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 Mystery of ChoiceA tense rivalry unfolds between two passionate entomologists along a Brittany stream, where fishing tactics clash and dark family secrets simmer beneath the surface—especially surr…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of 31 New InnIn a fading London inn, a doctor receives a mysterious summons to tend a peculiar patient whose condition defies explanation, launching him into an extraordinary investigation alon…
Level C1MysteryThe Mysterious Mr. MillerA mysterious foreign stranger arrives at a London boarding-house, concealing his identity and harboring secrets that spark suspicion and curiosity among the guests.
Level C1MysteryThe Mysterious Key and What It OpenedA haunting family prophecy threatens the Trevlyn legacy as Sir Richard faces his final days, while secrets and a mysterious visitor stir dark unrest in their ancient estate.
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of Paris, illustrated with etchings, Vol. 6In the shadowy streets of Paris, a fever-ridden governor clings to power amid whispers of betrayal, hidden watchers, and dark alliances.
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of Paris, illustrated with etchings, Vol. 5In the shadowy streets of Paris, a web of murder, betrayal, and hidden crimes unfolds as Rodolph navigates a house teeming with arrested criminals, mysterious deaths, and dangerous…
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of Paris, illustrated with etchings, Vol. 1In the shadowy, rain-soaked alleys of 1838 Paris, a powerful stranger confronts the city's underworld—where convicts, thieves, and desperate souls collide in a deadly game of survi…
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of London, v. 3/4Two ladies journey toward London on a frosty night, their conversation hinting at secrets and unspoken sorrows, when sudden danger halts their carriage—masked robbers demand contro…
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of London, v. 2/4In the shadowy streets of London, Richard Markham pursues the elusive and dangerous Resurrection Man through dark alleys and notorious haunts like Rats' Castle, risking everything…
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of London, v. 1/4In a city of stark contrasts, where immense wealth shadows desperate poverty, explore the intertwined lives of the privileged and the destitute as crime, vice, and survival play ou…
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of Heron Dyke: A Novel of Incident. Volume 2 (of 3)Winter storms lash the coastal Heron Dyke Hall, where new maids Phemie and Eliza face eerie whispers, ghostly sightings, and the mystery of a vanished servant.
Level C1MysteryThe Mysteries of Heron Dyke: A Novel of Incident. Volume 1 (of 3)A young heir faces the weight of inheritance and his reckless past as his dying uncle warns him of the dangers ahead, setting the stage for secrets, debts, and a struggle for honor…
Level C1MysteryThe Mynns' MysteryA young woman faces unwanted advances from a dangerous suitor eager to claim her inheritance, while her ailing uncle's fate hangs in the balance.
Level C1MysteryThe Murder of DeliciaIn a society where women endure silent sacrifices and men exploit their labor, the tale exposes the bitter realities of marriage among the upper class, revealing a haunting story o…
Level C1MysteryThe Motor PirateA brilliant inventor with a troubled mind turns to crime as the elusive Motor Pirate, leaving myths and mysteries in his wake.
Level C1MysteryThe Moon RockA somber family gathers in a bleak Cornish house after a funeral, where undercurrents of tension and secrets ripple beneath the surface.
Level C1MysteryThe Monomaniac (La bête humaine)Tormented by an uncontrollable urge to murder the women he loves, Jacques Lantier battles his dark monomania amid the perilous world of French railway workers, where violence, pass…
Level C1MysteryThe MissionerA weary lady of Thorpe confronts the unchanging, steady presence of her estate agent, whose calm satisfaction with life contrasts sharply with her restless spirit.
Level C1MysteryThe Millionaire MysteryA weary tramp arrives in a quiet village where whispers of a wealthy man's funeral and an eerie family vault stir intrigue.
Level C1MysteryThe Millionaire BabyA desperate father offers a fortune for the return of his six-year-old daughter, the Millionaire Baby, who vanished without a trace.
Level C1MysteryThe Millbank Case: A Maine Mystery of To-dayA respected Maine lawyer becomes entangled in the complex affairs of a deceased judge's estate, revealing secrets beneath the surface of a small town.
Level C1MysteryThe Mill MysteryA struggling young woman, burdened by loneliness and poverty, finds unexpected hope in the kindness of her soon-to-be-married roommate—just as a mysterious commotion erupts outside…
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…
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.