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'sCaptain JanuaryA devoted lighthouse keeper raises a bright, spirited girl on a rocky Maine island, teaching her only from the Bible and Shakespeare.
Level B2ClassicsCaptain CranberryIn a stormy Cape Cod night, Cynthia Tinker faces the upheaval of leaving her home and the mystery of an unknown tenant moving in.
Level B2AdventureCaptain ChubIn a thrilling final baseball game tied at three, the Crimson captain and pitcher face intense pressure as the Blue team threatens to take the lead.
Level B2AdventureCaptain Chap; or, The Rolling StonesThree adventurous boys seize the chance of a lifetime: a daring two-day tugboat journey to rescue a stranded steamer on a bustling river.
Level B2ClassicsCaptain Billy's Whiz Bang, Vol. 3, No. 32, April, 1922Dive into a sharp, witty collection of musings that peel back the glamor of Hollywood's motion picture world, exposing its mix of ambition, folly, and human longing through humorou…
Level B2ClassicsCaptain Balaam of the 'Cormorant', and other sea comediesAmid the creaking sails and salty air of the Patriarch, a rough-and-tumble crew navigates life under the harsh command of a miserly owner, while Geordie Potts dreams of a kinder, f…
Level B2Children'sCaps and Capers: A Story of Boarding-School LifeA devoted father, mourning his wife’s loss, faces the heartbreaking decision to send his young daughter to a boarding school while he travels abroad.
Level B2ClassicsCape Cod StoriesTwo old mariners receive mysterious, ornate invitations to a high-society wedding, thrusting them from their quiet Cape Cod life into a world of wealth and social intrigue.
Level B2ClassicsCap'n Warren's WardsCaught in a fierce storm and a delayed train, a gruff sea captain returns from a mysterious business deal in Cape Cod, sparking curiosity in a weary lawyer trapped on the journey.
Level B2ClassicsCap'n Jonah's fortuneA seasoned mariner arrives at a quiet Cape Cod home bearing a mysterious sea chest, stirring the lives of a spirited young woman left alone and longing for escape.
Level B2ClassicsCap'n EriThree seasoned sea captains share camaraderie and humor in a cozy, weathered seaside home, navigating the small frustrations and simple joys of their daily lives while awaiting the…
Level B2ClassicsCap'n Dan's DaughterIn the fading summer season of a quiet seaside town, Captain Daniel Dott struggles to keep his family’s dry goods store afloat amid fierce competition and dwindling customers.
Level B2RomanceCap'n Abe, Storekeeper: A Story of Cape CodTorn between stifling expectations and the call of the sea, young Louise faces a summer with her austere Aunt Euphemia or the enigmatic Cap’n Abe, her mother’s mysterious half-brot…
Level B2AdventureCanoemates: A Story of the Florida Reef and EvergladesA determined young sailor trapped by poverty in a tropical paradise dreams of adventure beyond the Florida reefs and Everglades.
Level B2AdventureCanoe Mates in Canada; Or, Three Boys Afloat on the SaskatchewanThree boys navigate the wild Saskatchewan River in a frail bullboat, facing fierce storms and treacherous rapids in a vast, untamed Canadian wilderness where danger and adventure l…
Level B2AdventureCanoe Boys and Campfires; Or, Adventures on Winding WatersThree adventurous boys reunite at a boathouse by the Susquehanna River, ready to embark on thrilling canoe escapades and unravel mysteries along winding waters.
Level B2PoetryCanada, My Land; and Other Compositions in VerseCelebrate the vast beauty and resilient spirit of Canada through stirring verses that honor its landscapes, history, and proud heritage.
Level B2AdventureCampmates: A Story of the PlainsA weary journey on a slow, rain-soaked train sets the stage for a rugged adventure across the treacherous plains, where natural dangers and the struggles of early rail travel test…
Level B2AdventureCamping on the St. Lawrence; Or, On the Trail of the Early DiscoverersFollow a group of young adventurers as they prepare to camp along the majestic St.
Level B2Children'sCampfire Girls' Outing; Or, Ethel Hollister's Second Summer in CampEthel Hollister navigates her second summer at camp, balancing her mother’s high society ambitions with the rugged charm of Camp Fire life.
Level B2AdventureCampfire Girls' Lake Camp; or, Searching for New AdventuresA lively group of Camp Fire Girls gathers at their lakeside camp, blending friendship, mystery, and the promise of new adventures amid the beauty of Fern Hollow and Butter Creek.
Level B2AdventureCampfire Girls at Twin Lakes; Or, The Quest of a Summer VacationA spirited group of Camp Fire Girls gathers for a summer adventure at Twin Lakes, where friendship, mysteries, and unexpected challenges await amidst the beauty of Fern Hollow.
Level B2AdventureCamp-fire and WigwamIn a rugged Missouri settlement, young Jack Carleton encounters tales of danger, friendship, and survival as he learns of Deerfoot, a mysterious Indian who once saved his father’s…
Level B2AdventureCamp Venture: A Story of the Virginia MountainsA group of sturdy boys and their doctor companion camp high in the Virginia mountains, facing the challenges of rugged terrain and thin air.
Level B2AdventureCamp Mates in Michigan; or, with Pack and Paddle in the Pine WoodsThree boys camping in the Michigan wilderness face an unexpected visitor when a huge lynx tries to steal their ham, sparking a thrilling hunt through the pine woods armed with guns…
Level B2AdventureCamp Lenape on the Long TrailAt Camp Lenape, privileged newcomer Dirk clashes with rugged camper Brick, who resents carrying Dirk’s heavy luggage and his delicate ways.
Level B2ClassicsCamilla: A Tale of a Violin: Being the Artist Life of Camilla UrsoIn a charming French town, a young girl named Camilla grows up surrounded by music, inspired by her parents' artistry.
Level B2ClassicsCalvary: A NovelBorn into a quiet provincial town shadowed by ancient forests and fading traditions, a sickly child recalls a childhood steeped in family legacy, rural mysteries, and the strange i…
Level B2ClassicsCalvary AlleyIn a gritty urban alley transformed by time, spirited young Nance Molloy fiercely claims her place amid longstanding neighborhood rivalries and childhood battles, setting in motion…
Level B2Children'sCaleb in the CountryA pale, sickly boy spends summer with his grandmother in the rocky countryside, discovering the wonders of nature through simple lessons and reflections—like seeing a mysterious "b…
Level B2AdventureCaleb West, Master DiverAn ambitious engineer races against time to build a lighthouse on a treacherous ledge, relying on a specially designed sloop and daring divers to place massive stones beneath fierc…
Level B2AdventureCadet Days: A Story of West PointAn adventurous young frontier boy, raised among Native tribes and rugged soldiers, dreams of earning a coveted appointment to West Point despite fierce competition and his unconven…
Level B2MysteryCad Metti, The Female Detective Strategist; Or, Dudie Dunne Again in the FieldTwo young detectives, including the fearless Cad Metti, dive into a deadly hunt to dismantle a cunning gang of counterfeiters and assassins operating across New York.
Level B2AdventureCactus and RattlersIn the dusty, isolated town of Stovepipe Springs, a reclusive desert rat and a mysterious visitor clad in goggles and a pith helmet converge, setting the stage for a thrilling adve…
Level B2Children'sBébée; Or, Two Little Wooden ShoesAt sixteen, Bébée, a flower-touched girl raised by humble gardeners near Brussels, faces the joys and hardships of life in a blossoming countryside.
Level B2RomanceBy the World Forgot: A Double Romance of the East and WestA passionate clash of love and duty unfolds as a woman refuses to marry the man she does not love, torn between her heart’s desire and a promise bound by honor.
Level B2Children'sBy the RoadsideA little girl named Marjorie wrestles with the call to responsibility and kindness as a mysterious Dream urges her to wake up, face her work, and help others along the way.
Level B2AdventureBy Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti WarAmid schoolyard cricket matches and the keen eyes of a nature lover, a young boy's adventure begins to unfold, blending youthful sportsmanship with the challenges and unexpected tr…
Level B2AdventureBy Rock and Pool on an Austral Shore, and Other StoriesAmidst the rugged beauty of an old Australian seaport, five fearless sailormen confront the ever-changing dangers of a treacherous tidal bar, weaving tales of survival, friendship,…
Level B2AdventureBy Right of Conquest; Or, With Cortez in MexicoA daring English captain and his son navigate the perilous seas in the early 1500s, caught between emerging trade ambitions and the mighty Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Level B2AdventureBy Pike and Dyke: a Tale of the Rise of the Dutch RepublicIn a world torn by religious persecution and war, a young hero grows amidst the fierce struggle of the Dutch people for freedom and faith against the mighty Spanish empire, where c…
Level B2Children'sBy Honour Bound: A School Story for GirlsA spirited schoolgirl’s adventure begins as she navigates bustling city streets and a grand department store, where a shocking act of shoplifting tests her sense of justice and hon…
Level B2AdventureBy Conduct and Courage: A Story of the Days of NelsonAn orphaned boy with a mysterious past finds refuge with a kind fisherman in a bleak village, where childhood innocence clashes with harsh realities, setting the stage for a tale o…
Level B2RomanceBy Blow and Kiss: The Love Story of a Man with a Bad Name.: (Published serially under the title Unstable as Water).In a parched, sunbaked land, a group of rugged men brace for the grueling task of moving sheep to scarce pastures, while tensions simmer over the demands of survival and the secret…
Level B2MysteryBy Advice of CounselWhen a boy is wrongly accused of vandalism by a corrupt officer eager to close a case, a tangled web of injustice and deception unfolds in a gritty neighborhood where loyalty and s…
Level B2ClassicsBuying a HorseA man sets out to buy the perfect family horse, navigating a colorful cast of dealers and dubious ponies while learning the quirks and pitfalls of equine commerce in the countrysid…
Level B2PoetryButtercup Gold, and Other StoriesStep into a world where the Little New Year and Mother Nature herself bring blessings, kindness, and the magic of changing seasons to life through heartfelt tales and gentle poems…
Level B2Children'sBusy Ben and Idle IsaacIn a charming village, diligent Busy Ben thrives through hard work and learning, while Idle Isaac’s laziness leads him to struggle.
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.