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 C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 21In the vibrant streets of Paris, Dick Naseby observes a cast of intriguing characters, including the enigmatic "Admiral," a fallen artist with a mysterious past, as he navigates th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 18Set sail on vivid voyages through the Marquesas, Paumotus, and Gilbert Islands, where a recovering traveler discovers exotic cultures, untamed landscapes, and a new lease on life i…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 16Explore the turbulent legacy of the Stevenson family through centuries of Scottish history, marked by feuds, betrayals, and resilience.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 15In 18th-century Edinburgh, the respected Deacon Brodie leads a double life as master carpenter by day and secret burglar by night, while his family and friends navigate loyalty, lo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 09Dive into a mosaic of memories and portraits that weave together family histories, youthful reflections, and the rich tapestry of British life, revealing the deeply personal and cu…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 02Embark on a vivid journey aboard an emigrant ship, where the uneasy silence of strangers masks stories of hope and hardship.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 01Delve into the rich heritage and introspective genius of a 19th-century writer whose Scottish roots and early encounters with theology and history shaped his captivating stories an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Lucian of Samosata — Volume 04Explore a vivid critique of ignorance and slander as it unravels tragic misunderstandings, rivalries, and false accusations that disrupt families and friendships, revealing the des…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals. Vol. 2Dive into the candid letters and journals of a turbulent poet, revealing intimate thoughts, fierce protectiveness, and raw reflections on life’s challenges and relationships.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals. Vol. 1Delve into the early life and intimate letters of a spirited young nobleman, revealing struggles with health, education, and complex family dynamics.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of John Marston. Volume 2In a London tavern, a clever knave's theft sparks a tangled comedy of passion, deception, and disguise involving a young lover, a Dutch courtesan, and a witty city jester, as frien…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of John Marston. Volume 1Dive into the turbulent world of John Marston, an Elizabethan poet and playwright who sought to vanish into oblivion yet left behind piercing satires and rugged dramas.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Henry Fielding, vol. 12A struggling playwright navigates debt, love, and artistic ambition while facing harsh realities in 18th-century London.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume VIII.Dive into a probing critique of literary conventions and the nature of the novel, challenging rigid definitions and championing artistic freedom.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4In a crumbling country estate, a proud young woman endures a lonely, impoverished life under her father’s harsh control, caught between fading family honor and the harsh realities…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 3In a glittering court where scandal and secrets intertwine, a captain reveals the forbidden love and tragic turmoil surrounding the Empress Maria-Gloriosa, whose hidden grief and d…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 1: Boule de Suif and Other StoriesDive into a world where sharp cynicism reveals the raw pulse of human desire, greed, and passion through vividly painted scenes and deft storytelling.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher in Ten Volumes: Volume 01.Step into a rich collection of comedies and tragedies, meticulously gathered from early folios and quartos, revealing the enduring drama and wit crafted by two master playwrights.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5: The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820Dive into the intimate and revealing correspondence between Charles and Mary Lamb, capturing their wit, struggles, and the legal battles surrounding their letters, offering a vivid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 2: Elia and The Last Essays of EliaExplore reflective essays that weave personal memory, social observation, and literary charm, capturing life’s quirks and the fading echoes of old London’s customs and characters.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 1: Miscellaneous ProseA young girl, Rosamund, clings to her blind grandmother in a humble cottage after their family's fall from grace, finding solace and strength in faith and simple books amidst hards…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Aphra Behn, Volume VA young country woman arrives in London seeking a cousin who has mysteriously vanished, only to find herself entangled with strangers and secrets in the city’s shadowy corners.
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Aphra Behn, Volume IVIn a tangled web of mistaken identities and secret romances, a hypochondriac alderman’s jealousy clashes with his young wife’s clandestine lover, sparking comedic chaos among suito…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Aphra Behn, Volume IIIAmid tangled promises and disguises, Celinda and Bellmour’s forbidden love ignites fierce rivalry and scandalous duels, while the foppish Sir Timothy pursues courtship schemes fill…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Aphra Behn, Volume IIIn a kingdom rife with betrayal, the orphaned Moorish prince Abdelazer seeks revenge through cunning, poison, and deadly alliances, igniting a deadly power struggle filled with lus…
Level C1ClassicsThe Works of Aphra Behn, Volume IDive into the daring lives of banished cavaliers, tangled romances, and political intrigue, brought to life through spirited plays and stirring memoirs that reveal the mysteries su…
Level C1ClassicsThe Workingman's Paradise: An Australian Labour NovelIn the gritty heart of 1880s Sydney, Ned and Nellie navigate the harsh realities of working-class life amid rising union struggles and social unrest.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wooden HorseIn a grand, chilly drawing room, young Robin Trojan anxiously awaits a reunion with the father he hasn't seen since childhood, wrestling with family pride and the weight of long-ab…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wood Fire in No. 3In a cozy artist’s studio without a chimney, a clever solution brings the warmth of a blazing wood fire to life, sparking camaraderie and spirited tales among a circle of friends g…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wonderful YearA young English professor, newly arrived in Paris and dismissed from his teaching post, receives an unexpected invitation to dine in a modest Parisian restaurant.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wonder-Working MagicianA man awakened from a drunken sleep is treated like a prince, experiencing a day of lavish ceremony before being returned to his humble life—forcing him to question the boundary be…
Level C1ClassicsThe Women Who Make Our NovelsExplore the lives and works of leading American women novelists through candid profiles that reveal their creative processes, popularity, and the literary landscape they shape—offe…
Level C1ClassicsThe Woman-HatersAt Eastboro Twin-Lights, lighthouse keeper Seth Atkins navigates the sleepy coastal town’s fading fishing days and tangled relationships, where a neglected harbor and a mysterious…
Level C1ClassicsThe Woman with the FanIn a refined London drawing-room, a captivating soprano's voice stirs deep emotions and hidden tensions among a diverse group of listeners, revealing complex desires and rivalries…
Level C1ClassicsThe Woman Who DidIn a lush Surrey garden, a free-spirited woman defies societal conventions, challenging the boundaries of education, freedom, and womanhood in a world reluctant to embrace change.
Level C1ClassicsThe Woman Thou Gavest Me; Being the Story of Mary O'NeillBorn into hardship and unwanted, Mary O'Neill's life unfolds amid family struggle, fierce ambition, and the haunting shadows of her past.
Level C1ClassicsThe Woman Gives: A Story of RegenerationIn a bustling New York arcade where artists, immigrants, and drifters coexist, two mysterious events bind a disparate group of residents, setting the stage for intertwined lives ma…
Level C1ClassicsThe Woman & the PriestA young priest struggles with secret desires that clash with his sacred vows, while his worried mother battles unseen forces trying to pull him away from his faith in a windswept v…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wolves and the LambIn a richly appointed Richmond villa, tensions simmer between servants and the household, revealing sharp class divides and simmering resentments.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wizard's Son, Vol. 3 (of 3)A young lord wrestles with despair and the meaning of struggle as unexpected visitors arrive at his lonely ancestral home, challenging his resolve and stirring the embers of hope a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wizard's Son, Vol. 2 (of 3)Two young souls find unexpected solace and escape on a dark, still loch, where quiet waters hide deeper struggles and whispered promises.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wizard's Son, Vol. 1 (of 3)In a quiet town, Walter Methven struggles with the weight of his mother’s sacrifices and his own lack of ambition, caught in a stifling family dynamic that challenges the hopes onc…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wizard's Daughter, and Other StoriesIn a sunlit California valley, a young scholar seeks health and respite, encountering colorful locals and curious visitors who challenge his views and stir the quiet mesa life.
Level C1ClassicsThe WitnessAt a lively college dormitory, Stephen Marshall’s steadfast innocence and faith ignite a fierce challenge from his peers, pushing him to confront their rough tests and prove the st…
Level C1ClassicsThe Witch, and Other StoriesAs a fierce snowstorm howls outside, the village sexton suspects his wife of witchcraft, blaming her for the chaos swirling beyond their church walls.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wit of WomenExplore the overlooked brilliance of women's wit and humor through a lively collection of sharp epigrams, sparkling sentences, and candid reflections that challenge the myth of fem…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume III. (of X.)In a secluded New England village, a mysterious newlywed couple keeps to themselves, raising questions about their past and purpose in this idyllic yet enigmatic community.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wise and Ingenious Companion, French and English;: or, A Collection of the Wit of the Illustrious Persons, Both Ancient and ModernDelve into a curated collection of sharp sayings, witty repartees, and noble sentiments drawn from the ancients to modern times, exploring the fine art of true wit beyond mere word…
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.