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 B2MysteryIn the Bishop's CarriageA quick-witted young woman, caught with a stolen watch, escapes an eager pursuer by slipping into the luxurious carriage of a bishop, setting off a daring game of cat and mouse thr…
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 3/3A sinister count and a cold-hearted countess conspire in a shadowy room, unfolding a tense drama of hidden treasures and dark intentions.
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 2/3A young Englishman traveling through post-Napoleonic Europe encounters a mysterious noblewoman veiled in black, whose gratitude and gaze hint at secrets beneath her elegant exterio…
Level C1MysteryIn a Glass Darkly, v. 1/3A mysterious clergyman suffers sudden, inexplicable collapses during his sacred duties, prompting a curious physician to unravel the strange affliction haunting him between his Lon…
Level C1MysteryIn White RaimentA respected London doctor hides a secret as he unravels a series of strange, startling events amid the city's stark contrasts of wealth and poverty.
Level C1MysteryIn SecretAmid the silent tension of a secretive decoding office, a young woman uncovers a mysterious coded letter that could unravel hidden dangers and shift the fate of war.
Level C1MysteryIn Queer StreetIn a boarding-house named The Home of the Muses, a prim landlady upholds old-fashioned ideals while a flamboyant new boarder disrupts the staid atmosphere, setting the stage for my…
Level B2MysteryIn JeopardyA distant cousin’s sudden death draws a Philadelphia lawyer to a secluded Maryland estate, where old family wounds and unexpected inheritances stir secrets and suspicions.
Level C1MysteryIn Her Own RightA devastating financial collapse shatters fortunes and reveals ruthless betrayals among high society’s elite, where friendship is a facade and survival demands sharp wits.
Level B2MysteryIn Friendship's GuiseIn the vibrant streets of 1892 Paris, artist Jack Clare's promise of a joyful day unravels with the sudden disappearance of a wealthy collector, leaving behind a mysterious duplica…
Level C1MysteryIf Sinners Entice TheeIn a quiet English village, Captain Erle Brooker returns from a life of high stakes and shady deals, determined to protect his daughter Liane’s happiness amid gossip and suspicion.
Level B2MysteryI SpyAmid the looming threat of German espionage during World War I, a young British officer grapples with loyalty, love, and the shadows of secret plots that could topple England from…
Level C1MysteryHushed Up! A Mystery of LondonA man lives quietly in a quaint English village, shielding dark secrets tied to a mysterious death masked as natural causes.
Level B1MysteryHunting for hidden goldTwo brothers dream of joining their detective father on a thrilling case involving stolen gold hidden deep in a Montana mining camp.
Level C1MysteryHunted Down: The Detective Stories of Charles DickensIn a life assurance office where faces reveal hidden truths, a shrewd manager observes a mysterious, impeccably dressed stranger whose polished manners mask something sinister.
Level C1MysteryHow Jack Mackenzie won his epaulettesIn the quiet snowfall of a Glasgow Yuletide, young Jack Mackenzie embarks on a journey from peaceful naval life to the brutal realities of war, where courage and skill will earn hi…
Level C1MysteryHis darling sinA young widow inherits a vast fortune and grand estates but finds herself isolated in a world of silent luxury and empty splendor.
Level B2MysteryHis Great AdventureA down-and-out young man wandering Fifth Avenue stumbles upon a mysterious stranger suffering violent seizures in the street.
Level C1MysteryHilda Wade, a Woman with Tenacity of PurposeIn a revolutionary hospital led by the brilliant Professor Sebastian, Hilda Wade pursues nursing not only for science but driven by a deeper purpose.
Level B2MysteryHidden Foes; Or, A Fatal MiscalculationA man is found mysteriously dead in a quiet corridor, with no sign of violence or struggle.
Level B2MysteryHeritage of the seaIn the treacherous fog of Long Island Sound, a rum-runner captain navigates a maze of vessels, racing against danger and suspicion to deliver a secret cargo.
Level C1MysteryHer Royal Highness: A Romance of the Chancelleries of EuropeAmid the exotic splendor of the Nile’s timeless desert, a merry group of English travelers revels in the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
Level C1MysteryHer Majesty's MinisterIn the shadowy world of diplomacy, a British embassy in Paris grapples with a mysterious betrayal that threatens to ignite a devastating European war.
Level C1MysteryHelen Vardon's confessionA woman recalls the moment her peaceful life shattered when she overhears a conversation revealing her father's potential criminal liability, setting her on a path through secrets…
Level C1MysteryHearts and MasksAt a mysterious charity masquerade dance with whimsical playing-card invitations, an impulsive visitor finds himself drawn into an enchanting adventure behind the masks, where wit…
Level B2MysteryHeart to heartOn a perfect spring day, a grand wedding stirs whispers of hidden truths and complicated hearts among Lakeview's social elite.
Level B2MysteryHawaiian Sea Hunt MysteryIn the lush setting of a Hawaiian hotel, a mysterious man silently intrudes, while distant phone calls hint at hidden dangers and secretive plots involving the Brewster family.
Level C1MysteryHavocAs crowned heads convene in a palace shrouded with secrets, a journalist and a spy grapple with ominous whispers of war and political intrigue threatening to engulf Europe.
Level B2MysteryHarry Blount, the Detective; Or, The Martin Mystery SolvedOn a bright May morning in Lancashire, an unexpected letter reveals a long-forgotten childhood engagement between Kate and a mysterious American suitor arriving to claim her.
Level C2MysteryHarryA chance smile at a passion-flower sparks an unexpected love between a strong, handsome soldier and a carefree young woman, setting their lives on an enchanting path of romance and…
Level C1MysteryHand and RingA mysterious murder in a bustling Harlem shop baffles detectives, as suspicion falls on a rough tramp amid a maze of alibis and hidden motives.
Level B2MysteryHal Kenyon DisappearsIn the rugged beauty of Mummy Cañon, a group of spirited Boy Scouts and their eccentric headmaster return from a mountain outing, ready to build a campfire and share stories.
Level B2MysteryGuy GarrickA stolen luxury car leads to a murder mystery that challenges cutting-edge crime science.
Level C1MysteryGuy Deverell, v. 2 of 2A mysterious green chamber haunts the Marlowe estate, its builder shrouded in disapproval and secrets.
Level C1MysteryGuy Deverell, v. 1 of 2At a quaint country inn, a distinguished baronet’s peaceful evening is shattered by the sudden appearance of a striking young stranger, stirring memories and secrets long buried—se…
Level B2MysteryGunman's bluffIn a world where gangsters clash with high society, a poised woman faces a tangled web of love and suspicion involving her fiancé, a charming crook, and a mysterious stranger with…
Level B2MysteryGunman's ReckoningAs a freight train thunders through Jericho Pass, old alliances and rivalries resurface when Lefty Joe, once a gang leader, confronts the dangerous shadow of Donnegan—a man whose n…
Level C1MysteryGuilty BondsA chance midnight stroll turns deadly when a desperate cry leads to a grisly discovery in a London townhouse.
Level C1MysteryGrim TalesA newly wealthy journalist inherits a mysterious ebony frame concealing two eerie portraits—one of himself in anachronistic attire, the other a captivating woman with commanding ey…
Level C1MysteryGreenmantleIn the shadow of World War I, a seasoned officer receives a mysterious summons from the Foreign Office, thrusting him from the battlefield into a perilous mission where diplomacy a…
Level C1MysteryGreen Tea; Mr. Justice HarbottleA reclusive clergyman suffers mysterious, sudden collapses during his sermons, sparking intrigue about his hidden ailments and secrets.
Level C1MysteryGreen FancyA weary traveler braves a forbidding forest and a brewing storm, seeking shelter at a mysterious tavern known as Hart’s.
Level C1MysteryGreat short stories, Volume 1 (of 3)Dive into a collection of gripping detective tales where sharp intellects unravel baffling mysteries through keen observation and deduction, from eerie murders in Paris to cunning…
Level C1MysteryGreat Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 3In a London boarding house shadowed by a mysterious death, a clever woman enlists a sharp-witted child to spy on the enigmatic lodger Richard Manx, uncovering secrets with wit, cou…
Level C1MysteryGreat Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 2As Mrs.
Level C1MysteryGreat Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 1In the basement kitchen of a London lodging-house, Mrs.
Level C1MysteryGreat Ghost StoriesA philosopher and his wife rent an apartment in a London house rumored to be haunted, but it’s an eerie, undefinable terror rather than ghosts that drives them away.
Level B1MysteryGrace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Yellowstone National ParkA group of young adventurers faces missing guides, stolen ponies, mysterious robberies, and wild bears while exploring the wonders and dangers of Yellowstone National Park.
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.