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 C1ClassicsPicture and Text: 1893Explore the rich tradition of black-and-white illustration rooted in an idyllic English village, where artists find endless inspiration in timeless landscapes, rustic charm, and ev…
Level C1ClassicsPictorial Beauty on the ScreenExplore the art behind cinema as scenes transform into vivid compositions of light, form, and motion.
Level C1ClassicsPickwickian StudiesStep into the quirky world of the “Great White Horse” inn, where narrow streets and quirky characters come alive in a charming town steeped in Pickwickian adventures and old-fashio…
Level C1HistoricalPickwickian Manners and CustomsStep back into a vanished world where debtors' prisons, horse-drawn coaches, and raucous taverns shape a richly comic panorama of Victorian life.
Level C1ClassicsPicciolaImprisoned and isolated, a brilliant count finds unexpected solace and meaning in the simple life of a fragile flower named Picciola.
Level C1ClassicsPiccadilly: A Fragment of Contemporary BiographyIn the heart of London’s Piccadilly, a keen observer wrestles with the contradictions of high society, exploring love, madness, and the elusive progress of civilization through viv…
Level C1AdventurePic the Weapon-MakerJourney back to the harsh world of the Mousterians, an ancient Neanderthal race surviving amid mammoths and cave lions in Ice Age Europe.
Level C1ClassicsPhyllis of PhilistiaCaught between love and controversy, Phyllis faces heartbreak as her fiancé challenges sacred beliefs, forcing her to confront faith, loyalty, and the meaning of marriage in a worl…
Level C1RomancePhroso: A RomanceA newly wealthy man buys a remote, rugged island with a small, traditional population, planning a honeymoon his fiancée refuses to attend.
Level C1ClassicsPhrenological Development of Robert Burns: From a Cast of His Skull Moulded at Dumfries, the 31st Day of March 1834Explore the phrenological analysis of Robert Burns through a detailed cast of his skull, revealing the striking blend of powerful passions, moral emotions, and intellectual faculti…
Level C1ClassicsPhrases for Public Speakers and Paragraphs for StudyMaster the art of fluent, persuasive speaking through daily practice of essential phrases and analysis of powerful speech paragraphs, honing your ability to engage and captivate an…
Level C1Children'sPhoebe, JuniorIn a small town chapel, the ambitious Phœbe Tozer marries the rising young minister, stirring envy and social clashes among the congregation.
Level C1MysteryPhineas ReduxIn the heated aftermath of a turbulent general election, political rivalries ignite as parties vie for control amid shifting alliances and bitter battles over power.
Level C1ClassicsPhineas Finn: The Irish MemberAn ambitious young Irish barrister navigates family expectations and London society as he prepares to stand for Parliament, balancing tradition, ambition, and the complex politics…
Level C1RomancePhilothea: A Grecian RomanceBeneath the moonlit skies of ancient Athens, two friends—Philothea, a radiant maiden touched by the divine, and Eudora—share a mystical bond as they explore the sacred mysteries, g…
Level C1ClassicsPhilosophy 4: A Story of Harvard UniversityTwo privileged Harvard students challenge the abstract lessons of their philosophical tutor during a stifling spring evening, questioning the nature of reality, perception, and kno…
Level C1PoetryPhilosophiesAmidst the struggle against malaria in colonial India, a mind wrestles with the decay of ancient civilizations and the clash between superstition and science, seeking hope in reaso…
Level C1HistoricalPhilosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyExplore a bold new philosophy asserting that all creatures possess both sensitive and rational life, challenging established ideas through a series of passionate and reasoned lette…
Level C1PhilosophyPhilosophical Letters of Friedrich SchillerTwo friends engage in a profound epistolary dialogue, exploring the tumultuous journey of reason, skepticism, and moral philosophy as they confront the limits of knowledge and the…
Level C1AdventurePhilosopher JackA bright young student faces crushing financial ruin just as his dreams of knowledge ignite, forcing him to choose between despair and daring adventure.
Level C1HistoricalPhilochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the LordAmid the turmoil of Roman oppression and the destruction of Jerusalem, a disciple named Joseph recalls his life intertwined with the teachings of Jesus, offering a heartfelt testim…
Level C1ClassicsPhilistiaIn a London salon buzzing with revolutionaries and exiles, socialist Max Schurz hosts gatherings where fiery debates about social upheaval ignite.
Level C1Children'sPhilippaAs autumn’s chill deepens, young Philippa and her wise cousin Maida share a quiet moment of reflection on farewells and the bittersweet nature of goodbyes, revealing the tender com…
Level C1HistoricalPhilip Winwood: A Sketch of the Domestic History of an American Captain in the War of Independence; Embracing Events that Occurred between and during the Years 1763 and 1786, in New York and London: written by His Enemy in War, Herbert Russell, Lieutenant in the Loyalist Forces.Caught between loyalty and love, an American captain’s story unfolds amid the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, revealing private struggles and valorous deeds in New York and Londo…
Level C1RomancePhilip Rollo; or, the Scottish Musketeers, Vol. 2 (of 2)Amidst the turmoil of war and shifting alliances, a Scottish captain navigates love, loyalty, and the looming threat of conquest as Denmark teeters on the brink of surrender.
Level C1RomancePhilip Rollo; or, the Scottish Musketeers, Vol. 1 (of 2)Amid the chaos of 17th-century European wars, a daring Scottish gentleman serves as a soldier of fortune in Denmark, weaving through battles, love, and intrigue.
Level C1ClassicsPhilip MassingerExplore the life and works of Philip Massinger, a dramatist of the Jacobean era whose plays reflect the vibrant theatrical collaborations and complex social ties of early 17th-cent…
Level C1HistoricalPhilip Augustus; or, The Brothers in ArmsDive into the turbulent world of medieval France, where King Philip Augustus navigates fierce battles, political intrigue, and brotherly alliances, revealing the human passions beh…
Level C1ClassicsPhilaster; Or, Love Lies a BleedingIn a kingdom torn by political intrigue, the rightful heir Philaster navigates love and loyalty as a foreign prince seeks to claim the throne through marriage to the king’s daughte…
Level C1HistoricalPhil, the FiddlerA young Italian street musician struggles to survive New York’s harsh streets, playing his battered violin for meager coins while facing cruelty from those who exploit him.
Level C1ClassicsPhil Purcel, The Pig-Driver; The Geography Of An Irish Oath; The Lianhan Shee: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of: William Carleton, Volume ThreePhil Purcel, a grave and cunning pig-driver in rural Ireland, masters the art of deception with a serious demeanor that baffles all.
Level C1RomancePhemie KellerAmidst the serene, secluded hills of Tordale, a weary traveler reflects on life and death as he discovers a hidden churchyard that holds timeless secrets.
Level C1ClassicsPhelim Otoole's Courtship and Other Stories: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of: William Carleton, Volume ThreeIn a humble Irish village, Phelim O'Toole, heir to a cherished half-acre, faces the weight of family legacy amid his parents’ silent sorrow over childlessness and a fractured marri…
Level C1Children'sPhebe, Her Profession: A Sequel to Teddy: Her BookA curious young stranger’s chance encounter with a spirited, mischievous boy named Mac reveals a world of childhood innocence, mischief, and unexpected wisdom in a small town.
Level C1ClassicsPhases of an Inferior PlanetIn a misty, bustling cityscape, a determined young danseuse navigates the shadows of society, her delicate presence contrasting with the harsh urban backdrop.
Level C1MysteryPharos, The Egyptian: A RomanceA mysterious visitor arrives bearing an urgent message from Cyril Forrester, a man caught between sanity and supernatural experience tied to his late Egyptologist father's legacy.
Level C1Science FictionPharaoh's Broker: Being the Very Remarkable Experiences in Another World of Isidor WernerA prominent Chicago broker vanishes mysteriously after a final plunge in the wheat market, leaving behind a strange steel rocket and a cryptic farewell.
Level C1RomancePharais; and, The Mountain LoversIn a world where dreams and reality intertwine, a writer explores the depths of spiritual and emotional duality, revealing a haunting romance shaped by nature, memory, and the elus…
Level C1ClassicsPhantom Fortune, a NovelIn the glittering world of London high society, scandal brews as Lady Maulevrier arrives amid whispers of a public inquiry and a dramatic fall from grace.
Level C1FantasyPhantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and WomenOn his twenty-first birthday, a young man unlocks a mysterious secretary left by his late father, uncovering a hidden world where dreams, nature, and spirits intertwine in a haunti…
Level C1PhilosophyPhaethon: Loose Thoughts for Loose ThinkersAmid a tranquil fishing morning, a heated debate unfolds over an unconventional American professor whose radical spiritual ideas challenge tradition and provoke deep reflection on…
Level C1PhilosophyPhaedrusPhilosophical dialogue unfolds beside a tranquil stream as Socrates and Phaedrus explore the nature of love, rhetoric, and the soul, challenging conventional views while weaving to…
Level C1ClassicsPhaedraIn a realm haunted by absence and secret passions, Hippolytus wrestles with his exile and forbidden desires while the shadow of Queen Phaedra’s mysterious illness looms over Troeze…
Level C1PhilosophyPhaedoIn the final hours before his death, Socrates engages in deep philosophical dialogue about the soul’s immortality and the nature of true wisdom, seeking to prepare his disciples fo…
Level C1HistoricalPeveril of the PeakIn the turbulent English Civil War, proud Royalist Sir Geoffrey Peveril defends his ancestral home and navigates loyalty, love, and survival amid battles, sieges, and shifting powe…
Level C1RomancePetty Troubles of Married Life, Second PartTwo newlywed friends confide in each other about the hidden irritations and delicate tensions that color their early married lives, revealing the unspoken challenges behind the pol…
Level C1ClassicsPetty Troubles of Married Life, First PartExplore the delicate dance of marriage where fortunes, families, and social ambitions collide, revealing the petty yet profound troubles that test love and loyalty beneath the poli…
Level C1ClassicsPetty Troubles of Married Life, CompleteMarriage unfolds as a careful negotiation of fortunes, family expectations, and social standing, where love is entangled with dowries, inheritances, and the subtle power struggles…
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.