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 FictionFrank Reade, Jr., with his new steam man in Mexico: or, hot work among the greasersWhen a letter arrives from Mexico revealing the disappearance of Frank Reade Jr.
Level B2MysteryFrank Reade, Jr., with his new steam horse in the great American desert: or, The sandy trail of deathIn the wild West, a brilliant inventor sets out on a daring journey aboard his revolutionary Steam Horse, a mechanical marvel built to brave the harsh desert.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., and his new steam man; or, the young inventor's trip to the far westA young inventor challenges his father’s legendary Steam Man by creating an even more remarkable machine, embarking on a secret project that promises thrilling adventures across th…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., and His Electric Ice Ship; or, Driven Adrift in the Frozen Sky.When seventeen-year-old Walter Grey is drugged and kidnapped under mysterious orders, a daring rescue attempt plunges him into a perilous adventure aboard a whaling ship bound for…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Man in Central AmericaAn ingenious inventor faces a daring rescue mission in the perilous jungles of Central America, armed with his incredible Steam Man to save a lost friend and uncover a legendary tr…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr., Fighting the Terror of the CoastA man races against time to find a young inventor who has just launched his revolutionary flying machine, hoping to enlist his help to save a child from a deadly threat known as th…
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade, Jr.'s Search for the Silver Whale: Or, Under the Ocean in the Electric "Dolphin"An ingenious young inventor builds the "Dolphin," a submarine modeled after a fish, promising to unlock the mysteries of the deep ocean.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade and His Steam HorseA teenage inventor unveils his latest marvel: a steam-powered mechanical horse capable of remarkable speed and endurance.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade Jr.'s Submarine Boat; or, to the North Pole Under the Ice.A young inventor unveils a revolutionary steel submarine designed to reach the North Pole beneath the ice, embarking on a daring underwater expedition with his loyal companions.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade Jr.'s Air Wonder, The "Kite"; Or, A Six Weeks' Flight Over the AndesStranded in the perilous Andes with a treasure beyond imagining, two rivals clash in a deadly struggle fueled by greed and love.
Level B2Science FictionFrank Reade Jr. and His Engine of the Clouds: Or, Chased Around the World in the SkyIn a cold Chicago night, young Joe Crosby escapes captivity to confront his treacherous stepfather, whose greed for Joe’s inheritance threatens his life.
Level C1FantasyFour Winds FarmA boy named Gratian grows up on the wild, windswept Four Winds Farm, where the forces of nature seem alive and mysterious.
Level C1FantasyFour Weird TalesA man caught between the mundane and a hidden realm where time and space blur uncovers ancient memories and secret forces shaping existence.
Level C1FantasyFour Arthurian RomancesJourney to the court of Countess Marie de Champagne, where chivalry, romance, and adventure intertwine in tales of Arthur’s knights—Erec, Yvain, Lancelot, and more—woven with medie…
Level C1Science FictionFoundling on VenusOn a hostile, divided Venus where survival is brutal and hope scarce, a mysterious toddler found abandoned in the mud holds a secret that could change the fate of its fractured col…
Level B2Science FictionFormula for ConquestWhen a brilliant formula promises to speed Venusian evolution and tip the balance in an interplanetary war, a soldier of fortune and a determined professor must navigate treacherou…
Level C1Science FictionForbidden flightA daring crew of young space explorers defies official warnings to embark on a forbidden mission beyond the known universe, risking everything to uncover the mysteries of distant p…
Level B2FantasyFloating Fancies among the Weird and the OccultA young man defies his father's warnings and sets sail from Norway’s icy coast, driven by an insatiable thirst to uncover the mysteries beyond the northern horizon.
Level B2Science FictionFlight Into the UnknownA rookie astronaut faces the terrifying realities of space travel as mysterious creatures and deadly dangers close in on his crew during their mission beyond Saturn.
Level C1FantasyFlaxiusIn an ancient Etruscan festival, young Flaxius, of fairy descent and humble magic, encounters a misunderstood girl whose silent sorrow draws him into a world of wonder and mysticis…
Level C1Science FictionFive Weeks in a Balloon: Or, Journeys and Discoveries in Africa by Three EnglishmenThree Englishmen embark on a daring aerial expedition across Africa in a revolutionary balloon, navigating unknown landscapes and encountering thrilling adventures that challenge t…
Level B2Science FictionFive Thousand Miles Underground; Or, the Mystery of the Centre of the EarthA brilliant professor and two adventurous youths prepare to test a revolutionary airship and submarine on daring quests beneath the ocean and beyond the poles.
Level B2FantasyFive Children and ItFive children move to a country house surrounded by woods and wild gardens, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Level B2Science FictionFirst Stage: MoonA crew returns from the first manned Moon mission, carrying the hopes of a divided Earth eager for unity and glory.
Level C1FantasyFifty years hence: or, What may be in 1943: A prophecy supposed to be based on scientific deductions by an improved graphical methodIn 1892, a young electrician and devoted Mason embarks on a bold quest to predict life fifty years into the future, blending scientific insight with mystical tradition to glimpse w…
Level B2Science FictionFifteen Hundred Miles an HourJourney beyond Earth begins with a mysterious meteorite crash in the Sahara, leading to a daring expedition aboard the spaceship Sirius as explorers venture through space toward Ma…
Level B2Science FictionField TripIn a future where time travel is tightly controlled by strict laws, two travelers become stranded in the 20th century, confronting forbidden emotions and the dangers of breaking th…
Level C1FantasyFar off thingsA celebrated literary figure recalls a transformative vision that transports him from a bustling London banquet to a quiet, mysterious country lane in Wales.
Level B2Science FictionFairyland planetOn a distant planet where a fatherly figure cares for 137 children, the joy of a perfect world is challenged when a young visitor doubts the existence of Santa Claus, sparking ques…
Level B2FantasyFairy dreamsA prince embarks on a quest to find a mysterious flower from his dreams, armed with a magical veil and spear to test its truth and break enchantments.
Level B2FantasyFairy Tales from the German ForestsIn a humble village near the great forest, young Hansi Herzchen, the seventh child, longs for the magic of a Christmas tree despite her family's strict thriftiness.
Level C1FantasyFairy Circles: Tales and Legends of Giants, Dwarfs, Fairies, Water-Sprites, and HobgoblinsIn a land of ancient castles and enchanted forests, a young prince hides a secret love for a humble maiden, weaving a tale of romance and mystery amid whispers of giants, fairies,…
Level B2FantasyFairies AfieldTwo young sisters, orphaned and struggling to survive, tend their beloved garden on the edge of a mysterious forest.
Level C1Science FictionFacing the FlagIn a secluded North Carolina sanitarium, a brilliant yet mentally troubled inventor named Thomas Roch is confined, his genius shadowed by madness.
Level B2FantasyExtract from Captain Stormfield's Visit to HeavenAfter thirty years of cosmic travel, Captain Stormfield races a colossal comet and discovers the vast, wild wonders beyond our solar system, embarking on a fantastical journey that…
Level B2Science FictionEvil Out of OnzarIn a galaxy torn between the Allied Worlds and the Darzent Empire, the orphan system of Onzar seethes under a paranoid leader determined to seize control of vital warp-lines.
Level B2FantasyEverychildA young boy named Everychild faces the giant Fear and embarks on a mysterious journey through enchanted realms, encountering legendary figures like Cinderella and the Sleeping Beau…
Level B2FantasyEva's Adventures in Shadow-LandA curious girl’s quiet afternoon by a pond turns magical when a talking toad beckons her into a mysterious shadow-land beneath the water’s surface, where enchanted moons and strang…
Level B2Science FictionEscape From PlutoExiled to Pluto’s frozen wasteland for his tyrannical ambitions, Marcius Kemble plots a fiery comeback while mysterious native beings monitor his every move—setting the stage for a…
Level C1FantasyEric BrighteyesIn a world shaped by fierce family feuds and heroic deeds, Eric Brighteyes, a warrior of Northern stock, navigates a saga of honor, love, and supernatural intrigue rooted in ancien…
Level C1FantasyErewhon Revisited Twenty Years Later, Both by the Original Discoverer of the Country and by His SonTwenty years after a daring balloon escape shakes Erewhon’s society, a new religion emerges around the miraculous event, challenging old beliefs and igniting profound cultural uphe…
Level B2Science FictionEquation of DoomStranded on the harsh planet Irwadi after its government seizes control of interstellar transfers, pilot Jason Ramsey must navigate alien hostility and uncertain futures amid polit…
Level C1Science FictionEqualityA man from 1887 awakens in the year 2000 to find a society transformed by equality, where private wealth has vanished and all work serves the common good.
Level C1Science FictionEly's Automatic HousemaidFed up with unreliable cooks, a man invests in Harrison Ely’s groundbreaking invention: an electric, automatic housemaid designed to revolutionize domestic life.
Level B2Science FictionEgocentric OrbitAlone in orbit, a lone astronaut experiences the awe of weightlessness and the vast panorama of Earth and stars, while grappling with the mysterious fate of his predecessors who re…
Level C1Science FictionEdison's Conquest of MarsEarth lies in ruins after a devastating Martian invasion, but a determined band of scientists, led by the ingenious Thomas Edison, races to uncover the secrets of the alien war mac…
Level B2Science FictionEarth's Maginot LineA daring crew breaks through Earth's deadly ionosphere barrier, venturing into space aboard the New Hope.
Level B2MysteryEarth Is Missing!In a frozen 87th Century Earth, Detective Johnny Steel faces a deadly gang led by a monstrous foe known as The Bear.
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.