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 Battery and the Boiler: Adventures in Laying of Submarine Electric CablesBorn amid a fierce storm at sea, young Robin Wright grows up fascinated by lightning and the mysteries of electricity.
Level B2PoetryThe Bashful Earthquake, & Other Fables and VersesWhen an earthquake grows bashful and flees in shame after causing chaos, whimsical fables and verses explore nature’s quirks and curious creatures, blending humor and gentle lesson…
Level B2MysteryThe Bartlett MysteryAt a lavish New York club, a high-society dinner with mysterious theater tickets spirals into chaos, drawing in Detective-Inspector Clancy to untangle secrets hidden beneath glitte…
Level B2RomanceThe Bars of IronIn a rugged Queensland town, a fearless young Englishman confronts a drunken bully, igniting a tense clash fueled by pride and passion.
Level B2AdventureThe BarrierIn a remote northern trading post, a stoic trader faces the arrival of law and change that threaten his way of life, while a spirited young girl brings unexpected warmth amid the h…
Level B2MysteryThe Barrel MysteryIn the grimy shadows of New York’s East Side, a shocking discovery—a man’s body stuffed into a barrel—unleashes a tense investigation that exposes dark secrets and ruthless assassi…
Level B2Children'sThe Barbadoes Girl: A Tale for Young PeopleA young girl from the distant West Indies arrives to live with the Harewood family, sparking curiosity and lessons in kindness as their children prepare to welcome a stranger with…
Level B2AdventureThe Banner Boy Scouts; or, The Struggle for LeadershipA secretive group of adventurous boys gather under the cover of night to outwit rivals and prove their mettle in the great outdoors, forging bonds and leadership in the thrilling w…
Level B2MysteryThe Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour; or, The Mystery of Rattlesnake MountainFour brave Boy Scouts face eerie sounds and a half-open door at a closed feed store, sparking a thrilling mystery tied to a recent robbery.
Level B2PoetryThe Ballad of the QuestA weary soul abandons comfort to roam under open skies, seeking faith, peace, and honest love amid life's harsh trials.
Level B2ClassicsThe Bad Man: A NovelA determined young American stakes his claim in the harsh Arizona borderlands, facing relentless raids and government inaction while struggling to protect his ranch and find hope a…
Level B2Children'sThe Bad Little OwlsIn a lively woodland, curious creatures encounter a mysterious lantern's flickering flame, learning surprising lessons about fire’s power and safety.
Level B2AdventureThe BackwoodsmenStranded in a ruthless winter wilderness after his cabin burns to ashes, a lone woodsman must rely on his wits and survival skills to endure the biting cold and isolation.
Level B2Science FictionThe Bacillus of Beauty: A Romance of To-dayIn the bustling heart of New York, a man returns to find the woman he loved transformed beyond recognition, plunging him into a surreal mystery where beauty and identity blur in a…
Level B2HistoricalThe Babes in the Basket; or, Daph and Her ChargeIn a moonlit southern island room, Daph, a determined woman with a secret mission, stealthily prepares to carry away two sleeping children hidden in a basket—setting the stage for…
Level B2MysteryThe Babbington case; Or, Nick Carter's strange questIn the dead of night, a man enters a locked estate with a woman but emerges alone—leaving behind puzzling footprints in fresh snow.
Level B2PoetryThe Bab BalladsA devoted captain strives to delight his crew with unmatched comforts and surprising matchmaking schemes, while rival curates compete in mildness and mischief in a whimsical world…
Level B2AdventureThe Award of Justice; Or, Told in the Rockies: A Pen Picture of the WestA young Bostonian arrives late to a dusty Western town, armed with cameras and curiosity, eager to capture the rugged beauty and unexpected adventures of the Rockies while navigati…
Level B2AdventureThe Automobile Girls at Washington; Or, Checkmating the Plots of Foreign SpiesFour adventurous young women, known as the Automobile Girls, arrive in Washington, D.
Level B2MysteryThe Automobile Girls at Palm Beach; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under Southern SkiesFour adventurous young women arrive at vibrant Palm Beach, ready to explore automobiles, sailing, and social intrigues under the southern sun.
Level B2AdventureThe Automobile Girls at Newport; Or, Watching the Summer ParadeTwo resourceful sisters, determined to attend a glamorous summer party, earn their own way picking strawberries in a quiet New Jersey village.
Level B2MysteryThe Automobile Girls at Chicago; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy OddsTwo young women on a train overhear a sinister conspiracy to ruin powerful men financially, thrusting them into a dangerous web of ambition, revenge, and secret schemes.
Level B2AdventureThe Automobile Girls Along the Hudson; Or, Fighting Fire in Sleepy HollowThree adventurous girls, united by friendship and fast automobiles, face unexpected challenges while navigating summer trips, mysterious visitors, and the looming threat of forest…
Level B2Science FictionThe Automatic Maid-of-All-Work: A Possible Tale of the Near FutureIn a near-future household, an inventor unveils his creation: an automatic maid-of-all-work powered by electricity, designed to handle every chore from lighting fires to making bre…
Level B2ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Quack, and The Case of George DedlowConfined to a hospital bed with a mysterious illness, a clever and defiant man recounts his colorful life and dubious schemes, challenging the judgments of society while seeking pu…
Level B2MysteryThe Auto Boys' MysteryFour boys camping by a remote lake stumble upon an abandoned clubhouse harboring secrets tied to a stolen fortune and dangerous men.
Level B2Children'sThe Arrival of Jimpson, and Other Stories for Boys about BoysAmidst rain-soaked cheers and college spirit, a shy newcomer named Jimpson joins the Harvard football team, sparking curiosity and camaraderie as he strives to prove himself on and…
Level B2AdventureThe Armed Ship America; Or, When We Sailed from SalemTwo teenage lads join the privateer ship America as it sets sail from Salem during the War of 1812, embarking on a daring cruise to challenge British forces and claim fortune on th…
Level B2AdventureThe Ark of 1803: A Story of Louisiana Purchase TimesIn 1803, a spirited group of youths in Fish Creek prepare to embark on a daring river journey aboard a newly built ark bound for New Orleans, navigating friendships, rivalries, and…
Level B2RomanceThe Arizona CallahanAmid the wild, treacherous shores of the Beaver Islands, a fierce storm hides a mysterious boatwreck and a lone man battling the elements in a fragile canoe.
Level B2MysteryThe Arctic legionsIn the harsh Arctic wilderness, a tense standoff unfolds between Corporal Conroy and the cunning half-breed hunter Yeyik, as they navigate survival amid a relentless migration of m…
Level B2AdventureThe Arabian Nights EntertainmentsEnter a world of magic and mystery where kings, queens, genies, and enchanted creatures weave tales of adventure and intrigue, all framed by the captivating story of a sultan betra…
Level B2Children'sThe April Baby's Book of Tunes: with the story of how they came to be writtenThree sisters named April, May, and June live in a snowy German forest where Easter arrives under a blanket of unexpected winter frost; as they knit mittens and play with their wor…
Level B2Children'sThe Apricot TreeIn a quiet village garden, a young boy’s apricot tree promises hope and hard-earned joy as he plans to use its fruit to bring comfort to his beloved grandmother—discover the simple…
Level B2HistoricalThe ApologySocrates faces trial with unwavering conviction, defending a life spent in pursuit of justice and truth while embracing death as preferable to a decline into senility.
Level B2ClassicsThe Ape, the Idiot & Other PeopleAn ape named Romulus escapes his circus cage and encounters the vast, bewildering freedom of the outside world, where curiosity and caution lead him to unexpected encounters beyond…
Level B2MysteryThe Apartment Next DoorIn the shadowed streets by the river, a young man with a secret is tailed by a mysterious pursuer, while nearby, a restless woman longs to play her part in a world at war—until the…
Level B2MysteryThe Apaches of New YorkDive into the gritty underworld of early 20th-century New York, where gangsters, corrupt politicians, and weary street musicians collide.
Level B2AdventureThe Antelope Boy; or, Smoholler the Medicine Man: A Tale of Indian Adventure and MysterySurveyors and soldiers venture into Yakima territory, guided by an old hunter and accompanied by two spirited boys named Percy, while they face the dangers and mysteries of the wil…
Level B2ClassicsThe AnnesA spirited young girl discovers her unique calling: to lift others up, just as she tenderly helps a struggling beetle back on its feet.
Level B2Science FictionThe Animated PinupA pragmatic agent is pulled from his comfortable evening by an anxious illustrator whose mysterious troubles challenge his down-to-earth worldview, thrusting him into a strange, un…
Level B2FantasyThe Animals' RebellionIn a kingdom ruled by a lion king, the animals spark a secret rebellion led by a defiant tiger tired of tyranny.
Level B2Children'sThe Animals' Christmas TreeIn a magical forest gathering, wild and tame animals unite to create their own Christmas tree, inspired by the joy and kindness they’ve observed in human celebrations.
Level B2FantasyThe Angel and the Demon: A TaleIn a society shadowed by moral decay, a delicate mother struggles to find the perfect governess for her children, balancing high society demands with the need for true integrity.
Level B2ClassicsThe Angel and the Author, and OthersA weary Recording Angel reviews the author's self-proclaimed good deeds during the Christmas season, blending humor and reflection on human generosity and virtue.
Level B2Children'sThe Angel Over the Right Shoulder; Or, The Beginning of a New YearA busy mother vows to claim two hours each day for herself amid the chaos of household chores and lively children, embarking on an experiment to find balance, order, and personal f…
Level B2ClassicsThe AndersonsIn modest Brighton lodgings, determined Felix Anderson vows to rise from humble beginnings and provide a better life for his sister and friend, despite family estrangements and pas…
Level B2AdventureThe American Baron: A NovelA determined party braves treacherous Alpine snows and primitive sleds to cross the Simplon Road, facing avalanches and wild storms.
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.