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 B2Science FictionThe Celestial HammerlockA space promoter mistakenly lands his troupe of wrestlers on a pacifist asteroid where violence is banned and gym workouts mean gentle flower sniffing.
Level C1FantasyThe Castle of Ehrenstein: Its Lords Spiritual and Temporal; Its Inhabitants Earthly and UnearthlyA young nobleman braves a stormy night to explore the shadowy, abandoned halls of the ancient Castle of Ehrenstein, uncovering eerie secrets and confronting the whispers of its gho…
Level C1MysteryThe Case of SummerfieldIn 1871 San Francisco buzzes with a chilling tale of secret power—could a man wield potassium to set water aflame and threaten the world’s destruction?
Level B2FantasyThe Carved LionsIn a grim industrial town, young Geraldine and her brother Haddie navigate the challenges of modest means and childhood dreams, where the longing for a brighter, fairytale-like cou…
Level B1FantasyThe Candy CountryA spirited girl named Lily is whisked away by a gust of wind to a magical land where trees, houses, and even people are made entirely of candy.
Level C1Science FictionThe Butterfly KissWhen Sykin Supcel, a gifted Earth scientist, is kidnapped by the hostile Sur-Malic, tensions rise within the Solar Navy as secrets behind the elite "Uniques"—enhanced individuals t…
Level B2FantasyThe Brownies and Prince Florimel; Or, Brownieland, Fairyland, and DemonlandIn a kingdom where appearances deceive, a tiny prince with extraordinary sight and magical arrows faces a cunning uncle’s treachery as he fights to claim the throne meant for him.
Level B2FantasyThe Brown Owl: A Fairy StoryIn a vast kingdom ruled by the powerful magician King Intafernes, his daughter Princess Ismara faces a mysterious promise to "cherish the Owl" as her father’s reign nears its end,…
Level C1FantasyThe Bright MessengerA man shaped by a mysterious, passionate past wrestles with his place in the world and the wild, unseen forces that stir within him, as an elusive, otherworldly presence visits him…
Level C1FantasyThe Bride of the SunA determined scientist arrives in bustling Callao, Peru, carrying priceless manuscripts, but his thoughts are captured by Maria-Teresa, a sharp and beautiful businesswoman managing…
Level C1FantasyThe Brick Moon, and Other StoriesA group of ambitious students devise a daring plan to solve the problem of longitude by launching a giant brick satellite into orbit.
Level C1FantasyThe Brass BottleAn architect haunted by lost love and professional frustration discovers an unexpected chance that could change his fate forever—if only he dares to seize it.
Level B2Science FictionThe BrainA scientist is flown with a mysterious cargo of termites to Cephalon, a dazzling, uncharted city in the desert that defies maps and understanding.
Level B1FantasyThe Boy Volunteers with the Submarine FleetTwo American boys embark on a thrilling voyage aboard a submarine during wartime, facing torpedo attacks and the perils of the underwater battlefield.
Level B2FantasyThe Boy Inventor's Wireless TriumphTwo inventive cousins on a remote island spring to life when a mysterious wireless signal crackles through the air, promising thrilling adventures and scientific wonders beyond the…
Level B1FantasyThe Bountiful Lady: Or, How Mary was changed from a very Miserable Little Girl to a very Happy OneA miserable, ragged girl named Mary wakes to find herself in a strange, comfortable place with kind strangers caring for her.
Level B2FantasyThe Book of DragonsA young boy suddenly learns he must become king, stepping from his nursery to a palace filled with ceremony and ancient books.
Level C1FantasyThe Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural HistoryA weary telegraph operator retreats to a secluded cabin, seeking rest and the quiet of nature, only to find himself immersed in strange animal tracks and mysterious visitors that c…
Level C1MysteryThe Bond of BlackIn the heart of London’s glittering nightlife, a man recounts a hidden, sinister world of love, sacrifice, and secret malice that defies belief—revealing a mysterious society lurki…
Level C1Science FictionThe Boats of the "Glen Carrig": Being an account of their Adventures in the Strange places of the Earth, after the foundering of the good ship Glen Carrig through striking upon a hidden rock in the unknown seas to the Southward; as told by John Winterstraw, Gent., to his son James Winterstraw, in the year 1757, and by him committed very properly and legibly to manuscriptStranded in lifeboats after their shipwreck, survivors navigate a desolate, silent land filled with strange, unsettling vegetation and eerie sounds that hint at mysterious dangers…
Level C1Science FictionThe Bluff of the HawkStranded in space after destroying a hidden asteroid stronghold, Hawk Carse and his comrades face a harrowing 30,000-mile journey in fragile space suits to reach safety, battling i…
Level C1FantasyThe Blue Man: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899A mysterious man with unnaturally blue skin quietly inhabits a remote island, blending into its verdant summer landscape while harboring secrets from thirty-five years past.
Level B2Science FictionThe Blue GermAfter a mysterious concussion caused by a seemingly magical black cat, a scientist unlocks a groundbreaking discovery: the transformation of one germ into another.
Level C1Science FictionThe Blindman's World: 1898An astronomy professor obsessed with Mars discovers an extraordinary vision that blurs the line between scientific observation and otherworldly experience, plunging him into an imm…
Level C1Science FictionThe Blind SpotWhen an ethereal woman from another dimension appears, a mysterious city emerges from the depths, blending fantasy and science in an extraordinary tale.
Level B2FantasyThe Betrothal: A Sequel to the Blue Bird; A Fairy Play in Five Acts and Eleven ScenesIn a rustic wood-cutter’s cottage, sixteen-year-old Tytyl awakens to a mysterious visit from the Fairy Bérylune, who challenges him to confront love and destiny in a world where ma…
Level C1FantasyThe Best Psychic StoriesExplore a realm where literature embraces the supernatural, delving into psychic phenomena and the enduring human quest to connect with life beyond death.
Level C2FantasyThe Bells, and Other PoemsImmerse yourself in haunting melodies and vivid visions as bells toll through joy, terror, and despair, weaving a spellbinding tapestry of sound and emotion.
Level B2Science FictionThe Bell ToneA scientist discovers a mysterious bell-like tone emitted by ants, unlocking a powerful communication system that transmits thoughts across distances.
Level B2FantasyThe Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful TalesIn a land where bees swarm freely, a humble man lives entwined with his buzzing companions until a young sorcerer reveals he may be under a magical transformation.
Level C1FantasyThe Beautiful Eyes of YsidriaBeneath the shadow of Tamalpais, a young botanist returns to his California rancho, where superstition and herbal magic collide.
Level C1FantasyThe Beasts of TarzanTarzan faces a new nightmare when his wife’s plea reveals their infant son has been kidnapped, plunging him into a desperate quest to outwit a ruthless enemy recently escaped from…
Level B2Science FictionThe Beast of SpaceIn the shadowy caves of Asteroid Moira, a lone prospector and his telepathic spacehound uncover a mysterious cache of abandoned ships and a chilling signal from a captive girl—spar…
Level C1FantasyThe Battle of DorkingWhen secret annexations ignite war, an unprepared Britain faces devastating invasion and military defeat on its own soil, revealing a nation caught between complacency and urgent p…
Level C1FantasyThe Ball and the CrossSoaring above the earth in a fantastical flying ship, a brilliant inventor and a wise, holy monk embark on a journey that pits scientific skepticism against ancient faith, explorin…
Level C1FantasyThe Automaton Ear, and Other SketchesAn inventor becomes obsessed with capturing all the sounds ever made by creating a device that can hear the inaudible vibrations lingering in the air.
Level B2Science FictionThe Automatic Maid-of-All-Work: A Possible Tale of the Near FutureIn a near-future household, an inventor unveils his creation: an automatic maid-of-all-work powered by electricity, designed to handle every chore from lighting fires to making bre…
Level C1FantasyThe Ashes of a GodIn a world where the god of Love is reduced to ashes by divine wrath, passion proves immortal—its remnants sparking longing and regret that bind even the wisest sage.
Level B2Science FictionThe Animated PinupA pragmatic agent is pulled from his comfortable evening by an anxious illustrator whose mysterious troubles challenge his down-to-earth worldview, thrusting him into a strange, un…
Level B2FantasyThe Animals' RebellionIn a kingdom ruled by a lion king, the animals spark a secret rebellion led by a defiant tiger tired of tyranny.
Level C1FantasyThe Angels of Mons: The Bowmen and Other Legends of the WarAmid the horrors of war, tales emerge of spectral bowmen appearing on the battlefield to protect British soldiers, blending legend and reality in a haunting exploration of faith, c…
Level B2FantasyThe Angel and the Demon: A TaleIn a society shadowed by moral decay, a delicate mother struggles to find the perfect governess for her children, balancing high society demands with the need for true integrity.
Level B2Science FictionThe AmateursIn a future where society mandates assisted death at a prescribed age, a man faces his final days in a luxurious palace offering personalized, theatrical farewells.
Level B2Science FictionThe Alternate PlanA man faces a radical surgery that could strip him of his identity and voice, but he refuses to surrender.
Level C1Science FictionThe Air TrustIn a world where monopolies control every resource, a ruthless billionaire seeks to dominate the very air we breathe, threatening humanity with slavery or violent revolt.
Level C1Science FictionThe Age of Science: A Newspaper of the Twentieth CenturyA groundbreaking invention, the Prospective Telegraph, allows communication across time, revealing a newspaper from the year 1977 that showcases a future where science dominates ev…
Level B2Science FictionThe Affair of the BrainsIn a universe shadowed by cunning space-pirates and deadly rivalries, a fearless adventurer known as Hawk Carse prepares to confront the sinister genius Ku Sui at a perilous rendez…
Level C1FantasyThe Adventures of Prince Lazybones, and Other StoriesIn a lush, enchanted realm, Prince Leo, a carefree youth more drawn to nature’s wonders than royal duties, lives under the watchful yet poetic eye of his father, Prince Morpheus La…
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.