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 C1MysteryEagles of the Sky; Or, With Jack Ralston Along the Air LanesTwo daring aviators, Jack Ralston and Gabe Perkiser, are tasked by the Secret Service to dismantle a cunning smuggling ring along Florida’s Gulf Coast, using their wits and a versa…
Level C1MysteryDr. Mabuse, master of mysteryIn a high-stakes gambling club, a mysterious elderly gentleman’s uncanny influence traps a wealthy heir in a web of losses and intrigue, where every move feels controlled by an uns…
Level C1MysteryDorothy's Double. Volume 2 (of 3)A young woman faces suspicion and mystery when a series of events involving stolen jewels, secret orders, and veiled identities entangles her family and trusted friends in a tense…
Level C1MysteryDoors of the NightIn the opulent world of a wealthy philanthropist, Billy Kane serves as trusted secretary, guarding his employer’s fortune and secrets.
Level C1MysteryDilemmas of Pride, (Vol 3 of 3)In a web of deceit and ambition, a ruthless solicitor and his cunning accomplice scheme to secure a noble inheritance by framing an innocent man for a grisly murder.
Level C1MysteryDiana of Kara-KaraAn orphan with a mysterious past and a sizable fortune draws the attention of two very different lawyers, revealing secrets of love, suspicion, and a deadly incident that haunts he…
Level C1MysteryDevlin the BarberIn the heart of London, a struggling man becomes entwined with the Melladew family and an unfathomable being who unravels a chilling mystery that has gripped the city.
Level C1MysteryDevil's DiceA restless Londoner drifts into a chance encounter with a mysterious English woman while seeking escape in the Pyrenees, sparking a bittersweet tale of secret sorrows, fleeting rom…
Level C1MysteryDecember LoveIn autumn London, a Foreign Office man learns of Lady Sellingworth, a once-glorious beauty who mysteriously vanished from society after her priceless jewels were stolen in Paris—an…
Level C1MysteryDeath, the Knight, and the Lady: A Ghost StoryA friend summons you to a remote Yorkshire estate to oversee the mysterious burial of Sir Gerald Wilder, a man who seems both alive and spectral, shrouded in secrets and sorrow.
Level C1MysteryDead Men Tell No TalesA young woman with a mysterious past embarks on a long sea voyage back to England, accompanied by a noble step-father and a motley crew of passengers, each carrying their own secre…
Level C1MysteryDead Man's RockHaunted by a cryptic will and a family legacy tied to a legendary gem, a man unravels dark secrets from his grandfather's mysterious past, smuggling tales, and a vanished fortune.
Level C1MysteryDark HollowWhen a mysterious woman breaches the long-locked gates of Judge Ostrander’s secluded estate, the quiet town of Shelby stirs with curiosity and suspicion, uncovering secrets guarded…
Level C1MysteryDangerous Dilemmas: Startling but TrueAt a luxurious European spa, a gambler's luck leads to unexpected perils as he and a companion stray into a forest maze, only to find themselves trapped in a sinking morass with da…
Level C1MysteryDanger! and Other StoriesA small European navy captain reveals how England’s mighty fleet is rendered powerless when a hidden threat exploits its overlooked vulnerabilities, forcing a nation to confront th…
Level C1MysteryCynthia Wakeham's MoneyTwo old friends reunite in a quiet village where a promising lawyer and a weary physician confront past ties and hidden tensions.
Level C1MysteryCupboard Love: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 5.In a quiet farm living-room, a retired policeman probes the mysterious theft of a gold brooch, uncovering hidden tensions and secrets among the household.
Level C1MysteryCount Zarka: A RomanceA daring agent is tasked with unraveling the mysterious and politically charged disappearance of Prince Roel of Rapsberg, whose vast territory threatens a powerful empire’s ambitio…
Level C1MysteryConfessions of a ThugIn the shadowy jungles of India, a hidden network of Thugs thrives, committing unspeakable crimes while eluding detection.
Level C1MysteryCodeA mysterious man named Drake boards a decrepit ship bound for Montreal, navigating a secretive world where identities blur and survival depends on silence and swift swimming.
Level C1MysteryClubfoot the Avenger: Being some further adventures of Desmond Oakwood, of the Secret ServiceWhen the notorious German agent known as "The Man with the Club Foot" resurfaces in England, retired Secret Service brothers Desmond and Francis Okewood are drawn back into a deadl…
Level C1MysteryCleek: the Man of the Forty FacesA daring man known as Hamilton Cleek is pursued through London's bustling streets, but his capture is no ordinary arrest—it's part of a staged spectacle blending mystery and theatr…
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 9A young lady's tragic fate unfolds through a series of poignant letters revealing silent devotion, despair, and final requests for peace and forgiveness.
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 8Trapped in a web of deceit and family intrigue, Clarissa Harlowe corresponds with allies and adversaries alike, revealing secrets and navigating threats that test her virtue and re…
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 7A young lady endures harrowing imprisonment and relentless schemes from a ruthless libertine, as allies and adversaries vie to sway her fate.
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 6A cunning rake manipulates and schemes to win over a virtuous young lady, but her steadfast innocence and noble spirit spark a gripping battle of wills filled with deception, heart…
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 5A young lady navigates complex emotions and dangerous intrigues as she becomes entangled with Lovelace, whose cunning plots and shifting affections threaten her safety and heart.
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 4A young lady navigates complex social intrigues and unsettling proposals while resisting the manipulations of a persistent suitor and his scheming companions.
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 3Caught in a dangerous game of manipulation and deception, a young woman wrestles with her captor’s cunning schemes and her own desperate desire for freedom.
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 2Trapped in a web of family pride and cruelty, a young woman battles relentless persecution from her brother and manipulative suitors while seeking refuge and justice through a seri…
Level C1MysteryClarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1Two young ladies exchange letters revealing their virtuous friendship amid complex family intrigues, while two gentlemen plot with cunning and conflicting morals.
Level C1MysteryClara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)Passion and deception intertwine when a man, consumed by love, assumes his brother’s identity to win the heart of his beloved Lily, igniting a tale of intense emotion, dark secrets…
Level C1MysteryClara Vaughan, Volume 2 (of 3)Haunted by her father’s murder, a determined woman joins a daring night stakeout to confront the elusive killer.
Level C1MysteryClara Vaughan, Volume 1 (of 3)A young girl with a mysterious childhood faces strange health episodes that worry her loving parents and lead to a pivotal meeting with a wise old physician.
Level C1MysteryCity Crimes; Or, Life in New York and BostonA wealthy young gentleman in New York resolves to abandon shallow friendships and dedicate his fortune to aiding the city's poorest and most desperate.
Level C1MysteryChildren of the WhirlwindIn a grimy New York street, the enigmatic Duchess’s pawnshop hides tangled secrets as young Maggie Carlisle and Larry Brainard’s lives intertwine, setting the stage for a turbulent…
Level C1MysteryCheckmateAmid the shadowed grandeur of Mortlake Hall, a mysterious figure named Longcluse watches a gathering where whispered talk of a brutal murder stirs unease.
Level C1MysteryChangeling, and Other StoriesIn a drab courtroom, Anna Janssen faces murder charges amid a haze of doubt and mystery.
Level C1MysteryCecilia de NoëlIn a grand house where science and skepticism reign, a sudden eerie howl disrupts a dinner gathering, sparking whispers of a ghostly presence.
Level C1MysteryCaught in the NetIn the bitter cold of a harsh Paris winter, delicate Rose clings to hope amid the squalor of the Hotel de Perou, where secrets and hardship intertwine.
Level C1MysteryCarnacki, the Ghost FinderA seasoned investigator accepts a chilling case involving a haunted room where eerie door slams and torn bedclothes defy explanation.
Level C1MysteryCaptain ShannonA shadowy figure known only as “Captain Shannon” orchestrates a chilling spree of brutal crimes across England and Ireland, leaving behind a trail of terror and unanswered question…
Level C1MysteryCaptain Rogers: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 7.A worn stranger arrives at a riverside tavern, confronting the stern innkeeper with a chilling familiarity and a pistol drawn.
Level C1MysteryBy foul meansAt a Piccadilly restaurant, an artist reveals a haunting tale of love, betrayal, and murder involving Hermione Rodenberg, the richest and most tragic woman in England.
Level C1MysteryBy Wit of WomanA disgraced colonel, wrongly accused of murder and imprisoned for years, leaves a secret legacy to his daughter Christabel—challenging her to uncover the truth and restore their fa…
Level C1MysteryBulldog CarneyIn the rough frontier town of Edmonton, a mysterious rider known as Bulldog Carney ignites tension and intrigue as he confronts lawmen and outlaws alike, setting the stage for a gr…
Level C1MysteryBuffalo Bill's ruseIn a dusty frontier town, the fierce and relentless Pizen Kate storms in, hunting down the husband who fled her, stirring up trouble and drawing curious onlookers into a tale of wi…
Level C1MysteryBlind LoveIn 1881 Ireland, a secretive banker sends his head clerk on a mysterious errand involving a cryptic object at a milestone, setting off a tense tale of intrigue, secrecy, and unexpe…
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.