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 B2HistoricalThe Drummer BoyA young boy wrestles with his family's fears and his own courage as he resolves to join the Civil War as a drummer boy, determined to serve his country despite the dangers and doub…
Level B2RomanceThe Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian MutinyAmidst the looming chaos of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, young ensign Ted Russell grapples with his brother Jim’s unexpected infatuation with a spirited young woman, challenging thei…
Level B2HistoricalThe Diary of a FreshmanA young freshman navigates the challenges of college life, from overprotective parents to the hunt for the perfect room in Cambridge.
Level B2RomanceThe Devil's Own: A Romance of the Black Hawk WarAmid the tense frontier of 1832, a young soldier at a remote fort witnesses the brewing conflict between restless Native tribes and encroaching settlers, where fierce rivalries and…
Level B2HistoricalThe Deliverance: A Romance of the Virginia Tobacco FieldsAmid Virginia's vast tobacco fields, a lawyer returns to Blake Hall, a plantation marked by old rivalries and fresh passions.
Level B2HistoricalThe Daughter of the Chieftain : the Story of an Indian GirlIn the contested Wyoming Valley during the American Revolution, young Alice Ripley finds joy and innocence amid the harsh realities of frontier life and colonial conflict.
Level B2AdventureThe Daughter of Virginia DareA determined group of English colonists sets sail for the mysterious and untamed lands of Virginia, facing betrayal and the unknown as they strive to build a new home amidst danger…
Level B2AdventureThe Dash for Khartoum: A Tale of the Nile ExpeditionAmid the turmoil of the Nile Expedition, two lads raised as brothers face a reckless choice fueled by youthful impulse and secrecy.
Level B2AdventureThe Dare Boys with General GreeneThree young patriots on a scouting mission through the South Carolina wilderness face danger from Cherokee warriors incited by the British.
Level B2AdventureThe Dare Boys of 1776On the historic day the Declaration of Independence is to be signed, two brave brothers face threats and tensions from loyalist youths in a city buzzing with revolutionary fervor.
Level B2AdventureThe Dare Boys in VirginiaIn the warm woods of Virginia, three young patriots—Dick, Tom Dare, and Ben Foster—join a regiment determined to track down the traitor Benedict Arnold and turn the tide of the Rev…
Level B2AdventureThe Dare Boys in VincennesTwo daring brothers navigate war-torn America on secret missions, racing through enemy lines and untamed wilderness to deliver vital messages.
Level B2HistoricalThe Daily Newspaper: The History of Its Production and DistibutionExplore the evolution of printing from the meticulous artistry of early presses to the rapid, affordable production of daily newspapers, revealing the hidden complexities behind th…
Level B2AdventureThe Cruise of the Snowbird: A Story of Arctic AdventureAmid the bleak Highland winter, young laird Allan McGregor contemplates the faded glory of his ancestral castle and the hardships that have stripped his family of wealth and power.
Level B2AdventureThe Cruise of the Sally DA boy trapped under his stepfather's control finds hope in Uncle Ben's offer to escape the harsh life aboard the dilapidated schooner Sally D.
Level B2AdventureThe Cruise of the "Lively Bee"; Or, A Boy's Adventures in the War of 1812As the War of 1812 erupts, a young boy joins the crew of the "Lively Bee," setting sail from New York Harbor amid patriotic fervor and the looming threat of British naval dominance…
Level B2AdventureThe CrossingBorn under the Blue Ridge, a boy raised by a mysterious, taciturn frontiersman learns the rugged skills of the wilderness.
Level B2AdventureThe Cross and the Hammer: A Tale of the Days of the VikingsIn the Viking age's fierce clash between the old gods and the rise of Christianity, young warriors like Vagn and Sigurd navigate loyalty, honor, and the tides of power at King Svei…
Level B2HistoricalThe Crimson Tide: A NovelAmid the chaos of revolution, an American ambulance driver and a devoted companion to a Romanoff princess navigate snowy battlefronts and the fierce spirit of a women's battalion,…
Level B2AdventureThe Courier of the OzarksAmid the brutal guerrilla warfare of 1862 Missouri, a young courier and his loyal dog navigate dangerous rebel forces plotting to ignite a fierce uprising.
Level B2HistoricalThe Countess of Charny; or, The Execution of King Louis XVIIn revolutionary France, the fierce Countess of Charny navigates love, loyalty, and betrayal amidst the looming execution of King Louis XVI.
Level B2HistoricalThe Count of Nideck: adapted from the French of Erckmann-ChartrianSummoned urgently to the remote Castle of Nideck during a harsh winter, Gaston confronts a mysterious family curse afflicting the ailing Count, whose strange malady may only be cur…
Level B2HistoricalThe Corsican LoversIn a Corsican castle steeped in the legacy of vendetta, a young woman defies her brother's demand to marry a man she does not love, challenging the bonds of family duty and a deadl…
Level B2HistoricalThe Corsican BrothersJourney through the rugged Corsican landscape, where ancient vendettas and fierce family loyalties shape every encounter.
Level B2AdventureThe Cornet of Horse: A Tale of Marlborough's WarsIn the shadow of Marlborough’s wars, a young nobleman hones his fencing skills and courtly manners, preparing for a life where courage and grace will be tested on both battlefield…
Level B2AdventureThe Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific OceanThree boys shipwrecked on a remote Pacific island must rely on courage and friendship to survive thrilling adventures in a tropical paradise shaped by nature’s tiny architects—the…
Level B2AdventureThe Convict Ship, Volume 3 (of 3)Trapped aboard a ship overrun by convicts, a small group plans a daring escape using a tiny captain’s boat while navigating the dangerous chaos of mutiny, survival, and shifting po…
Level B2HistoricalThe Convict Ship, Volume 2 (of 3)A runaway boy hides aboard a brutal convict ship bound for Australia, struggling to survive the harsh crew and claustrophobic darkness below deck.
Level B2AdventureThe Continental Dragoon: A Love Story of Philipse Manor-House in 1778Amid the turmoil of 1778’s Revolutionary War, three riders press northward along a perilous Albany post-road, weaving through British-occupied New York.
Level B2Science FictionThe Conquest of America: A Romance of Disaster and Victory, U.S.A., 1921 A.D.As a victorious Germany invades an unprepared America after World War I, cities burn and battles rage from New York to Boston, forcing a desperate fight for survival and patriotism…
Level B2AdventureThe Coming of the White Men: Stories of How Our Country Was DiscoveredTwo curious twins befriend Uncle Sam, a wise storyteller who brings to life the daring adventures and early struggles of those who discovered America, weaving tales of bravery, fre…
Level B2RomanceThe Colonel of the Red HuzzarsAn American officer longs for action beyond dull engineering duties and finds himself drawn into a high-stakes wager involving a mysterious princess and the volatile politics of th…
Level B2HorrorThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 02: In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and CiviliansIn a tense Civil War landscape, a young soldier faces deadly consequences after falling asleep on duty while guarding a critical mountain pass, where the fate of an impending surpr…
Level B2HistoricalThe Cohansey tea-fightAmid a fierce storm, a young girl’s plans to attend a sociable tea-party dissolve, prompting her grandmother to recount an unforgettable tale from 1774 about family, duty, and unex…
Level B2HistoricalThe Children of the New ForestAmidst the turmoil of the English Civil War, four young orphans find refuge and guidance in the wild New Forest, guarded by a loyal forester who teaches them survival and courage a…
Level B2HistoricalThe Children of CupaA family plans a healing summer camping trip to Warner's Hot Springs, nestled in an Indian village soon to be taken from its native inhabitants.
Level B2HistoricalThe Childhood of RomeIn a village beneath the Mountain of Fire, young Marcia weaves baskets amid a community rooted in ancient customs and the legacy of their ancestor Mars.
Level B2AdventureThe Child of the Moat: A Story for Girls. 1557 A.D.In 1557 England, a troubled parish priest confronts eerie churchyard hauntings and bitter village feuds after a dying woman’s curse leaves her child vulnerable.
Level B2AdventureThe Cave of Gold: A Tale of California in '49Two young men ride into the wild, untamed valleys of 1848 California, drawn by terrifying screams and the promise of gold.
Level B2AdventureThe Cave by the Beech Fork: A Story of Kentucky—1815Two young hunters explore the mysterious Beech Fork forest, where autumn’s vibrant colors hide secrets and adventure.
Level B2AdventureThe Campaign of the Jungle; Or, Under Lawton through LuzonAmid scorching jungles and relentless battles, two brothers join General Lawton's daring campaign through Luzon, facing fierce insurgents and treacherous terrain in a fight for vic…
Level B2RomanceThe Call of the East: A Romance of Far FormosaIn a turbulent Far Eastern port during the Franco-Chinese War, a defiant young woman clashes with a charming doctor aboard a ship bound for Formosa.
Level B2AdventureThe Bush Boys: History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his FamilyOn the remote frontier of Southern Africa, Hendrik Von Bloom, a former soldier turned nomadic farmer, navigates the harsh wilderness and tense relations with native tribes, while h…
Level B2HistoricalThe Burgomaster of Stilemonde: A Play in Three ActsAs German forces approach the Belgian town of Stilemonde during World War I, a wounded soldier returns with grave news, exposing divided loyalties within the Burgomaster’s family a…
Level B2HistoricalThe Brontë Family, with special reference to Patrick Branwell Brontë. Vol. 2 of 2Delve into the intimate journey of Charlotte and Emily Brontë as they leave Haworth for Brussels, pursuing education and personal growth amid hopes and hardships.
Level B2AdventureThe Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz: Or, Upholding the Honor of the Stars and StripesFour daring boys spot a suspicious band of riders poised to rob a train near Pachuca, and despite the odds, they devise a bold plan to outwit the bandits and protect innocent passe…
Level B2HistoricalThe Broken RoadA contested road through the treacherous passes of Chiltistan sparks rebellion and danger as British forces struggle to maintain control amid political intrigue, harsh winters, and…
Level B2AdventureThe Brighton Boys with the Submarine FleetTwo Brighton schoolboys answer the urgent call to join Uncle Sam’s submarine fleet, leaving behind campus life for daring underwater missions in the European war.
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.