassicsThe Pastor's SonA pastor's son, burdened by chronic illness and sorrow, struggles to find hope and meaning in his suffering amid a family strained by poverty and faith.
Level B2ClassicsThe Other FellowIn a remote tavern surrounded by snow, a lecturer prepares for his journey to a college lecture, encountering curious locals and a mysterious driver from Hell’s Diggings.
Level B2ClassicsThe Opinions of a PhilosopherA middle-aged man reflects on his journey toward philosophy, blending humor and human flaws as he navigates life's everyday challenges, from soot-covered rooms to icy fishing ponds…
Level B2ClassicsThe Open Boat and Other StoriesFour men struggle to survive in a tiny boat after their steamer sinks, battling relentless waves and the vast, indifferent sea.
Level B2ClassicsThe One Woman: A Story of Modern UtopiaIn a packed New York church, a charismatic preacher battles inner turmoil and brewing controversy while captivating crowds with his fiery sermons and magnetic presence.
Level B2ClassicsThe Old Stone HouseA devoted aunt cares for five orphaned cousins, each with unique struggles and futures, as they spend a summer together in an old stone house by the lake.
Level B2ClassicsThe Old Lady fliesA veteran stunt pilot clings to his battered old Jenny plane, defying his circus boss’s orders to switch to a newer model.
Level B2ClassicsThe Octopus : A Story of CaliforniaIn parched California’s San Joaquin Valley, Presley sets out from the Broderson ranch on a dusty road, caught amid tense whispers of land and labor changes that threaten the lives…
Level B2ClassicsThe Obstacle RaceA determined woman escapes the stifling London life for a rugged seaside refuge with only her loyal dog for company, facing unexpected challenges and the stark realities of indepen…
Level B2ClassicsThe Observations of HenryIn the bustling Mile End Road, a sharp young waiter recounts the intertwined lives of a cunning newsboy and a spirited red-haired girl struggling to survive.
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.