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 B2Children'sA little Protestant in RomeA young Protestant boy explores Rome with his mother, encountering its ancient ruins and meeting a mysterious Catholic stranger, sparking innocent questions about faith, belief, an…
Level B2AdventureA little Irish girlIn a bustling London school for young ladies, Norah O'Brien, the youngest pupil, dreams beyond geography lessons and school walls, longing for adventure as the Easter holidays appr…
Level B2MysteryA lady in blackIn a quiet parish where appearances dictate the social order, suspicion falls on a stylish widow whose mysterious past unsettles her neighbors.
Level B2AdventureA knife in timeIn the rugged Colorado Hills, Tom Morgan, a skilled but mistrusted mule driver carrying a mysterious knife, navigates harsh freighting work and tense rivalries while preparing for…
Level B2PoetryA horse bookDiscover the lively world of horses through playful foals, clever circus ponies, and hardworking ploughhorses, each revealing unique traits from schooling and intelligence to wilfu…
Level B2RomanceA heroine of 1812Amid the bustling streets of Baltimore in 1812, young Lettice Hopkins anxiously awaits news of her uncle’s ship, threatened by British capture during wartime.
Level B2Children'sA harum-scarum schoolgirlWhen their beloved headmistress abruptly leaves for her war-torn husband's assignment abroad, the girls of Pendlemere Abbey face a new term under the strict and scheming Miss Todd.
Level B2ClassicsA good old scoutIn the harsh Alaskan wilderness, three men—an aging scout, a seasoned prospector, and a mining engineer—pursue elusive gold, facing bitter cold, rugged terrain, and the desperate s…
Level B2Children'sA golden threadA determined young storyteller visits an editor to share her work and save her family’s cherished home from debt.
Level B2ClassicsA girl and her waysA solitary man’s quiet life is disrupted when two women arrive with a mysterious connection to his late cousin, revealing secrets and a promise tied to a wild young girl whose educ…
Level B2AdventureA gentle pioneerIn the harsh winds of a March night, a young girl prepares to leave her childhood home on a pioneering journey westward, facing separation and hardship with hope for reunion and a…
Level B2AdventureA frontier knightTorn between the steady comforts of home and the wild unknown, a young woman chooses to join her sister and a close companion on a daring journey to the Texan frontier, where adven…
Level B2FantasyA flower bookUnder the moonlight on New Year's night, fairies awaken sleeping flowers for a magical dance in a snowy wood, revealing the secret lives and meanings of blossoms like the Christmas…
Level B2ClassicsA dreadful temptationA young bride marries a wealthy, aging millionaire to claim a life of luxury and revenge, but beneath the dazzling jewels and grand receptions, she wrestles with the harsh cost of…
Level B2Children'sA day in the country, and other storiesFour city girls, overlooked by the Fresh Air Fund, long for a day in the country to see flowers and breathe fresh air.
Level B2Children'sA day in Mary Carrow's schoolStep into a charming country school where kind teacher Mary Carrow guides her small class through spelling, reading, and curious questions about the world.
Level B2Children'sA day at Happy Hollow SchoolStep into the lively world of Happy Hollow School, where curious children and a stern teacher navigate geography, grammar, and unexpected antics in a colorful classroom full of per…
Level B2HistoricalA daughter of strifeIn 1710 London, Anne Champion struggles as a straw-plaiter, waiting anxiously for news from her beloved surgeon at war.
Level B2Children'sA cup of sweets, that can never cloy: or, delightful tales for good childrenA spirited girl’s insatiable curiosity leads her into secret gardens and mysterious baskets, where every hidden truth and whispered conversation beckon her deeper into adventure—an…
Level B2Children'sA crown of shame, volume 3 (of 3)On Maraquita’s wedding day, Rosa, a devoted caretaker, is forbidden to attend the grand church ceremony and must instead stay behind with the baby she loves.
Level B2Children'sA crown of shame, volume 2 (of 3)After her father’s sudden death, Liz faces heartbreak and betrayal as a mysterious baby disrupts her life, severing ties with the man she loved.
Level B2ClassicsA corner in corn; or, How a Chicago boy did the trickIn the bustling heart of Chicago's trading world, a clever young boy named Vance steps into the high-stakes game of corn speculation, challenging seasoned insiders and navigating s…
Level B2Children'sA child shall lead themIn a London suburb, the Drinkrow family struggles under the weight of a miserly patriarch's public house, where two very different sons face clashing paths — one steady and studiou…
Level B2ClassicsA century of English essaysExplore the evolution of English prose through a rich collection of essays that reveal life, manners, and the personal voice of writers from Caxton to Stevenson.
Level B2Children'sA borrowed sisterWhen Lois welcomes Jessie to live with her for the year, the joys and challenges of sharing a home with a "borrowed sister" unfold, deepening friendships and stirring unexpected fe…
Level B2PoetryA bold bad butterflyStep into a whimsical world where animals debate night and day, and fables come alive with humor and charm.
Level B2RomanceA bankrupt heart, Vol. 3 (of 3)A sudden encounter with a brave country girl leads a lady into the charming world of the Llewellyn family, uncovering rustic beauty and unexpected connections that may change her l…
Level B2ClassicsA bankrupt heart, Vol. 2 (of 3)After seven weeks between life and death, Nell Llewellyn awakens to a world forever changed—weak, haunted by shame, and desperate for her mother’s love.
Level B2Children'sA Young MutineerIn a quiet village, spirited Judy navigates childhood rivalries, strict governesses, and the alluring mystery of the new cricket-clad stranger, Jasper Quentyns.
Level B2RomanceA Young Man in a Hurry, and Other Short StoriesRushing against time through a snowy city, a young man mistakenly takes a stranger's cab, igniting a tense collision of wills as both desperately try to catch a crucial train—each…
Level B2AdventureA Young Inventor's Pluck; or, The Mystery of the Willington LegacyAn inventive young man faces hardship when the factory closes, money runs out, and he's wrongly accused of arson, but his cleverness and a mysterious family legacy set him on a dar…
Level B2AdventureA Young Hero; Or, Fighting to WinWhen a fierce rivalry threatens to erupt into a full-blown fight among schoolboys, one determined lad steps in to restore peace, setting the stage for a tale of courage, friendship…
Level B2AdventureA Young HeroAmid rising tensions and looming war, young Phil dreams of becoming a soldier like his father but struggles with lessons and fears for his family's safety.
Level B2AdventureA Year in a Yawl: A True Tale of the Adventures of Four Boys in a Thirty-foot YawlFour adventurous boys plan an ambitious voyage in a handcrafted thirty-foot yawl, eager to explore rivers, lakes, and tropical seas.
Level B2Children'sA World of Girls: The Story of a SchoolA young girl bids a tearful farewell to her beloved family and familiar home as she embarks on a daunting new chapter at a strict boarding school, facing the challenges of separati…
Level B2HistoricalA Word, Only a Word — CompleteIn the shadowed Black Forest, two children chase the power of a single, magical word said to shape the world itself.
Level B2ClassicsA Woman's WillA recently widowed woman embarks on a journey abroad, determined never to marry again despite the concerns and hopes of those she leaves behind.
Level B2ClassicsA Woman for Mayor: A Novel of To-dayIn a city plagued by corruption and political apathy, a group of determined women consider an unprecedented idea: electing a woman mayor to bring reform, honesty, and a mother's to…
Level B2MysteryA Woman at Bay; Or, A Fiend in SkirtsInfiltrating the world of hoboes and yeggmen, a skilled detective and his team go undercover to uncover the elusive "Hobo Harry," the mysterious mastermind behind a wave of railroa…
Level B2RomanceA Woman Named SmithInheriting a grand Southern estate with the condition to live in it, a woman named Smith faces the scorn of a conservative community and the legacy of a cantankerous great-aunt who…
Level B2RomanceA Woman IntervenesA determined young woman arrives at a bustling New York newspaper office, tasked with uncovering secrets hidden in complex, guarded reports that have already slipped through others…
Level B2Children'sA Winter Nosegay: Being Tales for Children at ChristmastideAn old scholar summons the Spirit of Darkness, gaining three wishes at a perilous price—his first-born child.
Level B2ClassicsA Wasted DayIn the bustling heart of Wall Street, a powerful man faces a choice: intervene on behalf of young Spear, a former stenographer caught in a theft scandal, or focus on the high-stake…
Level B2HistoricalA Warwickshire Lad: The Story of the Boyhood of William ShakespeareA young William Shakespeare faces eerie village superstitions and childhood fears in the dusk of Warwickshire, where witches' spells and ghostly shadows blur the line between imagi…
Level B2AdventureA Waif of the MountainsSnow buries a rugged mining settlement in the Sierras, where a diverse band of miners clash over a name for their new town amid blizzards and wild mountain dangers.
Level B2AdventureA Voyage with Captain DynamiteThree adventurous boys take the helm of their sturdy sloop, facing sudden squalls off Martha’s Vineyard.
Level B2AdventureA Voyage round the World: A book for boysA young boy’s dream of adventure ignites when a seasoned sea captain visits his family, sharing tales of exotic lands and daring voyages that stir his heart to leave home and explo…
Level B2RomanceA Voice in the WildernessStranded alone on a desolate Western plain after a train abruptly leaves her behind, a young woman must summon courage and resourcefulness to navigate the wild night and uncertain…
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.