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 C1ClassicsSister Carrie: A NovelAn eighteen-year-old girl leaves her rural home for the dazzling, dangerous allure of Chicago, where the city's seductive charms and harsh realities threaten to reshape her innocen…
Level C1ClassicsSister CarmenOn a radiant Easter morning in a Moravian village, a young girl named Sister Carmen reflects amid timeless traditions and heartfelt faith, revealing a community bound by love, sacr…
Level C1ClassicsSister Anne (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume X)In the quiet Parisian night, Dubourg, an unlucky and idle man with a penchant for self-deception, grapples with debts, lost money, and a life of half-hearted work and fleeting plea…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott: A Lecture at the SorbonneExplore the remarkable journey of a novelist whose Scottish roots and dialect shaped timeless tales that captivated Europe, blending vivid local color with sweeping historical roma…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott as a Critic of LiteratureExplore the overlooked critical and scholarly works of Sir Walter Scott, revealing how his literary criticism intertwines with his renowned novels and poems to deepen our understan…
Level C1HistoricalSir Walter Scott and the Border MinstrelsyExplore the contested origins of the ballad "Auld Maitland," uncovering the truth behind Sir Walter Scott's role and the enduring tradition of Border ballads passed down through re…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the rich ancestry and historical roots of Sir Walter Scott, tracing his Celtic, Anglo-Norman, and Scottish heritage that shaped his profound connection to the past and fuel…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the early life and lineage of a literary giant, tracing his roots from noble Scottish families to his formative years amid family, legend, and education, revealing the orig…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottDive into the rich heritage and adventurous spirit that shaped the life of a great literary figure, tracing his roots from daring ancestors to the influential family that inspired…
Level C1HistoricalSir Walter Raleigh and His TimeBorn into a world of fierce faith and fierce struggles, a young nobleman rises from humble beginnings in Devon to navigate the turbulent laws of honor, ambition, and unseen eternal…
Level C1ClassicsSir TomAfter years of restless wandering and near ruin, Sir Thomas Randolph unexpectedly marries a young heiress, restoring his fortune and status.
Level C1HistoricalSir Thomas Urquhart of Cromartie, KnightDive into the turbulent 17th century with Sir Thomas Urquhart, a Scottish knight whose life intertwines literary brilliance and political turmoil.
Level C1PhilosophySir Thomas More, or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of SocietyEngage in profound dialogues with the ghost of Sir Thomas More as he and a reflective author explore the challenges and hopes for society’s progress, balancing idealism with the ca…
Level C1HistoricalSir Thomas MoreIn a turbulent London street, local tradespeople clash with foreign intruders, sparking tensions over honor, justice, and community pride.
Level C1PhilosophySir Thomas Browne and his 'Religio Medici': An AppreciationExplore the profound reflections of a 17th-century physician whose wisdom bridges science, faith, and human nature, revealed through intimate letters and literary masterpieces that…
Level C1RomanceSir Robert's Fortune: A NovelA young woman faces exile to a remote moor by her controlling uncle, but with her lover’s cunning plans, they hope to turn isolation into opportunity amid secrets and defiance.
Level C1AdventureSir Quixote of the Moors: Being some account of an episode in the life of the Sieur de RohaineA disgraced French nobleman seeks refuge with an old Scottish friend in the rugged, mist-shrouded moors of Galloway, where bleak landscapes mirror the perilous new chapter of his l…
Level C1RomanceSir Noel's Heir: A NovelOn a stormy December night, Sir Noel Thetford lies gravely injured after a mysterious horseback accident, plunging Thetford Towers into turmoil.
Level C1AdventureSir NigelIn 14th-century England, a relentless plague descends from ominous skies, bringing death and despair to every class from castle lords to peasants.
Level C1AdventureSir Mortimer: A NovelA bold captain and his crew prepare to brave treacherous seas and unknown islands in pursuit of glory and gold for England.
Level C1AdventureSir Ludar: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen BessIn 1585 London, a spirited young apprentice finds his life forever changed the day he witnesses Queen Elizabeth's royal procession, igniting a fierce loyalty and setting the stage…
Level C1HistoricalSir John OldcastleIn a turbulent Hereford, noble factions clash violently despite royal commands for peace, setting the stage for a dramatic exploration of loyalty, honor, and rebellion in the life…
Level C1RomanceSir John Dering: A romantic comedyIn a world of duels and delicate honor, Sir John Dering faces the tragic death of his closest friend, igniting a fierce enmity with a striking woman who vows revenge.
Level C1AdventureSir John Constantine: Memoirs of His Adventures At Home and Abroad and Particularly in the Island of Corsica: Beginning with the Year 1756An impoverished Cornish gentleman, Sir John Constantine defies convention through wild adventures and noble quests, weaving a tale of honor, liberty, and enchantment that spans kin…
Level C1AdventureSir Jasper Carew: His Life and ExperienceA restless adventurer charts a life marked by chance encounters, shifting fortunes, and unexpected trials across diverse lands.
Level C1HistoricalSir Isumbras at the FordIn revolutionary 1795 London, young Anne-Hilarion navigates a childhood shadowed by his French heritage and the loss of his mother amid political upheaval, as his guardians grapple…
Level C1ClassicsSir Henry Irving—A Record of Over Twenty Years at the LyceumFollow the relentless journey of an actor rising from humble beginnings to commanding the stage at the Lyceum Theatre, revealing the grit, discipline, and resilience behind a celeb…
Level C1ClassicsSir Harry Hotspur of HumblethwaiteA proud English baronet faces the crushing loss of his only son and heir, forcing him to confront the future of his centuries-old estates and the fate of his family legacy through…
Level C1ClassicsSir GibbieIn the gritty streets of a grey city, a young boy named Gibbie, with striking blue eyes and an untamed spirit, scours the gutters with an unfathomable fascination for dirt, hinting…
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IIIn the tense world of London society and politics, George Tressady navigates family conflicts and social intrigues while managing his duties in the House of Commons.
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IA newly elected MP returns from a hard-fought, narrow victory in a mining district, grappling with the weight of political promises and the simmering unrest among the working class…
Level C1RomanceSir Gawayne and the Green Knight: An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)At King Arthur’s Christmas feast, a towering Green Knight arrives unannounced, challenging the greatest of knights to a strange and perilous game.
Level C1RomanceSir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern ProseWhen Sir Gawain accepts a mysterious beheading challenge, he embarks on a quest that tests his honor, courage, and chastity amid enchantments and temptations, revealing the true na…
Level C1ClassicsSir Dominick FerrandAn aspiring writer navigates the harsh realities of literary rejection while finding unexpected solace in the melancholic music of his enigmatic new neighbor, Mrs.
Level C1HistoricalSir Copp: A poem for the times, in six cantosIn a vivid poetic drama, a traitorous figure dubbed "Sir Copp" embodies betrayal during a nation's darkest rebellion, while loyal patriots fight to restore liberty and honor.
Level C1RomanceSir Christopher: A Romance of a Maryland Manor in 1644In 1644 Maryland, amid feuds of faith and loyalty, young Cecil and his mother Elinor Calvert face hardship and hope on their new frontier manor, Robin Hood's Barn, where love and s…
Level C1ClassicsSir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I.Amid Dublin’s military society, the enigmatic Sir Brook Fossbrooke—once the fastest man in town—emerges as a gentleman angler with secrets beneath his stern exterior, setting the s…
Level C1FantasySintram and His CompanionsA knight battles the relentless forces of Death and Sin, aided by faith and the example of noble companions, as he struggles to conquer temptation and achieve salvation in a realm…
Level C1ClassicsSink or swim?In a quaint English village resistant to change, scandal brews over John Beacham’s controversial choice to marry an Irishwoman, stirring gossip and suspicion among the locals.
Level C1ClassicsSingle Life: A Comedy, in Three ActsIn a witty exploration of courtship, a devoted admirer plans to transform a confirmed bachelor’s untidy apartment—and perhaps his heart—while a cynical friend vows to keep him sing…
Level C1ClassicsSimon the JesterA bold politician retreats to the desolate seaside village of Murglebed-on-Sea, a place so bleak and hostile it bewilders even his closest companions.
Level C1ClassicsSimon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch. Two Stories of Jewish LifeIn the heart of a bustling city, a doctor encounters Simon Eichelkatz, a venerable man whose sharp wit and deep connection to tradition reveal the complexities of Jewish life and f…
Level C1HistoricalSimon DaleBorn under a mysterious prophecy amid a nation in turmoil, Simon Dale must navigate a troubled heritage and uncertain destiny shaped by loyalty, faith, and secrets whispered by a v…
Level C1ClassicsSimon Called PeterAmid the shattered illusions of World War I, a soldier named Peter confronts the harsh realities behind the glamorized tales of war, wrestling with faith, temptation, and the haunt…
Level C1MysterySimonA solitary, secretive man undertakes a covert journey through desolate moors and a quiet town, carefully avoiding recognition while harboring a mysterious purpose.
Level C1HistoricalSilver CrossIn a town overshadowed by rival religious powers and ancient relics, the Abbey of Silver Cross grapples with fading sanctity and a rising threat from the ambitious Friary of Saint…
Level C1PoetrySilken threadsDelve into a heartfelt collection of poems that weave everyday moments, tender prayers, and humble wisdom into a tapestry of life's simple beauty and grace.
Level C1PoetrySilhouettesExplore the delicate allure of urban life through evocative verses that celebrate fleeting sensations and artificial beauty, challenging traditional notions of nature and art with…
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.