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 Purple FernIn a snow-covered Essex town just before Christmas, a distinguished doctor arrives under mysterious watch by a shadowy figure in grey.
Level C1MysteryThe Purcell Papers — Volume 2A young countess recounts a haunting family saga shadowed by suspicion and scandal after her uncle’s mysterious death at an Irish estate.
Level C1MysteryThe Purcell Papers — Volume 1Explore the mysterious legacy of a distinguished Huguenot family through evocative memoirs and poetic reflections, weaving history, personal tales, and haunting intrigue in eightee…
Level C1MysteryThe ProfiteersAt a high-society garden party, two stockbrokers unravel the mystery behind British and Imperial Granaries' suspicious wheat cornering, hinting at a web of financial intrigue and p…
Level C1MysteryThe Problem of 'Edwin Drood': A Study in the Methods of DickensDelve into a meticulous investigation of Dickens’s unfinished mystery, examining manuscripts, external testimonies, and theories to unravel the fate of Edwin Drood and the true ide…
Level C1MysteryThe Primadonna: A Sequel to "Fair Margaret"A celebrated soprano's haunting performance is shattered by a sudden explosion during a grand opera, plunging the audience into chaos and suspicion.
Level C1MysteryThe Power-HouseIn early 20th-century London, a witty barrister finds himself drawn into a thrilling pursuit involving mysterious figures and secret schemes, all unfolding from the heart of Parlia…
Level C1MysteryThe Postmaster's DaughterIn the tranquil English village of Steynholme, a young man’s peaceful mornings are shadowed by an unsettling mystery lurking behind an old farmhouse window, stirring fears and secr…
Level C1MysteryThe Port of Missing MenIn a web of secret missions and shadowy diplomacy, a young man using the alias John Armitage navigates danger and intrigue in early 20th-century Europe, where events are brewing th…
Level C1MysteryThe Pointing Man: A Burmese MysteryIn the bustling heart of Mangadone, a cosmopolitan Burmese port, secrets stir beneath colorful bazaars and crowded streets.
Level C1MysteryThe Pit Town Coronet: A Family Mystery, Volume 3 (of 3)Seventeen years after a sudden health crisis, Reginald Haggard and his family settle into Walls End Castle under the watchful eye of Lord Pit Town, navigating aristocratic duties,…
Level C1MysteryThe Pit Town Coronet: A Family Mystery, Volume 2 (of 3)In a secluded Swiss villa overlooking a mysteriously blue lake, Georgie Haggard leads a quiet life shadowed by distant letters from her husband in Mexico—until a hidden family secr…
Level C1MysteryThe Pink ShopIn a discreet pink shop nestled in a forgotten Kensington lane, Madame Coralie offers society’s aging women a tantalizing secret: the illusion of youth restored through mysterious…
Level C1MysteryThe Piccadilly Puzzle: A Mysterious StoryAmid a dazzling London ball thick with fog and scandal, a disenchanted traveler returns to uncover the tangled passions and secrets of high society, where beauty, rivalry, and intr…
Level C1MysteryThe Phantom 'Rickshaw, and Other Ghost StoriesIn colonial India, a man plagued by mysterious visions and relentless torment recounts a haunting tale that blurs the line between fevered delusion and supernatural horror, challen…
Level C1MysteryThe Pawns CountIn wartime London, loyalties clash as a diverse group of expatriates and soldiers navigate intrigue, suspicion, and shifting alliances.
Level C1MysteryThe Pauper of Park LaneIn a bustling London drapery house, Marion Rolfe, a refined yet mysterious shop assistant, navigates secretive meetings and hidden connections, while her brother abruptly departs f…
Level C1MysteryThe Paternoster RubyA tense mystery unfolds as the sudden death of grain trader Felix Page draws a detective into a shadowy world of high-stakes deals and hidden secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Passenger from CalaisA nearly empty luxury train awaits a lone passenger bound for Lucerne, but the arrival of a mysterious woman and her maid, carrying a secret treasure, turns the journey into a tens…
Level C1MysteryThe Parenticide ClubA man stands trial for the brutal murder of his mother, but the shocking tale he reveals involves secret societies, family betrayals, and deadly schemes that blur the lines between…
Level C1MysteryThe Parasite: A StoryA rational physiologist confronts his skepticism when invited to witness mysterious psychic experiments, challenging his strict reliance on science and reason as unseen forces begi…
Level C1MysteryThe Paradise MysteryIn the serene cathedral town of Wrychester, a distinguished doctor and two spirited siblings enjoy a peaceful morning—yet beneath the old stone and blooming gardens, an ancient mys…
Level C1MysteryThe Paliser caseWhen Monty Paliser, heir to a storied New York dynasty, is found murdered, the city buzzes with scandal and suspicion.
Level C1MysteryThe Pagan's CupIn a remote English village resistant to outsiders, a newcomer seeks peace but finds suspicion and secrets lurking beneath its tranquil surface.
Level C1MysteryThe Pagan MadonnaIn the bustling streets of Shanghai, a mysterious encounter haunts Ling Foo, a shrewd merchant caught in a web of chance and intrigue.
Level C1MysteryThe Orange-Yellow DiamondIn the bleak streets of Paddington, a struggling young writer faces hunger and debt, forced to pawn his cherished watch to settle his landlady’s pressing rent demands.
Level C1MysteryThe Opal SerpentA rebellious young writer breaks free from his oppressive family to make his mark in London, determined to forge a new life on his own terms amid bitter familial conflict and high…
Level C1MysteryThe Old Stone House and Other StoriesA chance encounter with an eerie, unfinished stone house in a quiet New York village sparks a chilling mystery.
Level C1MysteryThe Old Man in the CornerA pale, timid man challenges a journalist’s skepticism by claiming no crime is truly mysterious when intelligence is applied, sparking a riveting exploration of the baffling Fenchu…
Level C1MysteryThe Oakdale AffairUnder cover of night, a young burglar with uncanny knowledge of the Prim household sneaks into a wealthy Oakdale home, targeting a hidden safe in the daughter’s room—only to be sta…
Level C1MysteryThe Notting Hill MysteryA private investigator delves into a baffling case of sudden death and multiple life insurance policies, uncovering suspicious circumstances and hidden secrets surrounding Madame R…
Level C1MysteryThe Notorious Impostor (1692); Diego Redivivus (1692)A notorious criminal’s tangled web of deception unravels in a gripping narrative blending fact and fiction, revealing the life and exploits of William Morrell.
Level C1MysteryThe Nine of Hearts: A NovelAmidst a gripping murder trial, Edward Layton refuses legal counsel, determined to defend himself against the charge of poisoning his wife.
Level C1MysteryThe New TenantAt the tranquil Thurwell Court, a serene morning conceals dark secrets as a mysterious new tenant arrives, sparking suspicions and unearthing deadly rivalries.
Level C1MysteryThe NecromancersIn a world where piety and mystery collide, a young woman unravels the tragic story of Laurie Baxter and the girl he lost, confronting secrets that challenge faith and society’s bo…
Level C1MysteryThe Nebuly CoatAn architect is sent to oversee the restoration of the majestic but troubled Cullerne Minster, where financial strain and hidden dangers threaten the ancient church’s future.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Yellow RoomAn attempted murder in a locked room baffles the police and captivates Paris, as a young reporter, Joseph Rouletabille, tackles the mysterious case surrounding the "Yellow Room" wh…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the SeaA visitor to Cruden Bay encounters a mysterious old woman whose eerie insight hints at dark secrets tied to a tragic drowning.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the LocksIn the fading river town of Davy's Bend, a mysterious stranger arrives on a dark, rainy night, bringing unsettling packages and impatience that stir the town’s shadows and secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Hidden RoomCalled urgently to aid Ruth, a man haunted by lost love races through a chilling October night toward a mysterious crisis involving gambling, danger, and dark secrets threatening t…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Four FingersIn the elegant Great Empire Hotel, a mysterious American multi-millionaire stirs whispers while a restless adventurer and a keen barrister find their quiet dinner interrupted by a…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the DownsCaught in a fierce storm on a lonely cliff road, Harry Marsland must seek shelter for himself and his injured horse at a remote farmhouse hidden in the darkness—where unexpected se…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Clasped Hands: A NovelTwo artists with contrasting temperaments navigate London's shadowy foreign eateries, where dangerous conspirators lurk and art conceals deeper intrigues.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of a Turkish BathIn a lavish English winter resort’s Turkish Baths, a group of women with mysterious ailments gather, their lives intertwined with secrets, luxury, and intrigue.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of a Hansom CabWhen a mysterious murder occurs in a late-night hansom cab, a young writer’s debut novel plunges into the shadowy slums of Melbourne, weaving a gripping detective story filled with…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of The BarrancaIn the vibrant heart of Mexico, two travelers encounter a captivating young woman and her fierce wolfhound amid a bustling train station.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of Suicide PlaceA chance encounter on a transatlantic voyage sparks a flirtation between society beauty Maybelle Maury and the charming St.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of OrcivalAt dawn near the Seine, two poachers discover a grisly scene—a woman's body in the Count de Tremorel's park—pulling them into a web of suspicion and secrets in the quiet village of…
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.