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 B2AdventureThe Wounded NameAs the Allies near Paris and the Bourbon king is poised to return, Laurent de Courtomer, raised in England but heir to a French title, wrestles with his divided loyalties and the u…
Level B2AdventureThe Wouldbegoods: Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure SeekersThe Bastable children navigate the challenges of growing up in a grand new home, craving adventure and meaning beyond their comfortable lives.
Level B2Children'sThe Worst Boy in TownA mischievous boy known as the "worst in town" plans a secret fishing trip to prove his good heart, despite school and strict fathers standing in his way.
Level B2HistoricalThe Worn DoorstepAmid the looming shadow of war, a determined scholar searches the tranquil English countryside for the perfect village home, where history, memory, and love intertwine beneath anci…
Level B2Science FictionThe Worlds of IfA habitual latecomer and engineer crosses paths with a brilliant physicist obsessed with time, sparking a daring exploration into the realities of time travel far beyond popular fa…
Level B2ClassicsThe World's Greatest Books — Volume 03 — FictionIn a small French town where hunting is a grand yet capricious pastime, Tartarin, a boastful yet good-hearted hunter, dreams of glory amid his collection of exotic weapons and tall…
Level B2AdventureThe World of IceSet sail with John Buzzby, an unflinching sea veteran, as he embarks on a perilous whaling voyage through icy polar seas filled with fierce battles, wild creatures, and the thrilli…
Level B2PoetryThe World Turned Upside Down: Or, No News, and Strange NewsExplore a whimsical collection of curious and topsy-turvy poems where animals and humans swap roles and the strange becomes ordinary, challenging your sense of reality with playful…
Level B2PoetryThe World Turned Upside DownIn a whimsical world where coats talk back and hares wield guns, everyday objects and creatures challenge their roles with humor and mischief, turning ordinary life into a topsy-tu…
Level B2Science FictionThe World MastersIn a besieged Alsace laboratory, a determined scientist unlocks a terrifying power that can shatter steel and control nations.
Level B2HistoricalThe World Before Them: A Novel. Volume 3 (of 3)Tensions rise in a modest household where a wounded soldier grapples with dependence, a jealous wife struggles to accept her new life, and family secrets simmer beneath the surface…
Level B2HistoricalThe World Before Them: A Novel. Volume 1 (of 3)Two young lovers face the harsh realities of duty, pride, and family expectations in a picturesque rural landscape where love must confront tradition and sacrifice.
Level B2RomanceThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 20A French prisoner of war navigates life inside Edinburgh Castle during the Napoleonic Wars, using wit, language skills, and charm to survive captivity and forge unexpected friendsh…
Level B2PoetryThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 14Step into a world of childhood wonder with poems that capture summer nights, seaside adventures, and dreams of distant lands.
Level B2HistoricalThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 08Amid the brewing conflict of King Henry VI’s reign, young Richard Shelton rallies villagers to a looming battle, confronting divided loyalties and the harsh realities of war in a v…
Level B2AdventureThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 06A mysterious sea captain with a sabre-cut takes refuge at a lonely inn, sparking tales of buried treasure and a one-legged seafarer.
Level B2ClassicsThe Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2A devoted father navigates the stifling tensions of a household where love is shadowed by constant reproach and simmering conflicts between servants and wife.
Level B2RomanceThe Wooing of Calvin ParksCalvin Parks returns to a familiar farmhouse only to find his old friends changed by loss and mystery—Sam's mother has passed away, and Sim's strange illness puzzles everyone.
Level B2AdventureThe WoodrangerIn a tense borderland where rival settlers clash, nineteen-year-old Norman McNiel, a skilled hunter from Scotland, listens to the urgent baying of a hound that signals an unfolding…
Level B2Children'sThe Woodcutter's DogIn a wolf-infested forest during a harsh winter, a woodcutter’s loyal dog bravely protects his children from danger, risking everything to keep their family safe.
Level B2HistoricalThe Woodcutter of GutechLost in the dark, tangled Black Forest, a determined traveller encounters a woodcutter and his son, sparking a journey of guidance, faith, and the quest for spiritual nourishment a…
Level B2Children'sThe Woodcraft Girls in the CityFive city girls, part of the Woodcraft Band, navigate the challenge of bringing their beloved outdoor camp spirit into urban life, devising creative ways to keep their adventures—a…
Level B2AdventureThe Woodcraft Girls at CampAt a lively girls' camp, spirited Zan navigates friendship tensions and the clash between simple joys and high-society expectations.
Level B2FantasyThe Wood-Pigeons and MaryIn a world where wood-pigeons speak and understand human sorrows, Mr.
Level B2RomanceThe Wood King; or, Daniel Boone's last trailAmidst the untamed Osage wilderness, a seasoned hunter witnesses a desperate chase between rival tribes, where survival hinges on cunning, courage, and the secrets hidden along the…
Level B2FantasyThe Wonderful VisitA mysterious, radiant bird with haunting music appears over Sidderford Moor, stirring fear and wonder among the villagers.
Level B2Children'sThe Wonderful Story of Blue Beard, and His Last WifeA mysterious nobleman with a strange blue beard invites two accomplished sisters to his opulent castle, sparking curiosity and caution as whispers swirl about his vanished wives.
Level B2AdventureThe Wonderful Stories of Fuz-Buz the Fly and Mother Grabem the SpiderIn a sunlit apple tree, a family of spiders spins webs and shares tales of courage and wisdom, while a curious fly arrives nearby, hinting at adventures that blur the line between…
Level B2Children'sThe Wonderful Garden; or, The Three CsOn Caroline’s birthday, a collection of colorful gifts brightens the pale, grey house she shares with her siblings, sparking a longing for the vibrant world beyond their walls.
Level B2PoetryThe Wonderful "One-Hoss-Shay", and Other PoemsA masterfully crafted carriage defies wear for a century, built with equal strength in every part—until one fateful day when logic dictates its sudden and surprising end.
Level B2AdventureThe Wonder Island Boys: Exploring the IslandStranded on a mysterious island with no tools or food, three castaways forge survival by taming wild yaks and exploring dense forests.
Level B2FantasyThe Wonder Clock; or, four & twenty marvellous Tales: being one for each hour of the dayEnter a magical world where every hour unlocks a new marvelous tale from a wondrous clock that brings to life dancing puppets and forgotten stories.![Cover of The Woman from Outside: [On Swan River] by Hulbert Footner](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da7jcnuqoens73dd7d0g.webp)
Level B2MysteryThe Woman from Outside: [On Swan River]In a remote northern trading post, the arrival of the mail sparks lively debate and reveals the harsh realities of life and survival on the frontier.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wolves of God, and Other Fey StoriesA man returns to his remote Orkney island home after decades in the wild Canadian wilderness, haunted by memories of endless forests and seeking solace in familiar shores and famil…![Cover of The Wolf-slayer; [Margaret Kaurner] by Christoph von Schmid](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da92gpdnmvfc73bikftg.webp)
Level B2Children'sThe Wolf-slayer; [Margaret Kaurner]In a cozy winter cabin, a grandfather weaves a tale of bravery and morality, introducing the thrilling legend of the Wolf-slayer—a story that explores courage, family, and the fine…
Level B2Science FictionThe Wolf-Men: A Tale of Amazing Adventure in the Under-WorldA daring expedition to the Arctic Pole unfolds as a brilliant professor and a seasoned baronet prepare to pilot a revolutionary, liquid air-powered submarine beneath the ice, uncov…
Level B2AdventureThe Wolf Patrol: A Tale of Baden-Powell's Boy ScoutsBoys from rival quarters prepare for a fierce showdown on the riverbank, where loyalty, courage, and the spirit of the Boy Scouts turn a neighborhood feud into a test of honor and…
Level B2FantasyThe Wolf Demon; or, The Queen of the KanawhaIn the moonlit forests of the Ohio Valley, a fierce Shawnee warrior hunts a deer, unaware that a shadowy, deadly presence stalks him in return—an ancient demon marking its next vic…
Level B2FantasyThe Woggle-Bug BookA highly magnified and thoroughly educated Woggle-Bug finds himself lost in a strange city, where he must navigate human customs and earn money with his four arms to win the heart…
Level B2ClassicsThe Witch's HeadErnest, a proud boy orphaned and disinherited, arrives at his uncle’s home where secrets, family grudges, and mysterious wards await.
Level B2ClassicsThe Witch HypnotizerA solitary woman with an uncanny power to influence minds uses her gift to heal and uplift a troubled neighborhood, confronting the dark grip of addiction and despair with compassi…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume X (of X)Dive into a lively collection of American wit, humor, and maxims, featuring colorful characters, sharp observations, and vivid sketches of life’s quirks and adventures across the c…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume VIII (of X)Step into a Southern plantation where tradition meets change, as a restless young woman named Miss Lady confronts the quiet tension brought by a mysterious railroad and unexpected…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume VII. (of X.)A young reporter dives into the mysterious comings and goings at a high-end apartment, encountering a baffling tale of mistaken identity and secretive tenants.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume VI. (of X.)Journey through the serene French countryside from Paris to the porcelain village of Sèvres, exploring royal palaces, historical figures, and quaint local customs with a touch of h…
Level B2PoetryThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume V. (of X.)In a bustling Philadelphia drawing school, young Marianne Atmore embarks on a creative journey to design exquisite china patterns destined to dazzle society, blending art, ambition…
Level B2PoetryThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume IX (of X)Dive into a whimsical collection of American wit and humor, where mischievous goblins with green-glass eyes and quirky tales bring laughter and mystery to life.
Level B2PoetryThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume I. (of X.)Discover a rich tapestry of American humor, from Mark Twain's witty tales to gentle raillery and tender verse, celebrating laughter’s power to unite and uplift in a uniquely nation…
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.