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 C1ClassicsSusanna and SueIn a serene Shaker settlement where order and harmony reign, two girls navigate the quiet rhythms of spring and community life.
Level C1ClassicsSusan ProudleighCaught in a bitter neighborhood feud fueled by envy and social divides, a proud young woman refuses to lower herself, even as hostility grows around her.
Level C1ClassicsSusan Lenox: Her Fall and RiseAmid societal hypocrisies and harsh truths about human nature, Susan Lenox emerges as a deeply real and complex woman, navigating love, morality, and identity in a world rife with…
Level B1ClassicsSusan Gets Ready for Church: A MonologueSusan rushes through a chaotic Sunday morning, juggling last-minute preparations, misplaced items, and reluctant duties as she begrudgingly gets ready for church—where a returned m…
Level B2ClassicsSusan Clegg and a Man in the HouseSusan Clegg navigates life alone after her father's death, skeptical about men despite multiple proposals and unexpected suitors returning once wealth is discovered.
Level C1ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Neighbors' AffairsIn a quiet town shadowed by loss, Susan Clegg faces a delicate truth that will shock her dear neighbor, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Love AffairsIn a quiet town, Susan Clegg shares curious tales from the Sewing Society, unraveling dreams and signs that hint at unexpected twists in everyday life.
Level B2ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. LathropTwo neighbors and close friends, Susan Clegg and Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsSupersededAt St.
Level B2ClassicsSunshine Sketches of a Little TownStep into the quirky rhythms of small-town life where a sharp-witted observer chronicles the joys, struggles, and eccentricities of its residents with warmth and humor.
Level C1ClassicsSunriseIn chilly London, a worldly bachelor and a young baron delve into a secretive organization claiming to defend the oppressed worldwide, challenging loyalties and beliefs amid suspic…
Level C1ClassicsSunny-SanIn the House of a Thousand Joys, the death of the celebrated dancer Madame Many Smiles casts a shadow of despair, leaving her enigmatic daughter to step into her revered place amid…
Level B2ClassicsSundry AccountsIn a small town where a man’s haunted past keeps his home ablaze with light through the night, secrets and eerie legends intertwine with the lives of unforgettable local characters…
Level C1ClassicsSunCarried away to a sun-drenched villa by the sea, Juliet wrestles with deep frustration and a haunting sense of responsibility while seeking solace beneath the relentless Mediterran…
Level C1ClassicsSummerfield: or, Life on a FarmA young man leaves home to build a new life in a wild, bountiful landscape filled with game, forests, and lakes.
Level C1ClassicsSumerian Hymns from Cuneiform Texts in the British MuseumExplore ancient Babylonian spirituality through meticulously translated Sumerian hymns dedicated to deities like Bêl, Sin, Adad, and Tammuz, revealing the linguistic and religious…
Level B2ClassicsSuffered in vainDive into a collection of gripping love stories filled with wholesome passion and thrilling action, where every tale promises heartfelt drama and captivating twists far from the or…
Level C1ClassicsSuch is Life: A Play in Five ActsIn a city torn by war and political upheaval, a fierce struggle unfolds as citizens seize power, debate freedom, and crown a new king amidst promises of justice and looming threats…
Level C1ClassicsSuch Things Are: A Play, in Five ActsAmid the exotic backdrop of Sumatra, an English couple navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and political intrigue in a land ruled by capricious princes and shadowed by sus…
Level C1ClassicsSuch Is LifeAn unemployed traveler embarks on a contemplative journey through the vast Australian Riverina, chronicling the everyday life, landscapes, and encounters that reveal the complex ta…
Level C1ClassicsSuccessful Methods of Public SpeakingUnlock the secrets of compelling public speaking by exploring the methods of renowned orators, emphasizing sincerity, thorough preparation, and adapting techniques to your unique s…
Level C1ClassicsSuccess and How He Won ItIn a grand church filled with aristocracy and wealth, a young bride and groom stand united, yet their icy detachment hints at deeper tensions beneath the dazzling ceremony.
Level C1ClassicsSuccessIn a world dominated by industrial power and social intrigue, Michael Annarly, a brilliant yet enigmatic genius, navigates the complex halls of influence and ambition, where admira…
Level C1ClassicsSuburban SketchesExperience the quiet charm and unexpected dramas of suburban life in Charlesbridge, where nature's resilience meets the rhythms of a close-knit community and the promise of simple…
Level C1ClassicsStyle and the ManExplore the intimate art of style and its impact on writing, as the author navigates personal preferences, literary tastes, and timeless influences shaping the way we express ourse…
Level C1ClassicsStyleExplore the art of style as it transcends mere writing, shaping expression across literature, music, and even human gesture.
Level C1ClassicsStudying the short-story: Sixteen short-story classics with introductions, notes and a new laboratory study method for individual reading and use in colleges and schools.Explore sixteen carefully selected short stories, each accompanied by critical introductions, notes, and study questions designed to deepen understanding and analysis.
Level C1ClassicsStudy of a WomanIn a world where virtue and ambition intertwine, the Marquise de Listomere navigates society with calculated grace while a young, clever man, Eugene de Rastignac, intrigues her wit…
Level C1ClassicsStudies in WivesA young bride navigates the complexities of her new life in a stately Westminster home, caught between societal expectations and her own quiet discontent.
Level C1ClassicsStubbleIn a rain-soaked Southern home, Mary Louise confronts the arrival of Zenie, who brings an unexpected bundle—a fragile infant named Nausea Zekiel Thompson—unveiling secrets and shif…
Level C1ClassicsStrong as DeathAn aging artist, once celebrated for his strength and beauty, struggles with fading inspiration and the pressure to please a fickle public, as he searches for a new muse amidst the…
Level C1ClassicsStrong HeartsIn the post-war South, a young man known as "Crackedfiddle" navigates the tangled realms of faith, poetry, and survival, revealing the profound unity between religion and the human…
Level C1ClassicsStrife: A Drama in Three ActsTensions ignite at the Trenartha Tin Plate Works, where a fierce winter strike pits the company’s board and management against the determined workers’ committee.
Level C1ClassicsStrife and PeaceAmidst the majestic, untamed mountains and serene valleys of ancient Norway, discover a land untouched by time, where nature’s grandeur and tranquil beauty offer refuge from the wo…
Level C1ClassicsStrictly Business: More Stories of the Four MillionBehind the vaudeville curtain, two performers navigate the realities of the stage far from the glamorous myths—one harboring a secret sketch and searching for the perfect partner t…
Level C2ClassicsStray leaves from strange literature; and, Fantastics and other fanciesDive into a mosaic of exotic legends, fables, and parables drawn from Indian, Buddhist, Polynesian, Moslem, and Talmudic traditions, each reconstructed with poetic license to revea…
Level C1ClassicsStrangers at LisconnelIn the remote hamlet of Lisconnel, life unfolds in quiet rhythms amid vast boglands and changing seasons, where the arrival of strangers is a rare and intriguing event.
Level B2ClassicsStrangers and WayfarersIn a wintry New England journey, a timid mail carrier armed with caution and an elderly passenger wrapped in shawls face the biting cold and quiet roads, weaving tales of old peril…
Level B2ClassicsStrange watersWhen the government commandeers the freighter Aurora for ocean service, little Tim Donahue faces a wrenching change from his life as a humble fireman, caught between loyalty to his…
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from the Lodge of LeisuresDive into a world where Taoist magicians, wandering souls, and Buddhist reincarnations intertwine, revealing the mysterious beliefs and everyday life of eighteenth-century China th…
Level B2ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 2 (of 2)A young trader’s son is swept away by a typhoon to a strange land where beauty dictates power, and the people fear his unusual appearance.
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 1 (of 2)Enter a world where ancient Chinese customs, beliefs, and supernatural tales unfold through the eyes of a scholar deeply immersed in his culture.
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)Delve into a collection of eerie and fascinating tales that reveal the customs, superstitions, and spiritual life of ancient China, as told by a scholar deeply immersed in Chinese…
Level C1ClassicsStrange StoriesVenturing into the realms of psychology and sensation, these stories explore hereditary character, moral ambiguity, and cultural clashes through gripping tales of human nature’s de…
Level B2ClassicsStory of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"As a lone passenger aboard a rain-soaked ship departing New York, Chester Lawrence finds unexpected camaraderie with fellow Mormon missionaries bound for distant lands.
Level B2ClassicsStories of the Foot-hillsIn a rugged foothill valley, Lysander Sproul navigates land disputes, stubborn neighbors, and the harsh realities of ranch life, where every acre and alliance is hard-won amid the…
Level C1ClassicsStories of a Western TownIn a quiet Western town dusted with silver frost, a desperate woman races against time to save her husband from his recurring shadows of despair and attempts on his own life, revea…
Level B2ClassicsStories of Red HanrahanOn Samhain Eve, Red Hanrahan, a fiery-haired schoolmaster, sets out on a urgent journey to reunite with his sweetheart Mary Lavelle, whose mother has just died and whose future han…
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.