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 C1PoetryPoems: New and OldExplore a rich collection of verse that captures the spirit of the sea, heroic battles, and timeless memories through stirring poems dedicated to naval life, valor, and the endurin…
Level C1PoetryPoems, translated and originalExplore a rich tapestry of translated and original poems that evoke history, nature, and poignant human emotions, including a tragic Venetian drama inspired by true events and clas…
Level C1PoetryPoems, &c. (1790): Wherein It Is Attempted To Describe Certain Views Of Nature And Of Rustic Manners; And Also, To Point Out, In Some Instances, The Different Influence Which The Same Circumstances Produce On Different CharactersExperience a vivid winter morning in a rustic village, where the rhythms of nature and humble lives unfold through poetic scenes of labor, family, and the quiet struggles of rural…![Cover of Poems we all love by Montrose L. [Compiler] Barnet](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafd9ola8p2c739itgo0.webp)
Level C1PoetryPoems we all loveDive into a treasury of timeless poems that inspire courage, faith, and love, offering solace and strength through life’s joys and challenges.
Level C1PoetryPoems on various subjects, religious and moralExplore profound reflections on virtue, faith, and humanity penned by a remarkable young woman who, brought from Africa to America, mastered language and poetry against all odds, o…![Cover of Poems on Golf by Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh [Editor]](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dabkulo9638s73a2r2m0.webp)
Level C1PoetryPoems on GolfStep onto the storied greens where heroic golfers wield clubs like warriors and mythical goddesses watch over fierce contests for glory and honor.
Level C1PoetryPoems of the Heart and HomeExplore heartfelt Canadian landscapes and intimate moments through a collection of poems that reveal joys, sorrows, and hopes rooted deeply in home, nature, and shared human experi…
Level C1HistoricalPoems of the Great War: Published on the Behalf of the Prince of Wales's National Relief FundPoignant and stirring poems rally a nation in the throes of war, capturing the courage, sacrifice, and resolve of England as it faces the great conflict.
Level C1RomancePoems of lovePassion ignites in stirring verses that explore love’s fierce battles and sweet dangers, where hearts face the turmoil of desire, devotion, and heartbreak.
Level C1PoetryPoems of To-Day: an AnthologyExplore a rich tapestry of modern English poetry capturing themes of history, nature, and life itself—from heroic pasts and war reflections to the beauty of the earth and the depth…
Level C1PoetryPoems of Rural Life in the Dorset DialectImmerse yourself in vivid Dorset countryside scenes, where rustic life bursts to life through heartfelt poems rich with local dialect, nature’s beauty, and the simple joys and tria…
Level C1PoetryPoems of Progress and New Thought PastelsExplore a poetic journey through love’s elusive language, human longing, and the world’s unspoken needs, as spirits wander between realms in search of connection, truth, and spirit…
Level C1PoetryPoems of ProgressExplore a profound journey into Spiritualism, where the spirit world meets natural law and human progress, challenging old creeds and inviting a harmonious development of body and…
Level C1PoetryPoems of PowerExplore the divine power within every human being through evocative poems that celebrate hope, faith, and the enduring spirit amid the trials of history and change.
Level C1PoetryPoems of PleasureExplore a rich collection of poems that delve into love, loss, hope, and the human spirit, inviting readers to find beauty and meaning in life's joys and sorrows.
Level C1PoetryPoems of Nature, Poems Subjective and Reminiscent and Religious Poems, Complete: Volume II of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierExplore vivid landscapes and timeless reflections through poems that celebrate nature’s changing seasons, personal memories, and spiritual quests, inviting you to experience the Fr…
Level C1PoetryPoems of NatureExplore the intimate reflections and vivid imagery of nature intertwined with personal insight, as a young poet captures the spirit of transcendentalism and the landscapes of Conco…
Level C1PoetryPoems of James McIntyreCelebrate the vibrant spirit and rich history of Canada through heartfelt odes, patriotic songs, and vivid reminiscences that capture the young nation's landscapes, people, and piv…
Level C1PoetryPoems of Henry Vaughan, Silurist, Volume IIExplore the life and lineage of Henry Vaughan, the Silurist, through poetic reflections and biographical notes that reveal his journey from Welsh scholar to esteemed physician and…
Level C1HistoricalPoems of Henry Timrod; with MemoirExplore the heart and soul of the South through stirring poems born from the trials of war, patriotism, and the enduring spirit of a people.
Level C1PoetryPoems of Giosuè Carducci, Translated with two introductory essays:: I. Giosuè Carducci and the Hellenic reaction in Italy. II. Carducci and the classic realismExplore the revival of ancient Hellenic spirit amid Italy's religious transformations, as poetry uncovers the enduring clash between pagan roots and Christian influence shaping nat…
Level C1PoetryPoems of Emile VerhaerenImmerse yourself in vivid, free-verse poems that evoke misty Flemish landscapes, relentless rain, and the quiet power of nature’s melancholy.
Level C1PoetryPoems of CheerExplore the vivid journey through life’s challenges and joys, where hope, dreams, duty, and love intertwine in a poetic celebration of resilience and the human spirit’s triumph ove…
Level C1PoetryPoems of American PatriotismExplore the spirit and history of America through a stirring collection of patriotic poems that chronicle daring deeds, noble sacrifices, and the enduring quest for freedom from co…
Level C1PoetryPoems in Two Volumes, Volume 2Journey through the Scottish Highlands with vivid poems that capture rugged landscapes, heroic tales, and quiet moments of nature’s beauty, from Rob Roy’s defiant spirit to the sol…
Level C1PoetryPoems in Two Volumes, Volume 1Explore the serene beauty of nature and the depths of human emotion through vivid sonnets and poems that celebrate simple joys, steadfast loyalty, and the quiet power of the natura…
Level C1PoetryPoems in ProseDive into a world where poetic prose captures the soul’s restless yearnings and vivid dreams, blending moonlit mysteries, haunting ideals, and an invitation to a distant, enchantin…
Level C1PoetryPoems from the Inner LifeDive into a spiritual journey where a soul seeks communion with invisible beings and discovers the profound truths hidden within the inner life.
Level C1PoetryPoems from the Divan of HafizAmidst the turbulence of 14th-century Persia, delicate love-songs rise over a backdrop of war and political upheaval, revealing the secret soul of Shiraz through the evocative poet…
Level C1PoetryPoems from Eastern Sources: The Steadfast Prince; and Other PoemsDiscover a collection of evocative poems inspired by Eastern myths and legends, featuring quests for eternal youth, wisdom, and the elusive fountain of life, all woven with unique…
Level C1PoetryPoems by William Cullen BryantExplore the timeless reflections on nature, virtue, and humanity’s journey through history, as vivid imagery and heartfelt wisdom illuminate the eternal dance of life, hope, and mo…
Level C1PoetryPoems by Jean Ingelow, In Two Volumes, Volume I.Amid vivid landscapes and delicate moments, these poems explore love, loss, and the passage of time through rich imagery and tender reflections, inviting readers to wander alongsid…
Level C1PoetryPoems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, CompleteExplore the intimate and vivid world of a reclusive poet whose unconventional verses capture nature, life, and love with piercing insight and raw emotion.
Level C1PoetryPoems by Emily Dickinson, Third SeriesExplore profound reflections on life, hope, fate, and immortality through vivid, spontaneous verses that reveal a scintillating spirit’s intimate thoughts and insights, inviting re…
Level C1PoetryPoems by Emily Dickinson, Series TwoExplore the profound simplicity of life, love, and death through vivid, unconventional poems that reveal the intimate reflections of a solitary soul attuned to nature’s subtle rhyt…
Level C1PoetryPoems by Emily Dickinson, Series OneDive into a world of intimate and unconventional verse, where a reclusive poet captures profound insights on nature, life, and love with vivid imagery and daring originality.
Level C1PoetryPoems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton BellIn a haunting vision, Pilate's wife wrestles with foreboding dreams of injustice and the looming fate of an innocent man condemned by power and betrayal in ancient Jerusalem.
Level C1PoetryPoems and translationsExplore the raw and vivid pulse of ordinary life through poems that challenge exalted verse with brutal honesty, alongside evocative translations that bridge past and present emoti…
Level C1PoetryPoems and SongsDive into the passionate spirit of a nation's soul through stirring poems and songs that blend heroic tradition with modern ideals, capturing the struggles and hopes of life, faith…
Level C1PoetryPoems and Ballads of Heinrich HeineExplore the vivid life and passionate spirit of a young poet navigating cultural clashes, unrequited love, and intellectual society in early 19th-century Germany, capturing the emo…
Level C1PoetryPoems You Ought to KnowDiscover a curated collection of inspiring poems that refresh the soul, celebrate nature, courage, and melody, and invite readers to pause and find beauty beyond daily concerns thr…
Level C1PoetryPoems Teachers Ask For: Selected by readers of "Normal Instructor-Primary Plans"Explore a thoughtfully curated collection of poems frequently requested by teachers and readers alike, featuring timeless favorites and dramatic recitations perfect for memorizatio…
Level C1PoetryPoems Teachers Ask For, Book TwoDiscover a rich collection of over two hundred carefully selected poems, cherished by readers and teachers alike, featuring timeless verses from renowned poets and hidden gems perf…
Level C1PoetryPoems New and OldExplore a vivid tapestry of nature, memory, and emotion through poems that blend personal reflection with striking landscapes and unique rhythms, inviting readers into a rarefied w…
Level C1PoetryPoems Chiefly from ManuscriptDiscover over two thousand poems, many previously unpublished, tracing the growth and mind of a rural poet through vivid manuscripts and firsthand accounts—an intimate journey into…
Level C1PoetryPoems By the WayStep into a world of vivid landscapes and timeless emotions, where love’s quiet joys and ancient tales unfold through rich, evocative verse.
Level C1PoetryPoems By The Way & Love Is EnoughJourney from rugged uplands to the sea through stirring tales and lyrical reflections, culminating in a moral drama where a king forsakes all but love, discovering its true power a…
Level C1PoetryPoems 1817Immerse yourself in vivid scenes of nature’s quiet beauty, where delicate flowers bloom and playful streams babble, as gentle reflections on innocence and fleeting moments unfold i…
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.