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 C1MysteryThe Mikado JewelIn a dilapidated Bayswater mansion known as The Home of Art, young aspiring artists gather under the care of a kind landlady, while a mysterious mission unfolds one foggy night whe…
Level C1MysteryThe Midnight Passenger : A NovelA cautious business manager carries a heavy secret in a bustling city, yearning for freedom beyond the relentless grind.
Level C1MysteryThe Middle of ThingsA young gentleman and his keen aunt share a passion for crime novels, but their differing views on reality spark intrigue as they explore mysteries that blur the line between ficti…
Level C1MysteryThe Medici BootsAn ancient pair of amethyst-adorned boots, steeped in dark history and cursed by the Church, resurfaces after decades locked away—posing a deadly mystery for the heirs who must dec…
Level C1MysteryThe Mating of LydiaIn a gloomy, cluttered Georgian house, old tensions rise as a reluctant family prepares to welcome a mysterious foreign mistress and her young child, stirring suspicion and unease.
Level C1MysteryThe Master of the CeremoniesIn the tranquil seaside town of Saltinville, the impeccably kept house of Stuart Denville hides secrets beneath its pristine surface, while a delicate window garden frames the enig…
Level C1MysteryThe Master of Greylands: A NovelIn the bustling market-town of Stilborough, a powerful banker faces a desperate crisis as the ledgers reveal troubling secrets that threaten to unravel his empire.
Level C1MysteryThe Master MummerAn aspiring writer struggles to break free from superficial tales and capture the raw truth of life, while a skeptical friend warns him of the cost.
Level C1MysteryThe Masked BridalA masked bridal ceremony turns unexpectedly real when the reluctant bride and groom reveal hidden emotions and identities, sparking mystery and suspense among the guests.
Level C1MysteryThe Mark of CainIn a smoky London club, a restless host wrestles with his sense of duty and isolation, while his friend—a worldly doctor—challenges him to find purpose beyond his dry philanthropy.
Level C1MysteryThe Man with a Secret: A NovelIn a desolate fenland under an eerie red sky, Basil Beaumont, a reckless and enigmatic man with a shadowed past, contemplates a haunting secret that could unravel his solitary exis…
Level C1MysteryThe Man of Last Resort; Or, The Clients of Randolph MasonIn an era when laws prove inadequate against cunning criminals, a sharp legal mind exposes the flaws that let masterminds escape justice, challenging society to confront the hidden…
Level C1MysteryThe Man Without a MemoryWounded in a daring aerial battle, a soldier returns home only to discover his beloved Nessa missing in war-torn Germany under mysterious circumstances.
Level C1MysteryThe Man Who Knew Too MuchA sharp-minded critic meets a mysterious fisherman with unusual interests in a secluded, dreamlike valley, where art, science, and politics intertwine—and where the ordinary may su…
Level C1MysteryThe Man Who Drove the CarA mysterious man with a duke’s air commandeers a chauffeur’s prized landaulette, sending him on a puzzling late-night journey through London’s elite circles.
Level C1MysteryThe MalefactorIn a London club, a war correspondent prepares to depart for the Far East, while narrating a gripping tale of friendship, love, and scandal involving two men and a captivating woma…
Level C1MysteryThe Luck of the Vails: A NovelIn a frost-bound Wiltshire village, an ancient estate harbors shadows that flicker with unsettling life, where two friends seek warmth and respite—yet the lingering mysteries of th…
Level C1MysteryThe Loudwater TragedyA chilling mystery unfolds around the unsolved murder of Mr.
Level C1MysteryThe Loudwater MysteryIn a household shadowed by a volatile lord and a calculating lady, tensions simmer beneath polite breakfasts and stolen glances at a charming colonel.
Level C1MysteryThe Lost StradivariusAt Oxford, a talented young violinist and his friend bond over their shared passion for music, discovering haunting compositions from seventeenth-century Rome that soon entwine the…
Level C1MysteryThe Lost Parchment: A Detective StoryTwo old schoolfriends reunite after years apart, one wealthy and content, the other struggling but cunning, setting the stage for a tale of friendship, envy, and hidden depths with…
Level C1MysteryThe Lost Naval PapersIn wartime England, naval correspondent Richard Cary uncovers secret naval papers so valuable they could turn the tide of war if stolen.
Level C1MysteryThe Lost HouseWhen a desperate note is hurled from a window, a London correspondent uncovers a chilling plea for help from a woman held captive in a mysterious house.
Level C1MysteryThe Lost Ambassador; Or, The Search For The Missing DeloraIn the bustling heart of Paris, a mysterious man and a captivating young woman vanish into the night, sparking a tense search filled with hidden emotions and unexpected encounters.
Level C1MysteryThe Loot of Cities: Being the Adventures of a Millionaire in Search of Joy (a Fantasia); and Other StoriesA wealthy financier receives a chilling anonymous warning of a planned robbery at his London mansion the very night he plans to be away—setting the stage for a tense mystery of int…
Level C1MysteryThe Lone Wolf: A MelodramaIn the shadowy maze of a discreet Parisian restaurant, a young boy arrives on a rainy night, embarking on a mysterious journey that will shape his destiny as the elusive Michael La…
Level C1MysteryThe Lone Wolf ReturnsA man haunted by a shadowy past confesses his love to a woman who must choose between her heart and the perilous life he leads.
Level C1MysteryThe Lone Inn: A MysteryA weary traveler seeks refuge at a remote, eerie inn shrouded in secrets and inhabited by enigmatic figures, including an old friend whose unexpected presence deepens the mystery.
Level C1MysteryThe LodgerStruggling servants Robert and Ellen Bunting face desperate poverty in foggy London, their lives shadowed by fading respectability and dwindling hope.
Level C1MysteryThe Lock and Key Library: The Most Interesting Stories of All Nations: North Europe — Russian — Swedish — Danish — HungarianA high-stakes card party in a Russian winter night unravels tales of luck, mystery, and a legendary countess haunted by debts and a mysterious ally.
Level C1MysteryThe Lion's MouseA mysterious young woman boards a train, fleeing a dangerous man and entrusting a stranger with a secret parcel that could save her life.
Level C1MysteryThe Life, Adventures & Piracies of the Famous Captain SingletonA daring sailor’s tale unfolds through vivid, realistic scenes of kidnapping, survival, and adventure as a group of marooned men traverse the perilous African coast, revealing the…
Level C1MysteryThe Legacy of CainInside the walls of an English prison, a governor recounts the chilling case of a woman condemned for the cold-blooded murder of her husband—a tale of passion, premeditation, and t…
Level C1MysteryThe Leavenworth CaseWhen a wealthy merchant is found shot in his library, a young lawyer is drawn into a baffling murder mystery that threatens to unravel family secrets and hidden motives.
Level C1MysteryThe LeakA brilliant scientist known as The Thinking Machine is enlisted to uncover the source of a costly leak in a financier’s office, where secret plans are mysteriously exposed and thwa…
Level C1MysteryThe Law and the LadyOn a gloomy London day, a young bride’s careless signature at her wedding sets off a chain of unsettling events, as family disapproval and mysterious mistakes cloud the start of he…
Level C1MysteryThe Laughing Mill, and Other StoriesAn old mariner’s peaceful farmhouse by the sea sets the stage for mysterious, supernatural tales where the impossible quietly unfolds.
Level C1MysteryThe Late TenantA young Wyoming rancher-turned-writer escapes to London seeking peace and literary success, only to confront the city's noisy chaos and social puzzles.
Level C1MysteryThe Last TenantA contented man faces his wife's restless desire to move from their cozy home, sparking tension between comfort and social ambition.
Level C1MysteryThe Last Stroke: A Detective StoryIn the quiet village of Glenville, a schoolmaster’s unexpected absence on a May morning sparks unease among students and teachers.
Level C1MysteryThe LashIn a sweltering room, seasoned political operatives confront the uneasy truth: their grip on power is slipping, and a relentless campaign is their only defense.
Level C1MysteryThe Lady from Nowhere: A Detective StoryA terrified woman bursts into the quiet London suburb of Grangebury, screaming about a murder in the mysterious Yellow Room.
Level C1MysteryThe Kingdom of the BlindIn a glamorous Ritz Hotel lounge, wounded Captain Ronald Granet returns from the front, reuniting with a circle of intriguing guests whose secrets intertwine with the shadows of wa…
Level C1MysteryThe King of Diamonds: A Tale of Mystery and AdventureIn a grim London tenement, a determined boy faces despair as he cares for his dying mother, navigating poverty and harsh realities with courage and hope.
Level C1MysteryThe Jewel of Seven StarsA mysterious letter summons a barrister at dawn to aid a young woman whose father lies unconscious after a suspected murder attempt, plunging him into a dark and enigmatic world wh…
Level C1MysteryThe Jade GodIn an old house filled with curious artifacts, a seasoned appraiser uncovers the unsettling story of a mysterious death—a man found with a fatal wound, yet no clues to explain the…
Level C1MysteryThe Ivory Gate, a new editionA prominent solicitor discovers a mysterious £720 cheque paid to an unfamiliar name, Edmund Gray, triggering a puzzling lapse in memory.
Level C1MysteryThe Invisible Foe: A Story Adapted from the Play by Walter HackettThree children at Deep Dale reveal a web of wills and secrets: Stephen’s fierce obsession with flight and power, Hugh’s awkward devotion, and Helen’s mysterious invisible playmates…
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.