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 (1786), Volume I.Explore heartfelt verses penned with youthful sincerity and refined through humble revision, capturing themes of friendship, gratitude, and poetic ambition amid the support of este…
Level C1PoetryPoems (1686)Explore the vivid wit and heartfelt candor of a Restoration court poetess whose verses intertwine personal sorrow and evangelical moral reflection, capturing the sparkle and strugg…
Level C1PoetryPoems & ParodiesDive into a collection blending sharp wit, poignant reflections, and the restless spirit of a man torn between humor and despair.
Level C1PoetryPoems & Ballads (First Series)Dive into a collection where passion and imagination blur, mixing vivid life portraits with flights of fancy in lyrical verse that challenges critics and explores the depths of hum…
Level C1PoetryPoemsAn aging fisherman reflects on a life marked by love, loss, and enduring hardship, revealing the tender struggles beneath his weathered exterior.
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a rich tapestry of nature’s beauty, human emotion, and timeless dreams through a diverse collection of poems that span a quarter-century of poetic inspiration and reflectio…
Level C1PoetryPoemsDive into the passionate verses of a young poet whose fervent love for beauty and romance shines through vivid sonnets and odes, capturing the spirit of a life lived boldly in the…
Level C1PoetryPoemsDiscover a collection of evocative verses that blur the line between poetry and prose, capturing fleeting moments, delicate emotions, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a collection of vivid poems reflecting on rural life, society, and personal ambition, enriched by the author's dedication to craft and insight shaped by influential mentors…
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a collection of reflective and evocative poems capturing moments from elegies to springtime invitations, inviting readers into the subtle beauty and emotion woven through e…
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a collection of heartfelt and reflective poems that journey through nature, time, hope, and remembrance, inviting readers to find beauty and meaning in every verse.
Level C1PoetryPoemsA heartfelt collection of poems reflecting on love, loss, nature, and courage, inspired by the memory of a beloved sister.
Level C1PoetryPoemsDelve into a collection where poetry becomes a vibrant interplay between technical craft and spiritual depth, revealing the heartfelt expressions of a scholar who balanced eruditio…
Level C1HistoricalPoemsExplore the turbulent spirit of the 1860s through vivid poems reflecting on war, loss, and Southern life, penned by an editor deeply entwined with the era’s history and politics.
Level C1PoetryPoemsExperience the vivid beauty of nature through heartfelt landscape lyrics and reflective sonnets that capture the changing seasons, the wild song of the storm-cock, and quiet moment…
Level C1PoetryPoemsBorn into hardship in a Northamptonshire village, a frail boy finds solace and inspiration in nature, rhyme, and the world beyond his humble surroundings, setting out on a journey…
Level C1PoetryPoemsExperience reflections on nature, faith, and human emotion through poems inspired by woodland shades, riversides, and childhood memories, capturing the solemn beauty and moral stre…
Level C1PoetryPoemsDiscover a collection of heartfelt and lyrical poems, each capturing moments of nature, emotion, and melody, inviting readers into a world where words flow like a gentle brook and…
Level C1PoetryPoemsStep into a world where poetic symbols unveil the isolation and illusions of modern life, exploring the soul’s hidden depths through vivid imagery and haunting beauty.
Level C1PoetryPoemsStep into a poetic drama unfolding through midnight musings, forest dreams, and intimate dialogues by the river and sea, where characters confront love, solitude, and the passage o…
Level C1PoetryPoemsDive into a collection where lyrical poetry captures the essence of life’s fleeting moments, transforming them into timeless reflections on art, nature, and the human spirit.
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore the wit and warmth of a Nantucket-born poet whose verses blend humor, history, and heartfelt reflection.
Level C1PoetryPoemsA river pilot recounts a haunting tale aboard a Mississippi steamboat, unveiling a gripping story of love, betrayal, and despair amid the lush, drifting landscapes of the South.
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a heartfelt collection of poems inspired by nature, faith, and social causes, reflecting the author's spiritual journey and moments of personal insight from childhood to ad…
Level C1PoetryPoemsEnchanted by mysterious goblin merchants, two sisters face tempting fruits and hidden dangers by a brookside.
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a vivid collection of poems capturing the raw emotions and quiet moments of hospital life, alongside reflections on youth, age, and the fleeting nature of existence.
Level C1PoetryPoemsA nostalgic journey through a quiet village awakens memories that blend joy and melancholy, exploring how the mind connects past and present through vivid scenes, cherished places,…
Level C1PoetryPoemsDiscover a rich collection of ballads, sonnets, and national poems that evoke Ireland’s spirit, alongside heartfelt translations of Spanish dramas, capturing timeless themes of lov…
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore a journey through the heart’s garden, where fleeting thoughts and silent seasons bloom in delicate sonnets and songs.
Level C1PoetryPoemsSet against the turbulent backdrop of 19th-century Spain and Europe, these passionate poems capture moments of war, love, and revolution through vivid imagery and heartfelt reflect…
Level C1PoetryPoemsExplore heartfelt reflections and tender emotions woven through gentle verses that capture nature’s serene beauty and the profound sorrow of loss, inviting readers into a world of…
Level C1PoetryPoemsDelve into a world where science and mysticism entwine, as a speculative philosopher’s forbidden pursuits threaten the fragile life and soul of his beloved wife, stirring fears of…
Level C1PoetryPoem OutlinesDelve into the restless mind of a poet capturing fleeting sparks of inspiration—fragmented visions, raw emotions, and profound reflections that reveal the elusive essence of creati…
Level C1MysteryPocket Island: A Story of Country Life in New EnglandTwo unlikely partners—a cunning Polish peddler and a roaming Micmac Indian—form a smuggling alliance, using a haunted, trap-laden island with a secret sea cave to hide their illici…
Level C1HistoricalPocahontas: A PoemAmid the vibrant life of a Native American village, a fearless princess named Matoax—better known as Pocahontas—rules the hearts and wilds of her land.
Level C1PhilosophyPlutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 5 (of 5)Explore timeless reflections on ethics, politics, and human nature, from the morality of eating meat to the virtues of public service and wise leadership in old age.
Level C1PhilosophyPlutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5)Explore timeless reflections on virtue, exile, family bonds, and the nature of happiness through philosophical essays that illuminate how to live wisely and harmoniously in any cir…
Level C1PhilosophyPlutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5)Explore timeless moral questions and ancient wisdom through lively dialogues, fables, and philosophical debates that examine governance, friendship, moderation, poetry, and human n…
Level C1PhilosophyPlutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 1 (of 5)Explore timeless reflections on ethics, virtue, and human nature through translations of Plutarch’s Morals, revealing insights shaped by centuries of scholarship and the challenges…
Level C1PhilosophyPlutarch on the Delay of the Divine JusticeExplore profound reflections on divine justice as Plutarch addresses why punishment often seems delayed, revealing how forbearance, moral reform, and cosmic order intertwine in the…
Level C1ClassicsPlotting the short storyUnlock the secrets of storytelling by discovering how to spot and develop germ-plots—those sparks of inspiration hidden in everyday life that can ignite unforgettable short stories…
Level C1PoetryPlet: A Christmas Tale of the WasatchOn a harsh Christmas Eve in the Wasatch Mountains, two aging bachelors face a tragic snow-slide that claims lives and stirs deep memories of love and loss.
Level C1FantasyPleiades Club—Telegraphers' Paradise on Planet MarsOn Mars, a reunion of telegraphers celebrates Lincoln’s birthday, blending nostalgia with visions of harmony and eternal life.
Level C1HistoricalPlaywrights on playmakingExplore the enduring laws and conventions of drama through insightful essays that reveal how playwrights craft stories shaped by their audiences, actors, and times, blending theory…
Level C1ClassicsPlays: Complete Edition, Including the Posthumous PlaysExplore the intense moral and spiritual struggles that arise when a man challenges societal norms, demanding a radical new way of life.
Level C1ClassicsPlays: Being: An unhistorical pastoral: A romantic farce: Bruce, a chronicle play: Smith, a tragic farce: and Scaramouch in Naxos, a pantomime.Shipwrecked nobles return to their homeland after perilous sea voyages, haunted by lost sons and uncertain fates.
Level C1ClassicsPlays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the secondIn a bustling Covent Garden, the sharp-tongued Mrs.
Level C1HistoricalPlays, Acting and Music: A Book Of TheoryExplore the intricate world of stagecraft, where the art of puppetry challenges traditional acting by blending precision and illusion, revealing new dimensions of theatrical expres…
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.