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 C1ClassicsThe Death of the LionA young journalist is tasked with writing about the elusive author Neil Paraday, whose reclusive life and upcoming book stir curiosity and challenge journalistic conventions.
Level C1HistoricalThe Death of the Gods: (Christ and Antichrist, 1 of 3)In a world torn between fading Paganism and rising Christianity, a Roman Emperor battles to revive the ancient gods while confronting the new faith that will reshape civilization.
Level C1PoetryThe Death of Saul and other Eisteddfod Prize Poems and Miscellaneous VersesExplore a rich tapestry of heartfelt and varied poetry spanning twenty-five years, including the award-winning "Death of Saul," where the poet reflects on creativity, restraint, an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Death of BalderIn a rugged Norwegian pine-wood, Balder, tormented by unrequited love for the proud Nanna, confides in Thor as he struggles against a relentless fate and the cold echoes of his des…
Level C1RomanceThe Death Shot: A Story RetoldOn a stark Texan prairie, a mysterious, disembodied human head defies natural laws, warding off predatory beasts with eerie life and menace.
Level C1FantasyThe Death Ship: A Strange Story, Vol. 3 (of 3)Stranded aboard the eerie Flying Dutchman, a cursed ship haunted by ghostly sailors, a master mariner clings to hope and love while navigating a voyage steeped in doom and despair.
Level C1FantasyThe Death Ship: A Strange Story, Vol. 2 (of 3)Trapped aboard the eerie Flying Dutchman, a sailor and a captive woman plot a daring escape from the ghostly crew and endless sea.
Level C1AdventureThe Death Ship: A Strange Story, Vol. 1 (of 3)A young second mate embarks on a perilous 18th-century voyage aboard the Saracen, navigating the dangers of war and the vast, unpredictable seas.
Level C1Science FictionThe Death From OrionAn outlaw imprisoned and doomed faces a deadly choice: retrieve the lost Jewels of Orion from a crashed ship in deep space to save his condemned comrades, or watch them die.
Level C1MysteryThe Dean's WatchTwo young musicians brave a harsh winter journey to Heidelberg, facing rivalry and mysterious warnings as they prepare for a crucial Christmas concert that could make or break thei…
Level C1AdventureThe Dealings of Captain Sharkey, and Other Tales of PiratesIn a Caribbean world haunted by ruthless pirates, Captain John Scarrow nervously navigates dangerous seas, haunted by the fearsome Captain Sharkey.
Level C1GothicThe Dead Secret: A NovelIn a shadowed Cornish estate, servants whisper of a dying lady and a mysterious past marked by sorrow and secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Dead Letter: An American RomanceIn the Dead Letter office, a mysterious two-year-old letter addressed to John Owen captivates a cynical clerk, pulling him into a tangled web of secrets and forgotten connections t…
Level C1HistoricalThe Dead Boxer: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoIn early 18th-century Ireland, the strong and proud Lamh Laudher O'Rorke confronts a fierce, scarred woman whose bitter past intertwines with his family’s dark secrets, sparking a…
Level C1MysteryThe Dead AliveA young barrister, forced to rest after overwork, sets off for America to recover at a relative’s farm—only to find himself drawn into a quiet rural world hiding unexpected secrets…
Level C1ClassicsThe Deacon: An Original Comedy Drama in Five ActsIn a lively Virginia town, a hapless Deacon stumbles through a series of comic misadventures involving mistaken identities, a hidden treasure, and a thwarted romance, all unfolding…
Level C1ClassicsThe De Coverley Papers, From 'The Spectator'Step into the genteel world of Sir Roger de Coverley, a charming country gentleman whose simple, generous spirit and whimsical quirks reveal timeless English character through live…
Level C1ClassicsThe Days of My Life: An AutobiographyA proud country girl encounters two mysterious strangers on an autumn evening, sparking tension and curiosity as they claim a surprising connection to her family estate.
Level C1HistoricalThe Days of MohammedA devout Persian priest, haunted by a tragic sacrifice, embarks on a spiritual quest across ancient Arabia, seeking a deeper truth and divine love beyond the idolatry and rituals o…
Level C1AdventureThe Days of Chivalry; Or, The Legend of CroquemitaineStep into the legendary era of Charlemagne, where towering heroes wield mighty swords, and chivalry blends with magic, battles, and whimsical adventures.
Level C1HistoricalThe Days of Bruce: A Story from Scottish History. Vol. 1Amidst the storm-lashed towers of 1306 Scotland, noble warriors prepare for the relentless tides of war that engulf their land.
Level C1ClassicsThe Days of Auld Lang SyneIn a tight-knit Scottish community, the delicate balance of tradition and change unfolds through the fierce negotiations and spirited rivalries over farm leases, where wit and dipl…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day's WorkAmid the relentless heat and danger, two engineers labor tirelessly to complete a monumental railway bridge over the Ganges, confronting unexpected challenges and the weight of res…
Level C1HistoricalThe Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914As war breaks out across Europe in 1914, Arthur Dalroy navigates the chaos of Berlin with a mysterious Englishwoman desperate to escape to Belgium, facing suspicion and danger amid…
Level C1MysteryThe Day of TemptationA shadowy plot unfolds as two men debate the dangers of an inexperienced girl’s arrival in London, revealing hidden secrets that threaten to upend their carefully guarded world.
Level C1ClassicsThe Day of Small ThingsConfined to her sofa for two years, a woman finds unexpected blessings in the small joys of life—a comforting bed, the changing light on a nearby hill, and the kindness around her—…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day of His YouthA grieving father retreats to the wilderness to raise his son in nature's pure embrace, building a simple log cabin and forging a life of strength and solitude away from society's…
Level C1PoetryThe Day of Doom; Or, a Poetical Description of the Great and Last JudgementWitness the vivid and solemn portrayal of the Last Judgment, as Puritan theology comes alive in verse, revealing the terrors of sin and the hope for salvation on the Day of Doom.
Level C1PoetryThe Day Before YesterdayChildhood fantasies come alive in a dusty attic cupboard transformed into a pirate ship, where paper boats sail enchanted seas and mice become fierce rats, inviting readers to reli…
Level C1Children'sThe Dawn of a To-morrowIn the foggy streets of London, Antony Dart wakes each day trapped in a relentless cycle of exhaustion and despair, struggling against a mind tormented by unyielding pressure and e…
Level C1Science FictionThe Dawn of AllAwakening in a hospital with fragmented memories, a scholar pieces together his lost days amid a turbulent society where ancient beliefs clash with modern thought.
Level C1HistoricalThe Dawn and the Day; Or, The Buddha and the Christ, Part IExplore the profound parallels and contrasts between Buddhism and Christianity as ancient truths, shared values, and spiritual hopes intertwine across cultures and epochs, challeng…
Level C1Children'sThe Daughters of a GeniusWhen a gifted but impractical artist dies, his numerous orphaned children face an uncertain future, prompting distant relatives to confront family duty, social differences, and hid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daughters of DanausIn a moonlit garret, a mysterious sister leads her siblings in a secretive dance before challenging their beliefs on fate with a bold lecture that promises to ignite fierce debate…
Level C1PoetryThe Daughter of the Storage: And Other Things in Prose and VerseAmid the vast, orderly corridors of a fire-proof storage warehouse, a family unpacks trunks filled with cherished memories and forgotten treasures, as a child's playful imagination…
Level C1RomanceThe Daughter of the CommandantA young sergeant's sheltered upbringing unravels amid family drama and unexpected events, as he navigates education, loyalty, and love in a turbulent world shaped by duty and rebel…
Level C1HistoricalThe Daughter of an EmpressIn a Russia torn by betrayal and power struggles, Countess Natalie Dolgorucki faces the execution of her husband and the destruction of her family, vowing to seek justice and prese…
Level C1HistoricalThe Daughter of HeavenAmidst the smoldering fires of revolution in 19th-century China, a secret heir to the Ming dynasty stirs hope for restoration while the young Tartar Emperor of Peking grapples with…
Level C1RomanceThe Daughter PaysIn a sunlit London art gallery, two captivating young women, Virginia and Miriam, bask in luxury and carefree charm—until a mysterious, hostile stranger’s gaze unsettles their sere…
Level C1MysteryThe Datchet DiamondsAmid whispered dances and chance encounters on a windswept pier, a gentle yet enigmatic man draws a young woman into a web of intrigue and hidden dangers, where diamonds and secret…
Level C1MysteryThe Darrow EnigmaA physician with a phenomenal memory crosses paths with a chemist whose mysterious ailment conceals a deeper intrigue tied to a captivating woman and groundbreaking scientific purs…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dark Lady of the SonnetsIn a witty exploration of Shakespeare’s mysterious Dark Lady, a determined scholar unravels theories linking her to Mistress Mary Fitton, sparking a theatrical clash of jealousy in…
Level C1HistoricalThe Dark ForestIn war-torn Petrograd, an awkward Englishman in a Russian uniform embarks on a journey with a spirited nurse, stepping into the chaotic world of a Red Cross unit where hope flicker…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dark FleeceIn a rugged coastal town, Olive Stanes faces the weight of family duty and change as she awaits the return of Jason Burrage, whose years of gold-seeking promise to transform their…
Level C1PoetryThe Dark Ages, and Other PoemsExplore a world where the so-called Dark Ages reveal unexpected beauty, faith, and poetry, challenging the shadows cast by history with vivid imagery and timeless reflections on ho…
Level C1ClassicsThe DaredevilRoberta, a determined young woman, embarks on a perilous ocean journey from war-torn France to America, carrying her family’s fragile hope and a legacy intertwined with love, loss,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dangerous Age: Letters and Fragments from a Woman's DiaryA woman’s candid diary reveals the turmoil and restless discontent of middle age, confronting societal expectations with raw honesty and piercing insight.
Level C1MysteryThe Dangerfield TalismanAt a tense card game, Eileen Cressage wrestles with mounting debts while a valuable talisman stirs hopes and suspicions among the players.
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.