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 B2PoetryThe Universal Reciter: 81 Choice Pieces of Rare Poetical GemsDive into a vibrant collection of 81 poetic gems blending eloquence, humor, and tender pathos, alongside lively dialogues that capture the spirited clashes and heartfelt moments of…
Level B2ClassicsThe Unforgiving OffenderAt a bustling country club, old money clashes with new wealth as social climbers maneuver for status and acceptance, revealing the tensions beneath polished surfaces and the shifti…
Level B2ClassicsThe Undesirable GovernessIn a lively household where two mischievous girls defy convention, the arrival of a new governess promises to stir old family tensions and test the bounds of discipline and freedom…
Level B2HistoricalThe Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican RevolutionAmid the turmoil of the Mexican Revolution, Demetrio Macias, a humble farmer turned reluctant bandit, faces danger and betrayal as soldiers invade his home, forcing him to navigate…
Level B2ClassicsThe UndercurrentA young woman wrestles with doubts and ambition as she marries Emil, a determined young businessman starting his own path.
Level B2ClassicsThe Under DogIn a world where misunderstood men struggle against judgment and hardship, a painter captures the raw spirit of Kentucky mountaineers living under harsh laws and social neglect, re…
Level B2Science FictionThe Ultimate ExperimentIn a desolate Earth ruled only by tireless robots, Kiron obsessively pursues one final experiment that might revive life or purpose in a silent, crystalline city once home to vanis…
Level B2AdventureThe Two-Gun ManA lone rider arrives in the lawless town of Dry Bottom, where sin runs deep and tensions rise.
Level B2ClassicsThe Two Wives; Or, Lost and WonA devoted wife’s tender love faces the test when her husband’s restless steps stray toward ruin, revealing the fragile balance between forgiveness and despair in a marriage challen…
Level B2AdventureThe Two Supercargoes; Or, Adventures in Savage AfricaAfter a deadly fever claims the captain and most of the crew on an African trading voyage, the surviving supercargoes face suspicion, pirates, and moral dilemmas in a perilous ques…
Level B2Children'sThe Two Story Mittens and the Little Play Mittens: Being the Fourth Book of the SeriesChildren eagerly follow letters from their brother at Camp Ellsworth while their mother reads stories about playful adventures and cherished dolls, weaving warmth, laughter, and im…
Level B2AdventureThe Two ShipmatesA young mate returns to port after a long voyage aboard the trading brig Amity, navigating both the dangers of the sea and the challenges of loyalty and rivalry among sailors.
Level B2Children'sThe Two Elsies: A Sequel to Elsie at NantucketIn a picturesque Hudson River setting, young Evelyn cares for her ailing father while navigating family tensions and social expectations.
Level B2Children'sThe Two Doves, and Other Tales.: Holiday tales, translated from the German.Two devoted siblings, Marian and Henry, learn the deep bond of togetherness through their shared love for a pair of doves whose sorrow when separated mirrors their own.
Level B2Children'sThe Twins, and How They Entertained the New Minister: A FarceTwin siblings Bobby and Betty turn the mundane task of answering the doorbell into a playful competition, all while entertaining the new minister with their charming antics and wit…
Level B2AdventureThe Twins of Suffering CreekIn the rugged mining camp of Suffering Creek, a hopeful family struggles against harsh realities and fading fortunes, as one man ventures into the wild in search of gold to save hi…
Level B2MysteryThe Twin Ventriloquists; or, Nimble Ike and Jack the Juggler: A Tale of Strategy and JuggleryA master ventriloquist encounters a mysterious rival when a centuries-old mummy seemingly speaks in a museum, sparking a thrilling contest of strategy and vocal trickery that blurs…
Level B2MysteryThe Twin Mystery; Or, A Dashing RescueA cunning figure known as the Brown Robin weaves a web of blackmail across cities, challenging detective Nick Carter with bold letters and mysterious threats.
Level B2Children'sThe Twin CousinsTwo spirited twin cousins plan a grand birthday party, navigating Auntie Prim’s stern rules and the challenges of inviting neighborhood children.
Level B2ClassicsThe Twilight of the SoulsA burly man wakes from a haunting nightmare, weighed down by invisible burdens and the weariness of his life.
Level B2MysteryThe Twickenham PeerageA mysterious man lies in an eerie glass case, claiming to have slept for thirty days without food or drink—could he be the long-absent Marquis of Twickenham?
Level B2PoetryThe Twentieth Century EpicExplore a heartfelt poetic critique of early 20th-century society, examining the rise of legal socialism, public education, and political corruption, while advocating a return to l…
Level B2ClassicsThe Turtles of TasmanA stern patriarch confronts the arrival of a distant relative with a tangled past and a desperate plea for help, challenging family loyalties and the legacy of wealth amid the rugg…
Level B2RomanceThe Turning of Griggsby: Being a Story of Keeping up with Dan'l WebsterIn a town gripped by the fervor of Daniel Webster's legacy, a young man named Uriel Havelock navigates rivalry, character, and ambition amid the echoes of grand speeches and local…
Level B2Children'sThe Turner TwinsTwin brothers embark on a spirited journey to a distant school, navigating challenges and camaraderie with humor and determination.
Level B2ClassicsThe Turn of the Tide: The Story of How Margaret Solved Her ProblemAfter years of hardship and separation, Margaret returns to her childhood home, where she must navigate the mysteries of her past and the strange emptiness that lingers in the gran…
Level B2ClassicsThe Trufflers: A StoryA once-successful playwright, struggling with creative block and fading fame, confronts the challenges of modern life and love in a bustling, bohemian New York.
Level B2ClassicsThe True Story of My Life: A SketchBorn into humble beginnings on a Danish island, a young boy’s journey unfolds through a childhood filled with love, hardship, and dreams sparked by his poetically gifted father.
Level B2Science FictionThe Trouble with TruthIn a future where personal truth is swallowed by mass-produced media, a reporter and his fiercely independent partner confront a powerful World Press Association controlling inform…
Level B2MysteryThe Triumphs of Eugène ValmontA former chief detective of France, now in London, dives into the mystery surrounding the rediscovery of a priceless diamond necklace with a dark history of tragedy and intrigue.
Level B2AdventureThe Triumph of John Kars: A Story of the YukonIn the frozen Yukon wilderness, Jessie Mowbray anxiously awaits her missing father’s return along a treacherous trail, confronting harsh nature and uncertain fate.
Level B2Children'sThe Triple Alliance, Its Trials and TriumphsAt a small preparatory school, a new boy named Diggory Trevanock arrives, sparking curiosity and camaraderie among his classmates.
Level B2RomanceThe TriflersA decade of effortless pleasure and endless travel begins to lose its charm for Monte Covington, a wealthy bachelor whose restless heart seeks more than luxury and fleeting amuseme…
Level B2MysteryThe Trevor caseA skilled burglar breaks into a seemingly empty office, only to confront a chilling presence inside a mysterious safe.
Level B2ClassicsThe Tree of HeavenUnder a mysterious "tree of Heaven," Frances navigates the gentle chaos of family life, childhood excitement, and quiet worries on a warm afternoon, while the presence of loss and…
Level B2HistoricalThe Tree of AppomattoxAs the Civil War draws to a close, intertwined lives on both sides of the conflict face battles of loyalty, courage, and survival amid historic clashes and shifting allegiances.
Level B2MysteryThe Treasure-TrainA young woman overhears a suspicious conversation hinting at a sinister plot against her father's company, just as its treasurer falls mysteriously ill.
Level B2AdventureThe Treasure of the Tigris: A Tale of MesopotamiaA young scholar, barred from a military career, embarks on a daring expedition to ancient Babylon, mastering cuneiform and Arabic to uncover hidden treasures and mysteries in Mesop…
Level B2AdventureThe Treasure of the Incas: A Story of Adventure in PeruTwo men plot an adventurous quest to uncover the lost treasure of the Incas in the treacherous wilds of Peru, where hidden gold and ancient secrets await beneath hostile forests an…
Level B2AdventureThe Treasure of the BucoleonAn unexpected cable drags a reluctant heir into a perilous hunt for a legendary family treasure hidden in the upheaval of postwar Constantinople.
Level B2RomanceThe Treasure of Hidden ValleyA young man returns home from New York, burdened by financial setbacks yet hopeful for a fresh start amid rugged hills and old friendships.
Level B2HistoricalThe TreasureIn a frozen winter under King Frederik's reign, a disabled fish hawker and his loyal dog journey toward Solberga parsonage, where eerie howls and unsettling omens hint at hidden da…
Level B2AdventureThe Trapper's Daughter: A Story of the Rocky MountainsIn the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, a determined horseman races against a gathering storm to reach a hidden jacal where danger and secrets await.
Level B2Science FictionThe Transient Lake; or, Frank Reade, Jr.'s Adventures in a Mysterious CountryA sea captain recounts a harrowing shipwreck that leads to discovery of a mysterious land filled with strange creatures, ancient ruins, and a vanished lake—setting the stage for an…
Level B2ClassicsThe Transformation of Job: A Tale of the High SierrasIn a fading gold rush town where hope clings to the arrival of every late stagecoach, a pale-faced boy steps onto the dusty streets of Gold City, setting the stage for a tale of re…
Level B2HistoricalThe Traitor: A Story of the Fall of the Invisible EmpireIn the turbulent aftermath of the Klan’s political power, a former chief faces fierce neighborhood feuds, legal battles, and personal betrayals in the Southern Piedmont.
Level B2Children'sThe Train BoyA hardworking sixteen-year-old magazine seller on a train from Milwaukee to Chicago navigates the challenges of his job while supporting his family, forging unexpected friendships…
Level B2AdventureThe Trail of the White MuleA fiery rebel struggles against city traffic laws, risking jail time as his reckless driving clashes with a determined police force and a patient wife.
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.