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 B2MysteryThe G-man's son at Porpoise IslandTwo adventurous boys set sail for the mysterious Porpoise Island, only to be shadowed by a suspiciously fast, gray speedboat.
Level C1MysteryThe Further Adventures of Jimmie DaleIn a dim, squalid room, a desperate man hides a roll of banknotes as a relentless detective bursts in, probing for secrets behind torn canvases and whispered lies.
Level B2MysteryThe FrontierTensions rise as the German frontier post near the circus of the Butte-aux-Loups is repeatedly felled, hinting at brewing conflict.
Level C1MysteryThe French powder mysteryA brilliant logician faces a baffling murder within the elite French family, navigating a web of secrets, suspects, and intricate clues.
Level C1MysteryThe Frame UpWhen a mysterious caller promises to reveal the killer of Hermann Banf, District Attorney Wharton finds himself caught in a fierce political battle fraught with corruption, ambitio…
Level B2MysteryThe Four-Pools MysteryA sharp-witted reporter with a knack for uncovering secrets dives into the notorious Patterson-Pratt forgery case, challenging a lawyer drawn reluctantly into a world of sensationa…
Level B2MysteryThe Four-Fingered Glove; Or, The Cost of a LieA wealthy young socialite arrives at detective Nick Carter’s door at dawn, desperate and troubled, setting the stage for a high-stakes mystery entwined with secrets, society scanda…
Level B2MysteryThe Four StragglersFour weary soldiers from different backgrounds find themselves stranded together behind enemy lines during a chaotic battle, forced to confront their shared fate amid the relentles…
Level B2MysteryThe Four Faces: A MysteryA mysterious stranger named Hugesson Gastrell rents a London house without introduction, arousing suspicion and intrigue among his neighbors.
Level C1MysteryThe Four Corners of the WorldA solitary soldier retreats to a mysterious Elizabethan house, his secretive behavior puzzling old acquaintances.
Level B2MysteryThe Four Canadian Highwaymen; Or, The Robbers of Markham SwampIn the shadowy forests near Little York, a charming young woman and a mischievous man meet amid the harvest season, setting the stage for a gripping tale of the notorious Markham S…
Level B2MysteryThe Fortune HunterA charming but impecunious actor navigates New York's working-class society, weaving charm and ambition among its vibrant characters.
Level C1MysteryThe Forsaken Inn: A NovelA weary traveler seeks refuge from a storm near a decaying inn rumored to be haunted, only to uncover unsettling secrets hidden within its walls through a mysterious manuscript lef…
Level B1MysteryThe Forest of MysteryAfter rescuing a mysterious man from a dramatic car crash, two friends are drawn into an unexpected invitation that promises secrets lurking in San Francisco’s shadowy corners.
Level B2MysteryThe Flaming JewelA determined man races through upstate forests and shadowy innkeepers to track a band of international thieves linked to a mysterious Levantine diamond broker.
Level B2MysteryThe Five KnotsIn a grand estate filled with exotic orchids and elegant guests, Beatrice Galloway senses a mysterious presence lurking in the shadows, hinting at secrets beneath the opulent surfa…
Level B2MysteryThe Firm of GirdlestoneIn the shadowy offices of Girdlestone and Co.
Level B2MysteryThe Film of FearA rising motion picture star receives a mysterious letter sealed with a grim death's head, shaking her glamorous world and hinting at dark secrets lurking behind the silver screen'…
Level B2MysteryThe Film MysteryA beloved film star collapses and dies suddenly during a movie shoot in a wealthy banker's library, sparking an urgent investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding h…
Level C1MysteryThe Filigree Ball: Being a full and true account of the solution of the mystery concerning the Jeffrey-Moore affairA determined detective seizes the chance to prove himself by unraveling the tangled mysteries surrounding the infamous Moore house, where a flickering light in an abandoned estate…
Level C1MysteryThe Fever of LifeAt a seaside retreat known as Pinchler's Dockyard, a curious mix of guests seeks healing and respite, each carrying hidden stories beneath their fragile exteriors.
Level C1MysteryThe Fellowship of the FrogA secretive society known as the Frogs spreads terror through the city with a series of violent, unexplained attacks.
Level C1MysteryThe False GodsA determined reporter navigates rival secret societies obsessed with Egyptian mysteries and the reincarnation of a famed theosophist, seeking a sensational scoop amid intrigue, riv…
Level C1MysteryThe False Faces: Further Adventures from the History of the Lone WolfAmid the deadly chaos of No Man's Land, a lone man escapes enemy trenches with crucial intelligence, risking everything to reach his allies.
Level B2MysteryThe Face and the MaskIn the heart of Paris, Lurine’s daily routine and secret strolls bring her into contact with the enigmatic Jean, whose mysterious requests and shadowy charm threaten to unravel her…
Level C1MysteryThe Eye of OsirisA renowned forensic medicine lecturer unravels the baffling disappearance of John Bellingham, an Egyptologist whose vanishing sparks a complex legal and archaeological mystery cent…
Level C2MysteryThe Eye of Istar: A Romance of the Land of No ReturnAmid the looming threat of war in the mysterious city of Omdurman, a devoted servant embarks on a perilous journey to unveil the secrets of the forbidden Land of No Return and conf…
Level C1MysteryThe Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-BurglarAboard a transatlantic steamship, passengers learn that the elusive gentleman-burglar Arsène Lupin is hiding among them, sparking intrigue and suspicion during a five-day voyage fi…
Level B2MysteryThe Exploits of ElaineA relentless master criminal known only by the eerie symbol of a clutching hand terrorizes New York's elite, while a determined reporter seeks the truth behind the mysterious murde…
Level B2MysteryThe Experiences of a Barrister, and Confessions of an AttorneyA trusted shopkeeper's life unravels when a cunning employee's theft and vengeful schemes lead to financial ruin and public disgrace.
Level C1MysteryThe Evil ShepherdA celebrated barrister is confronted by a mysterious young woman who reveals chilling secrets about the man he just defended, forcing him to face the dark consequences of his court…
Level C1MysteryThe Evil GuestIn the gloomy estate of Gray Forest, a proud but impoverished nobleman broods over lost status and bitter resentments, while a captivating French governess stirs hidden passions an…
Level B2MysteryThe Evil Genius: A Domestic StoryA high-born naval officer stands accused of scuttling his ship and stealing valuable diamonds, challenging notions of honor and class.
Level B2MysteryThe Escape of Mr. Trimm: His Plight and other PlightsA disgraced bank president, handcuffed and headed to a federal penitentiary, contemplates his fate and the tangled intrigue behind his conviction.
Level C1MysteryThe Entailed Hat; Or, Patty Cannon's TimesIn a small Eastern Shore town, two eccentric men are marked by their distinctive hats—one a worn beaver hat, the other a mysterious century-old steeple crown—unraveling a tale stee…
Level C1MysteryThe End of Her HoneymoonOn their last night in Paris, newlyweds Nancy and artist Jack Dampier embrace the city's vibrant streets, but beneath the honeymoon bliss, an unsettling event at Gare de Lyon hints…
Level B2MysteryThe Eight Strokes of the ClockA restless woman plans a daring escape from her controlling family, enlisting a devoted lover and evading a mysterious prince whose intentions are unclear.
Level B2MysteryThe Ear in the WallA young woman vanishes without a trace, sparking a tense investigation entangled with city corruption, graft, and political power struggles.
Level B2MysteryThe Eagle's eyeAmid secret codes and clandestine wireless messages, a German spy network in America plots deadly sabotage during World War I, with the sinking of the Lusitania as a chilling missi…
Level C1MysteryThe DynamiterIn the smoky confines of a Soho cigar divan, two old friends reunite to unravel a web of political intrigue and explosive crime.
Level C1MysteryThe Dunwich horrorIn a remote Massachusetts village shrouded in decay and ancient dread, eerie stone circles and dark legends hint at sinister forces lurking beyond the natural world.
Level C1MysteryThe DumplingA summer day’s trespass leads a man to a serene lake where an unexpected encounter with a mysterious, enchanting woman in the water sparks a tale of intrigue, romance, and a brewin…
Level C1MysteryThe Duke in the SuburbsIn a quiet London suburb where neighbors keep to themselves, the arrival of an enigmatic Duke upends the orderly lives of Kymott Crescent, drawing together an intriguing cast of ch…
Level C1MysteryThe Duke DecidesAn English ex-cavalry officer, now a struggling clerk in New York, is unexpectedly approached by a mysterious compatriot with a lucrative job offer—setting him on a path from hards…
Level C1MysteryThe Drums of JeopardyIn a fog-shrouded Albany, a mysterious man arrives under the name John Hawksley, pursued relentlessly across continents by an unseen foe.
Level B2MysteryThe Dream DoctorWhen a mysterious note is found on a dying broker whose cause of death baffles doctors, a scientific detective and his companion dive into a perplexing case where appearances decei…
Level B2MysteryThe Draycott murder mysteryOn a stormy night in a remote farmhouse, a man discovers a woman mysteriously dead with a chilling wound to her temple, while a shadowy figure watches unseen from outside.
Level B2MysteryThe Dragon's SecretLeslie and her aunt seek solace in a remote ocean bungalow, finding unexpected peace—but the locked neighboring cottage, Curlew’s Nest, hints at secrets lurking beyond the tranquil…
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.