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 C2PoetrySongs from VagabondiaUnleash your spirit with a vibrant celebration of freedom, friendship, and the joy of wandering.
Level C2PoetrySongs at the StartExplore a rich collection of evocative poems capturing moments of history, nature, and human emotion—from battlefields to serene harbors—woven with vivid imagery and timeless refle…
Level C2PoetrySongs UnsungDive into vivid poetic scenes where myth, history, and human passion intertwine—from ancient legends and wild landscapes to haunting visions of love and fate—each poem a luminous g…
Level C2PoetrySongs Of The RoadJourney through stirring hymns, bold songs, and vivid tales of honor and adventure, capturing the spirit of empire and the enduring bond between man and steed on the open road.
Level C2PoetrySongs Before SunriseA soul embraces freedom and the passage of time, seeking strength not in dreams but in the earth’s enduring truths.
Level C2PoetrySome VersesExplore a rich tapestry of emotions and reflections through sonnets and poems that ponder love, nature, ambition, and the passage of time, each verse inviting you into moments of b…
Level C2PoetrySome Longer Elizabethan PoemsStep into the Elizabethan age with richly woven poems celebrating dance, heroism, and the soul’s immortality, where elegant verse blends classical inspiration and vivid imagery to…
Level C2PoetrySister Songs: An Offering to Two SistersAmid the vibrant stirrings of spring, a poet’s heart leaps with the season’s awakening, weaving song and nature’s beauty into an offering of love and praise for two cherished siste…
Level C2PoetrySilverpointsDelve into a lush garden of delicate imagery and intimate reflections, where love, nature, and longing intertwine in evocative poems that capture fleeting beauty and the yearning o…
Level C2PoetrySignelil, A Tale from the Cornish, and Other BalladsA handmaid’s sorrow unfolds as forbidden love and broken vows weave through secret gifts and whispered promises.
Level C2PoetryShort FlightsImmerse yourself in a rich tapestry of emotions and reflections as vivid poems explore love, loss, friendship, and the seasons of life.
Level C2PoetryShapes of ClayA sharp and personal collection of verses and reflections that challenge society and its figures with biting satire and candid critique, daring to preserve provocative truths befor…
Level C2PoetryShakespeare's SonnetsExplore the timeless meditation on beauty, love, and legacy as these sonnets urge a beloved to embrace life, procreate, and defy the ravages of time through immortal verse and hear…
Level C2PoetrySeven Poems and a FragmentOn All Souls’ Night, a narrator summons memories of friends and ghosts whose passions and philosophies intertwine with the supernatural, exploring love, loss, and the quest for pro…
Level C2PoetrySelections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: TextsExplore the linguistic and poetic heritage of early Middle English through carefully selected texts from 1130 to 1250, featuring original manuscripts and rare characters that illum…
Level C2PoetrySelected PoemsExperience the poignant reflections on love, life, and mortality as tender verses carry you through moments of joy, loss, and the inexorable passage of time, unfolding a landscape…
Level C2PoetrySecond AprilA restless soul confronts the cycle of spring’s fleeting beauty and the harsh realities of life, seeking meaning amid destruction and renewal.
Level C2PoetrySea PoemsDive into a lyrical voyage where the sea becomes a vast subconscious, stirring powerful emotions and timeless truths through vivid poems that explore storms, love, and the mysterie…
Level C2PoetrySatires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries, with Miscellaneous PiecesDive into a haunting journey through memory and loss, where spectral faces from the past emerge amid misty landscapes, and the clash of war disturbs both the living and the dead.
Level C2PoetrySandhyaExperience the fading twilight through poems that blend Bengali musicality with English verse, capturing moments of longing, nature, and spiritual reflection in a collection born f…
Level C2PoetrySaltbush Bill, J. P.Journey into the rugged Australian outback where wild horses roam and wheat fields stretch as far as the eye can see, capturing the spirit of droving life, fierce land struggles, a…
Level C2PoetrySabbath-Breaking on the Canal: A PoemAmidst the bustling commerce along the canal, laborers toil even on the sacred Sabbath, risking spiritual peril in pursuit of wealth.
Level C2PoetryRussian LyricsImmerse yourself in the passionate and varied voices of Russia’s poets, from Cossack warriors to peasants, lovers, and patriots, as their stirring songs and verses come alive in vi…
Level C2PoetryRose and Roof-Tree — PoemsExplore verses that intertwine nature’s beauty and human emotion, where roses climb toward the sky and melodies of growth and love echo beneath the roof-tree.
Level C2HistoricalRoderick, the last of the GothsIn the shadowed dawn of a fading empire, a lone Gothic prince wrestles with destiny, penance, and the relentless march of history.
Level C2PoetryRock of AgesA heartfelt plea for divine refuge and grace unfolds in poetic verses, exploring themes of sin, salvation, and unwavering faith beneath the steadfast Rock of Ages.
Level C2PoetryRobert Louis Stevenson, an Elegy; and Other PoemsA heartfelt poetic tribute explores the life, death, and enduring legacy of a beloved northern dreamer resting on a distant island.
Level C2PoetryRobert BrowningExplore the intricate mind and poetic genius of Robert Browning, a distinctly English yet cosmopolitan poet whose works challenge readers with their depth and individuality, offeri…
Level C2PoetryRivers to the SeaImmerse yourself in a lyrical journey through love, longing, and the fleeting beauty of life, where tender moments and poignant reflections weave a tapestry of emotions beneath the…
Level C2PoetryRiley Songs of HomeA heartfelt collection of poems that explore memories, home, and the simple joys of life, inviting readers to reflect on friendship, childhood, and the passage of time through vivi…
Level C2PoetryRiley Farm-RhymesImmerse yourself in the vibrant sounds and scenes of rural life, where buzzing bees, rustling leaves, and seasonal rhythms paint a heartfelt portrait of the countryside’s enduring…
Level C2PoetryRhymes of a RoughneckIn a harsh northern wilderness forged by devilish design, men are drawn by gold and ambition to a land where nature itself seems hostile and fortune is a deadly gamble.
Level C2PoetryRhymes of Old PlimouthStep into the spirit of early Plymouth through evocative poems that celebrate its history, people, and landscapes—honoring the enduring legacy of the Old Colony and its storied pas…
Level C2PoetryRhymes from the RussianDiscover faithful English translations of Russia’s finest poets, capturing the spirit and soul of a society where poetry unites nobles, soldiers, and peasants alike, revealing the…
Level C2PoetryRhymes a la ModeJourney to an enchanted island where time stands still and immortal souls roam beneath eternal silver dawns.
Level C2FantasyRhyme? and reason?Dive into a whimsical collection of poems and riddles where nonsense and reason intertwine, guided by curious voices and playful rhythms that challenge the mind and delight the sen…
Level C2PoetryResponsibilities, and other poemsDive into a world where ancient myths and personal reflections entwine, as a poet wrestles with heritage, faith, and the haunting echoes of history through stirring verse and evoca…
Level C2PoetryRenascence, and Other PoemsA profound meditation on existence unfolds as a soul confronts the vastness of the universe, bearing the weight of infinite knowledge, sorrow, and compassion.
Level C2PoetryRemedia Amoris; or, The Remedy of Love: Literally Translated into English Prose, with Copious NotesA witty guide to love’s trials offers remedies for those ensnared by passion, teaching how to heal the wounds Cupid’s arrows inflict before they grow too deep.
Level C2PoetryReligious Poems, SelectedExplore a collection of deeply spiritual poems that evoke biblical stories, sacred hymns, and reflections on faith, capturing moments from Bethlehem to ancient sacrifices with reve…
Level C2PoetryReligious Poems, Part 2.: Part 6 From Volume II of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierExplore profound reflections on faith, doubt, and divine love through evocative verses that grapple with human weakness, the mystery of God's goodness, and the soul’s quest for spi…
Level C2PoetryReligious Poems, Part 1.: Part 5 From Volume II of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierJourney through vivid spiritual landscapes where faith, nature, and ancient rites intertwine—from the hopeful Star of Bethlehem blossoming in foreign soil to the haunting downfall…
Level C2PoetryReligious PoemsExplore profound faith and devotion through stirring verses that reflect on sacrifice, divine presence, and the soul’s journey beyond life, inspired by stories of saints, sacred mo…
Level C2PoetryReincarnationsImmerse yourself in a lyrical journey through love, loss, and longing as vivid voices and haunting images evoke timeless human emotions and the enduring spirit of life’s many reinc…
Level C2PoetryReadings from Latin Verse; With NotesExplore the rich world of classical Latin poetry through carefully selected verses, from Ennius' legendary laments to Lucretius' profound reflections on nature and superstition, ac…
Level C2PoetryRandom Rhymes and RamblesExplore heartfelt musings and rustic wisdom through rough-hewn verse and prose, as an untrained rhymer captures life's struggles, kindness, and resilience in candid Yorkshire diale…
Level C2PoetryQuartz from the UplandsA powerful call to awaken the creative spirit within a world dulled by convention and industry’s roar, urging a deep communion with nature’s cycles and a fierce critique of society…
Level C2PoetryPuck on PegasusStep aboard the Night Mail North as it races through mist and sleet, carrying passengers bound for hope, escape, and desperate reprieves.
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.