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 C1ClassicsFor the Major: A NoveletteNestled between two rival mountain towns, Far Edgerley prides itself on aristocratic tradition and distance from commerce, awaiting the return of Major Carroll's daughter in a carr…
Level C1ClassicsFor the Allinson HonorIn a peaceful country cottage, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsFor love and life; vol. 1 of 2Set against the rugged beauty of Loch Arroch, a young gentleman navigates the delicate ties of duty, pride, and social divide as he cares for a proud, aging matriarch and her innoc…
Level C1ClassicsFor Love of the King: A Burmese MasqueIn a vibrant sixteenth-century Burmese palace, a young king navigates political intrigue and a postponed royal marriage amid dazzling ceremonies and mystical traditions.
Level C1ClassicsFootsteps of FateA passionate revolt brews among young Dutch writers challenging the sleepy traditions of their predecessors, sparking a fierce literary revolution filled with beauty, delicacy, and…
Level C1ClassicsFootlightsIn a small-town vaudeville theater, an actress battles loneliness, shattered dreams, and the harsh backstage reality as she faces the ultimate humiliation of returning home to a fo…
Level C1ClassicsFontainbleau; a comic opera. In three actsIn a bustling London tavern during race time, the prideful but penniless gentleman Lackland clashes with the sharp-witted landlady, setting the stage for comic misunderstandings, l…
Level C1ClassicsFollowing darknessAn intimate fragment of a renowned art critic’s unfinished autobiography unravels the enigmatic life and tragic death of Peter Waring, revealing his intense, morbid aestheticism an…
Level C1ClassicsFolle-FarineA young girl named Folle-Farine, called "dust" and deemed worthless, endures harsh labor and cruelty at a mill, while watching the free-floating dust she shares a name with—ponderi…
Level C1ClassicsFolks from DixieIn a snowy Kentucky plantation, Anner ’Lizer, the most admired young woman among the enslaved community, faces a tender but troubled romance with Sam Merritt amid the stirring back…
Level C1ClassicsFolk-Speech of Cumberland and Some Districts Adjacent: Being Short Stories and Rhymes in the Dialects of the West Border CountiesExplore the rich dialects and lively folk tales of Cumberland and its border counties through vivid short stories and rhymes, capturing the authentic speech and culture of the regi…
Level C1ClassicsFolk-Lore and Legends: OrientalIn the bustling city of Isfahan, an honest cobbler is forced to abandon his trade and pose as an astrologer to satisfy his ambitious wife’s dreams of wealth, plunging him into a pe…
Level C1ClassicsFoe-FarrellAmid the trenches of the Aisne, a seasoned officer recounts stories that escape the war’s horrors, revealing the camaraderie and quiet struggles of soldiers carving out moments of…
Level C1ClassicsFlowers and fruit from the writings of Harriet Beecher StoweExplore the profound inner life where souls connect beyond absence and death, and truth melts like music into the heart.
Level C1ClassicsFlower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces;: or, the Wedded Life, Death, and Marriage of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, Parish Advocate in the Burgh of Kuhschnappel.Delve into the intricate life and reflections of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, whose story unfolds amid the nuances of marriage, death, and community in Kuhschnappel, enriched by…
Level C1ClassicsFlower o' the PeachIn the vast, sunlit Karoo, a young boy watches over his flock as an old shepherd recounts a haunting tale of a mysterious, singing madman wandering the veld.
ClassicsFlorence Hanemann's Dance Revue: Central School, Glen Rock, New Jersey, June 9, 1950Step into the vibrant world of a 1950 school dance revue, where young performers bring classic tales like Hansel & Gretel to life through ballet, soft shoe, and character dances in…
Level C1ClassicsFlora Lyndsay; or, Passages in an Eventful Life, Vol. I.A young couple faces the harsh realities of limited means and must decide whether to leave their comfortable English home for the uncertain promise of a new life on a Canadian farm…
Level C1ClassicsFlint: His Faults, His Friendships and His FortunesIn a quaint New England house-party clouded by fog and tempers, a diverse group of guests navigate their quirks and friendships, with the lively Winifred Anstice bringing unexpecte…
Level C1ClassicsFlemish LegendsStep into the enchanting world of Flemish folk tales, where medieval forests whisper secrets, faery enchantments abound, and clever peasants outwit devils and tyrants alike.
Level C1ClassicsFlappers and PhilosophersA rebellious young woman lounges on a yacht, defying her uncle's authority as she clings to her own wild desires and rejects the stiff social world awaiting her.
Level C1ClassicsFlamsted quarriesAmid the bustling arrival of immigrants at New York’s Castle Garden, a young match girl’s haunting song at a vaudeville theater reveals the raw hopes, struggles, and humanity woven…
Level C1ClassicsFlaming JuneIn a quiet coastal town where the air is prized above all, residents and visitors grapple with the clash between restless children and fragile invalids, while the town’s genteel se…
Level C1ClassicsFive TalesIn a dimly lit study, a weary barrister wrestles with his conscience and the strains of family loyalty as his troubled brother unexpectedly intrudes, setting the stage for a tense…
Level C1ClassicsFive Nights: A NovelA solitary voyage through Alaska’s dazzling Taku Inlet reveals the sublime beauty and silent power of the North, where a fragile steamer navigates between towering icebergs and wit…
Level C1ClassicsFive Little PlaysA weary play reader laments the clichés and compromises of the theatrical world while navigating complex relationships in a modest London flat, where desire and discontent simmer b…
Level B2ClassicsFive Hundred Dollars; or, Jacob Marlowe's SecretAn elderly man returns to his hometown after twenty years, uncovering family tensions and hidden fortunes among the Marlowes.
Level B2ClassicsFive Hundred Dollars: First published in the "Century Magazine"In a coastal sail-loft, tales unfold about Delia, a young woman defying her family's legacy of decline by choosing her own path with David Prince, whose troubled past and uncertain…
Level C1ClassicsFishing with a WormA fisherman embraces the art of fishing with a worm in a tangled, brush-choked brook where fly-casting is impossible, revealing the quiet joys and patient skill of angling in unexp…
Level B2ClassicsFishin' JimmyIn a tranquil New Hampshire village, a weathered angler known as Fishin' Jimmy teaches more than fishing—he imparts life lessons of patience, faith, and resilience drawn from the s…
Level C1ClassicsFisherman's Luck and Some Other Uncertain ThingsA fisherman reflects on the unique greetings and superstitions of his craft, celebrating the unpredictable luck that defines angling and life itself.
Level C1ClassicsFirst love, and other storiesA young man’s infatuation with the enchanting Princess Zinaída unfolds with poetic grace, revealing the tender complexities of first love and the subtle struggles of youthful desir…
Level C1ClassicsFirst harvestsIn the heart of New York's elite Fifth Avenue stands Mrs.
Level B2ClassicsFirst and LastSet sail on the open sea where weighing anchor becomes a metaphor for life's beginnings, testing courage, skill, and truth against the unpredictable tides and winds.
Level C1ClassicsFirst Love, and Other Fascinating Stories of Spanish LifeA young boy’s curiosity leads him to a hidden miniature portrait of a breathtaking woman, sparking a tender awakening of first love amidst the quiet mysteries of his aunt’s room an…
Level C1ClassicsFirst Lessons in the Maori Language, with a Short VocabularyUnlock the sounds and structure of the Maori language with practical lessons that guide learners through pronunciation, grammar, and common usage, offering a concise and accessible…
Level B2ClassicsFirst Fam'lies of the SierrasIn a remote Sierra camp called The Forks, rugged men carve out a wild new Eden, electing a hapless judge to rule their lawless world.
Level B2ClassicsFires of St. John: A Drama in Four ActsIn a well-to-do Pomeranian household, a looming family wedding stirs old tensions as a mysterious woman from the past reappears, threatening to disrupt the carefully arranged happi…
Level C1ClassicsFire Worship (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")As a once-friendly fire is confined to an iron stove, the narrator reflects on how this elemental force—both creator and destroyer—has transformed from a warm domestic companion in…
Level C1ClassicsFinger Posts on the Way of LifeA single clouded brow casts shadows over the Abercrombie household, turning harmony into discord and testing the fragile bonds between family members.
Level C1ClassicsFilm Truth; September, 1920Dive into the dazzling yet deceptive world of early cinema, where dreams of stardom lure hopefuls into costly schemes disguised as golden opportunities.
Level C2ClassicsFilm Truth; November, 1920A scathing critique emerges from the shadows of early cinema, exposing the tension between art and exploitation through the lens of seduction, censorship, and the battle over a rev…
Level C1ClassicsFifty Contemporary One-Act PlaysDive into a curated collection where emerging American dramatists and lesser-known foreign voices challenge theatrical norms through fifty one-act plays, each crafted for an experi…
Level C1ClassicsFifteen Days: An Extract from Edward Colvil's JournalA quiet farm life is transformed when a mysterious young visitor arrives, bringing unexpected joy and new connections.
Level C1ClassicsFieldingDelve into a meticulously researched biography that unravels the life of Henry Fielding, correcting misconceptions and unveiling new details from his marriages to his literary rela…
Level C1ClassicsFidelity: A NovelTensions simmer beneath polite conversation as old friends reunite in Freeport, revealing unspoken stories of loss, loyalty, and social expectation.
Level C1ClassicsFiddles: 1909In a rustic village, Marny recounts the tale of Fiddles, a charming, roguish musician with a knack for mischief and a mysterious past, whose exploits stir both laughter and intrigu…
Level C1ClassicsFickle FortuneTwo young men, bound by duty and contrasting temperaments, face a grueling winter journey home as they confront family expectations and clashing ambitions—one daring to defy tradit…
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.