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 Lesser BourgeoisieIn a Paris on the brink of transformation, the Thuillier family inhabits a fading world where old neighborhoods and traditions give way to relentless modernization.
Level C1ClassicsThe Leatherwood GodIn a frontier settlement shaped by faith and hardship, a mysterious figure known as the Leatherwood God arrives, stirring deep spiritual and social tensions among the pioneers.
Level C1ClassicsThe Learned WomenTwo sisters clash over love and intellect: one embraces marriage and domestic joys, while the other scorns them for the pursuit of philosophy and learning, revealing a sharp satire…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lead of HonourA determined young man embarks on a journey down a mysterious southern river, drawn by ambition and a restless spirit.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lazy Tour of Two Idle ApprenticesTwo idle apprentices, craving nothing but leisure, abandon their duties to embark on a purposeless journey northward.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lawyers, A Drama in Five ActsIn a humble tradesman's home, a proud carpenter grapples with his son’s rise to power and the widening gulf between their worlds, as family loyalty and social ambition collide amid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lawton GirlA young man returns to his snowbound hometown of Thessaly, navigating the stark social divides and the challenges of a harsh winter.
Level C2ClassicsThe Laws of Candy: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)Amidst political intrigue and shifting alliances, senators, soldiers, and noble figures navigate the complex laws of Candy.
Level C1ClassicsThe Law-Breakers and Other StoriesIn a city rife with political corruption, George Colfax grapples with his passive reformist ideals while courting Mary Wellington, whose independent spirit challenges his convictio…
Level C1ClassicsThe Law of the Land: Of Miss Lady, Whom It Involved in Mystery, and of John Eddring, Gentleman of the South, Who Read Its Deeper Meaning: A NovelIn a southern plantation at dawn, Miss Lady dances alone, embodying youth and mystery, until her mother’s unexpected arrival disrupts the fragile serenity.
Level C1ClassicsThe Law and Lawyers of Pickwick: A LectureExplore the vivid world of Dickens' "Pickwick" through a lawyer’s eyes, uncovering the colorful characters and legal dramas that mirror the author’s own childhood experiences with…
Level C1ClassicsThe Law InevitableIn a bustling Roman boarding-house, Cornélie de Retz van Loo begins her first Italian journey, encountering eccentric residents and subtle tensions beneath the city's golden sunlig…
Level C1ClassicsThe Laurel WalkIn the quaint, rain-soaked town of Craig Bay, sisters Betty and Frances navigate the quirks of their small community while dreaming of a life beyond dreary weather and humble shops…
Level C1ClassicsThe Later LifeA man wakes from a vivid, humorous dream of a seaside where fashion and nudity merge in absurd harmony, sparking laughter and reflection at home as family dynamics unfold with the…
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 C1ClassicsThe Last PennyA young man fresh from college faces the reality of adulthood as he navigates family expectations, finances, and the first serious talk about his future.
Level C1ClassicsThe Last MiracleIn a remote manor, a hypnotist chronicles the extraordinary trance journeys of Mary Wilson, whose mind roams through time and space revealing secrets beyond ordinary perception.
Level C1ClassicsThe Last Lion, and Other TalesDive into a world shaped by fierce independence and passionate struggles, where a relentless spirit confronts poverty, political exile, and adventure across Spain and beyond.
Level C1ClassicsThe Last LaughOn a snowy winter night in Hampstead, a sharp, deaf girl and her sardonic companion explore eerie laughter and mysterious sounds, blurring the line between reality and illusion in…
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 C1ClassicsThe Last Days of TolstoyExplore the final, turbulent years of a literary giant as he wrestles with family strife, spiritual crisis, and the challenge of living true to his principles amid wealth and misun…
Level C1ClassicsThe Landlord at Lion's Head — CompleteA rugged New England man navigates the clash between rustic roots and modern urban life while managing a summer hotel beneath the majestic “Lion’s Head” mountain, revealing the vib…
Level C1ClassicsThe Land of Long AgoAunt Jane and her companion set out on a quiet country journey to town, weaving through landscapes rich with history and local legends.
Level C1ClassicsThe Land of Heart's DesireIn a remote Irish barony, a young bride becomes enchanted by a mysterious book about a princess who escapes to the timeless Land of Faery, sparking tension between dreams of eterna…
Level C1ClassicsThe Land of Darkness: Along with Some Further Chapters in the Experiences of the Little PilgrimA bewildering descent lands you in a chaotic city where constant noise and relentless traffic defy order, and the people’s smiles hide sharp insults.
Level C1ClassicsThe Land of Cockayne: A NovelIn a bustling Neapolitan street where daily life teems with vibrant sights and smells, a seamstress dreams of a better life beyond the humble fare of salt cod and macaroni.
Level C1ClassicsThe LamplighterIn a close-knit community bound by tradition and the glow of street lamps, a lamplighter recounts the curious tale of Tom Grig, whose life and family illuminate the struggles and c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lamp of FateIn a grand English estate, a passionate but ill-matched marriage between Hugh Vallincourt and the free-spirited dancer Diane Wielitzska unfolds under the watchful, disapproving eye…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lamp and the Bell: A Drama In Five ActsIn a royal court shadowed by grief and intrigue, a king’s potential remarriage stirs tension between daughters and rivals alike, as music and whispers weave a delicate drama of loy…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lame Lover: A Comedy in Three ActsIn a witty courtroom drama, Charlot accuses the vain and one-legged Sir Luke Limp of feigned love and misplaced ambitions, unraveling tangled passions and social pretensions amidst…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lake GunA mysterious booming sound echoes across Seneca Lake, defying explanation, while a legendary floating tree known as the "Wandering Jew" drifts endlessly—both entwined in local lore…
Level C2ClassicsThe LakeA man returns to his native land, awakening buried memories and the melancholy beauty of a landscape steeped in history and quiet sorrow.
Level C1ClassicsThe Laird of Norlaw; A Scottish StoryNestled beneath the mystic Eildons, the humble Norlaw estate conceals a stark old castle—silent witness to the turbulent Border past.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lady, or the Tiger?In a kingdom ruled by a semi-barbaric king, justice is meted out by a chilling choice: open one door to face a deadly tiger or the other to marry a lady chosen by the king.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lady's WalkA visitor recounts an intimate Scottish encounter with the spirited Campbell siblings, especially the devoted Charlotte, whose quiet strength shields her family’s secrets.
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 C1ClassicsThe Lady of the Barge: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 1.A river barge skipper faces unexpected challenges when his mate brings aboard a young woman for a nighttime trip, stirring tensions and awkward adjustments aboard the cramped vesse…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lady of the Barge and Others, Entire CollectionA barge captain’s quiet life is disrupted when his brother-in-law brings aboard a mysterious young woman for a river trip, sparking awkward encounters, hidden tensions, and unexpec…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lady of the AroostookA young woman faces a bittersweet farewell as she prepares to leave her quiet Massachusetts farm for new opportunities among distant relatives, while her family wrestles with hope,…
Level C2ClassicsThe Lady of Pleasure: A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury LaneA noble lady, restless in the quiet countryside, demands the pleasures of London life, sparking tension with her husband who struggles to balance pride, honor, and their mounting e…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lady of Lyons; Or, Love and PrideIn post-Revolutionary Lyons, a proud beauty’s daily bouquets mask the tensions of love and ambition as suitors vie for her hand amidst shifting social ranks.
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 C1ClassicsThe Ladies' Paradise: A Realistic NovelA young woman and her brothers arrive in bustling Paris and are captivated by the dazzling spectacle of "The Ladies' Paradise," a vast, opulent draper's shop that promises new oppo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ladies Lindores, Vol. 3 (of 3)Tensions rise as Beaufort uncovers a hidden scandal involving Lady Caroline and Torrance, thrusting him into a world of secrets and suspicions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Ladies Lindores, Vol. 1 (of 3)Amid the rugged Scottish landscape, a family bids farewell to their longtime home, Dalrulzian, as a young heir returns to claim his estate—unfolding a tale of change, memory, and t…
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.