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 trapAn antique mirror from the Virgin Islands conceals a subtle, eerie force that distorts reality and pulls the curious deeper into its mysterious grip.
Level C1MysteryThe trail of the serpentOn a bleak, rain-soaked November day in the town of Slopperton, the respectable schoolmaster Jabez North faces unsettling thoughts and dark whispers from the weather and his past,…
Level C1MysteryThe three glass eyesA relentless American financier haunts London’s elite, hiding dark secrets behind his polished facade, while a house agent becomes entangled in a web of mystery, danger, and a capt…
Level C1MysteryThe strange countessAn orphaned secretary takes a mysterious post with the enigmatic Countess of Moron, stepping into a world of high society, secrets, and unexpected intrigue.
Level C1MysteryThe strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeA reserved lawyer investigates a sinister door linked to a chilling tale of a ruthless man trampling a child in a quiet London street, unveiling dark secrets lurking beneath the ci…
Level C1MysteryThe story of IvyAt a glamorous weekend party, the captivating Ivy Lexton draws the attention of a wealthy guest, sparking whispers of charm and cunning beneath the surface of high society.
Level C1MysteryThe shooting partyAt just sixteen, a young writer balances family struggles and his emerging talent amid the backdrop of Russian life, weaving humor and humanity into a complex narrative that hints…
Level C1MysteryThe shadow of the WolfTwo men set sail from a quiet cove, their tense conversations hinting at a past steeped in danger and deception.
Level C1MysteryThe secret of Father BrownAn ex-criminal turned family man hosts his old friend, a sharp-witted priest, at his Spanish estate, where mysterious visitors and intriguing neighbors stir secrets beneath the ser…
Level C1MysteryThe scarab murder caseWhen a philanthropist is found murdered in an Egyptologist's private museum with a rare blue scarab beside him, a sharp detective must unravel the psychological clues hidden in thi…
Level C1MysteryThe room in the tower, and other storiesStrange dreams intersect with eerie reality in a mysterious tower room, where unseen forces stir unsettling encounters.
Level C1MysteryThe red-hot dollar, and other stories from the Black CatA hatless man races against time and fate to catch a departing train, only to stumble and lose his chance—yet the pursuit reveals a tense encounter with a desperate young woman and…
Level C1MysteryThe perfume of the lady in blackIn the shadow of a somber church, the quiet wedding of Robert Darzac and Mathilde Stangerson stirs uneasy memories of a deadly mystery and a vanished enemy.
Level C1MysteryThe new northlandA sharp-witted office boy uncovers a thrilling Arctic exploration mystery hidden beneath the city’s surface, revealing secrets that challenge justice and ambition.
Level C1MysteryThe mystery roadIn a quiet French village, Myrtile’s peaceful life is shadowed by an unsettling visit from neighbors whose intentions stir fear beneath the surface.
Level C1MysteryThe mystery of CloomberA law student compiles firsthand accounts and manuscripts to unravel the mysterious past of Major-General Heatherstone, weaving together tales from war-torn Afghanistan and eerie e…
Level C1MysteryThe mystery of Angelina FroodA young doctor is drawn into a mysterious late-night call to tend a shocked woman named Mrs.
Level C1MysteryThe moving fingerA nurse tends to two patients in a household shadowed by illness and secrets: a paralyzed man and Bruce Brainard, a civil engineer recently returned from South America with a myste…
Level C1MysteryThe mis-rule of threeIn a shabby London lodging-house, three struggling friends—a clerk, a writer, and a painter—navigate cramped quarters, artistic pretensions, and simmering tensions as they confront…
Level C1MysteryThe melody of deathUnder cover of night, skilled burglars attempt a daring diamond heist in a seemingly secure office, but an unexpected third presence threatens to unravel their carefully laid plans…
Level C1MysteryThe man in the darkIn a fog-shrouded London, Kinloch drifts through crowded streets and silent embankments, drawn into a mysterious sequence of events that will alter his life.![Cover of The man in grey: Being episodes of the Chovan [i.e. Chouan] conspiracies in Normandy during the First Empire. by Emmuska Orczy](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafd3mla8p2c739itev0.webp)
Level C1MysteryThe man in grey: Being episodes of the Chovan [i.e. Chouan] conspiracies in Normandy during the First Empire.Amid the shadowy intrigues of Napoleonic France, a mysterious figure known only as the Man in Grey hunts down the deadly Chouan rebels terrorizing Normandy.
Level C1MysteryThe magic casketIn the shadowy streets of Chelsea, a mysterious handbag found in a locked church leads to a tangled web of secrets involving a rare museum artifact and unexpected visitors.
Level C1MysteryThe lion's shareA young Southern man’s reckless investments lead to tragedy amid a crashing stock market, drawing a colonel into a web of grief, anger, and Wall Street intrigue.
Level C1MysteryThe lazy detectiveA famously lazy detective faces pressure to clean up his crime-ridden division or lose his job, all while a suave, untouchable crime lord pulls strings from the shadows.
Level C1MysteryThe innocence of Father BrownA celebrated detective pursues the elusive master criminal Flambeau, whose audacious disguises and cunning crimes baffle Europe’s best.
Level C1MysteryThe house without a keyIn the sun-drenched beauty of Hawaii, old family grudges simmer beneath the idyllic surface as Miss Minerva Winterslip navigates the clash between tradition and tropical temptation…
Level C1MysteryThe horror at Red HookA troubled detective retreats to a quiet village to recover from a traumatic case involving deadly slum raids, only to uncover dark, eldritch horrors lurking beneath the surface of…
Level C1MysteryThe hollow lensA skilled safecracker is drawn into a high-stakes heist when a mysterious woman claiming to be the daughter of a notorious criminal proposes a daring plan to break into a heavily g…
Level C1MysteryThe haunted houseIn the quiet English county of Sussex stands Rackham, a centuries-old squire’s house steeped in history and inhabited by the scholarly widower Henry Maple and his son.
Level C1MysteryThe great Skene mysteryIn the fog-shrouded streets of Clapham, a faded former dancer known as Mother Carey schemes to ensnare a young man, setting the stage for a tangled mystery of greed, secrets, and d…
Level C1MysteryThe girl from Scotland YardIn the shadowed elegance of Berkeley Square, Lady Raytham awaits unsettling news while navigating high society's secrets and unexpected visitors, including the formidable Princess…
Level C1MysteryThe genuine tryal of Dr. Nosmoth, a physician in PekinIn imperial China, where physicians face strict exams and deadly consequences for failure, a renowned doctor is put on trial after treating a powerful Mandarin.
Level C1MysteryThe gamblersTwo women escape the dull confines of London society for a year of glamour and intrigue across Europe, from Paris to Monte Carlo and Rome.
Level C1MysteryThe fate of FenellaAt a bustling English spa town, Fenella’s carefree drives and spirited presence stir curiosity and rivalry, setting the stage for a mysterious tale woven by unexpected encounters a…
Level C1MysteryThe eyes of Max CarradosA blind detective with extraordinary senses tackles baffling mysteries alongside his private inquiry friend.
Level C1MysteryThe emerald of Catherine the GreatA sturdy English captain, William Bones, becomes entwined with the Russian court and its secrets during his Baltic voyages, bearing home an extraordinary emerald from Catherine the…
Level C1MysteryThe duplicate deathAn enigmatic lord retreats to his ancestral manor, immersed in scientific pursuits and detached from society, until a royal command disrupts his solitude—unveiling secrets that cha…
Level C1MysteryThe curse of the ReckavilesAmidst the roaring chaos of a fiercely contested hospital rugby final, Sefton’s triumph is shattered by a sudden, desperate telegram: his father is dying.
Level C1MysteryThe crime codeA privileged Londoner’s life unravels overnight, plunging him into a desperate fight to prove his innocence and evade capture.
Level C1MysteryThe copper boxCaught in a relentless April snowstorm on the wild Border country, a determined traveler stumbles upon a mysterious, fortress-like house with no windows below and an ominous door.
Level C1MysteryThe clue of the silver keyAt exclusive parties hosted by the enigmatic and wealthy Mr.
Level C1MysteryThe clue of the new pinIn the shadows of a bustling theater district, a mysterious Chinese restaurant hides secrets behind its gilded doors and discreet private rooms.
Level C1MysteryThe club of masksA confidential assistant to a renowned poison expert is torn between loyalty and duty when a mysterious phone call summons them to a masked dance where a dancer lies dead—poisoned.
Level C1MysteryThe cloven footA troubled heir journeys through a snowbound Devonshire night to claim his dying kinsman’s fortune, only to confront the mysterious young woman who stands between him and the inher…
Level C1MysteryThe blue scarabA mysterious fire leads to the theft of a seemingly worthless deed-box, but the return of its contents—minus a blue scarab—along with a cryptic hieroglyphic seal, draws a sharp-min…
Level C1MysteryThe black cat, vol. I, no. 3, December 1895On Melbourne Cup Day, a stranger arrives too late for the races but finds himself drawn into a world of dazzling fashion, high stakes, and whispered secrets at the Victoria Club.
Level C1MysteryThe barge of haunted livesA solitary hunter’s quiet day in the marsh is interrupted when a mysterious seaplane lands nearby, followed by the sudden appearance of a stranger with urgent questions—setting the…
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.