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 C1ClassicsPens and typesDiscover practical guidance and expert tips from a seasoned proof-reader and educator to improve writing, printing, and reading accuracy.
Level C1Children'sPenrod and SamDive into the rambunctious world of childhood as two friends lead daring games of make-believe cavalry battles, where wooden swords and wild imagination turn neighborhoods into thr…
Level C1Children'sPenrodA twelve-year-old boy wrestles with the dread of playing Child Sir Lancelot in a children's pageant, seeking refuge in his secret sawdust stronghold while dreaming of freedom like…
Level C1ClassicsPenny PlainIn the misty town of Priorsford, the Jardine family shares quiet moments before young David embarks on his first term at Oxford, while the youngest, Gervase, turns everyday life in…
Level C1PoetryPennsylvania Pilgrim, and other poems: Part 6 From Volume I of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierExplore the journey of German Pietists led by Francis Daniel Pastorius as they establish a harmonious settlement in Pennsylvania, blending faith, culture, and early advocacy agains…
Level C1FantasyPennsylvania Dutch Rip Van Winkle: A romantic drama in two actsIn a Pennsylvania Dutch village, Rip Van Winkle returns from the woods with tales and troubles, stirring gossip and jealousy among neighbors as old rivalries and romantic tensions…
Level C1ClassicsPenguin IslandA devoted monk renounces his royal heritage to lead a monastery, then feels called to spread the Gospel to pagan islanders worshiping a sacred fig tree.
Level C1Children'sPenelope's PostscriptsJourney alongside Penelope and her companions as they explore the enchanting landscapes and historic sites of Switzerland, blending whimsical reflections with rich cultural discove…
Level C1Children'sPenelope's Irish ExperiencesThree women embark on an unexpected Irish adventure, navigating friendships, love, and life's twists while their men are away.
Level C1Children'sPenelope's Experiences in Scotland: Being Extracts from the Commonplace Book of Penelope HamiltonThree friends with distinct tastes and tangled pasts reunite in Scotland, bringing humor and heart to their adventures as they navigate friendship, love, and the quirks that bind t…
Level C1Children'sPenelope's English Experiences: Being Extracts from the Commonplace Book of Penelope HamiltonThree women of different ages and means navigate the quirky challenges of life and expenses in a London hotel, balancing friendship, finances, and the amusing chaos of everyday liv…
Level C1GothicPenelope Brandling: A Tale of the Welsh coast in the Eighteenth CenturyAmidst the rugged Welsh coast in the eighteenth century, a young widow turns to her journal to unravel the mysterious calamities that uprooted her family from peaceful Switzerland…
Level C1RomancePenelopeCaught between love and social ambition, a noble lord schemes to win Penelope’s hand, hoping wealth and status will sway her heart.
Level C1ClassicsPencil Sketches; or, Outlines of Character and MannersA naval officer returns home after years at sea, eager to reconnect with his charming cousin and attend a grand country party.
Level C1ClassicsPen-portraits of literary womenExplore the lives and works of remarkable literary women, from the Brontës to Mary Shelley, enriched with vivid backgrounds and personal insights that reveal their struggles, achie…
Level C1HistoricalPen Pictures, of Eventful Scenes and Struggles of LifeAmid the untamed Mississippi River and its rugged frontier towns, an intrepid young man navigates treacherous waters, wild races, and perilous encounters, revealing vivid scenes of…
Level C1ClassicsPembroke: A NovelIn a quiet New England village, stubborn wills clash over trivial disputes, revealing the deep, often hidden struggles of its residents.
Level C1Science FictionPellucidarA chance discovery of a mysterious telegraph instrument buried in the Sahara sparks a thrilling journey beneath the earth’s surface, where hidden worlds and unimaginable adventures…
Level C1HistoricalPelle the Conqueror — CompleteAmid the misty dawn of a Baltic fishing town, a young boy’s journey unfolds from rural apprenticeships to urban struggles, capturing the spirit of the labor movement and the resili…
Level C1ClassicsPelican Pool: A NovelIn the harsh, untamed wilderness of northern Australia, a remote mining camp stands as a fragile outpost against the relentless forces of nature and the encroaching wild.
Level C1AdventurePelham — CompleteBorn into a world of high society and scandal, a young heir navigates family secrets, debts, and eccentric relatives while uncovering the delicate balance between appearances and r…
Level C1Children'sPeggy Stewart at SchoolIn the sultry Maryland morning at Severndale, young Peggy Stewart faces unexpected changes as her seafaring father returns after years away, sparking a clash of old traditions and…
Level C1Children'sPeggy Raymond's Way; Or, Blossom Time at Friendly TerraceAs spring vacation begins, four determined friends confront post-war challenges, from high prices to shifting fashions, pledging to fight frivolity with thrift and hard work.
Level C1AdventurePeggy Raymond's Vacation; Or, Friendly Terrace TransplantedAs summer begins, Peggy yearns for the open country—winding roads, clucking hens, and endless skies—and when a surprising letter arrives, her lazy days on Friendly Terrace are tran…
Level C1HistoricalPeggy O'NealIn a nation divided, a resolute General fights to preserve the Union, driven by a fierce loyalty to a vulnerable woman scorned by society.
Level C1HistoricalPeg WoffingtonIn 18th-century London, struggling playwright Triplet wrestles with his fading dreams amid the gritty theater world, while a wealthy gentleman becomes captivated by the radiant and…
Level C1ClassicsPeeps at People: Being Certain Papers from the Writings of Anne Warrington WitherupA determined writer embarks on a whimsical quest to find the elusive explorer Nansen, navigating London’s mysteries and icy adventures to uncover the man behind the legend—where ch…
Level C1ClassicsPeeps at PeopleExplore a lively collection of essays and sketches that capture the spirited essence of youth and the shifting tides of time, revealing the humor and humanity behind everyday peopl…
Level C1HistoricalPeculiar: A Tale of the Great TransitionIn a modest New York room, Emily Charlton battles illness and fading beauty while navigating strained family ties and a loveless marriage.
Level C1Children'sPeccaviIn the quiet village of Long Stow, a simple church hides secrets beneath its summer leaves, where village life intertwines with curious characters and whispered tales.![Cover of Pebbles on the shore [by] Alpha of the plough by A. G. Gardiner](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da6ggmapmtvc73csll9g.webp)
Level C1ClassicsPebbles on the shore [by] Alpha of the ploughReflecting on the quiet solitude of rural life during wartime, a writer adopts the pen name Alpha of the Plough to share intimate essays that capture the moods and musings stirred…
Level C1ClassicsPearls of ThoughtA rich collection of insightful maxims and reflections drawn from timeless literature invites readers to explore wisdom distilled into concise, thought-provoking passages.
Level C1HistoricalPearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of JerusalemIn the turbulent Roman province of Palestine, prisoners face brutal gladiatorial combat and Christians await a savage fate in the amphitheatre, while political and religious tensio…
Level C1ClassicsPearl-Fishing; Choice Stories from Dickens' Household Words; First SeriesJourney through the English countryside to a quaint village where picturesque ruins and a charming vicarage set the stage for tales of refined poverty, romance, and the quiet beaut…
Level C1RomancePearl of Pearl IslandIn the serene island of Sark, a tender love unfolds between Jock and the captivating Margaret Brandt, watched over by the wise Lady Elspeth.
Level C1RomancePeak's Island: A Romance of Buccaneer DaysShipwrecked and alone on a storm-lashed shore, young Anna Vyvyan awakens to a world of loss and survival in the treacherous days of buccaneers.
Level C1MysteryPeachmonkA mysterious red lily and cryptic message thrust Lady Evelyn into a web of secrets and intrigue, prompting a daring investigation involving séances, secret rendezvous, and shadowy…
Level C1RomancePeace ManoeuvresCaught between duty and desire during a tense military standoff, a scout must navigate uncertain roads and risky choices—while haunted by memories of a rejected love.
Level C1HistoricalPeaceIn a war-weary Greece, rustic Trygaeus mounts a giant dung-beetle to confront the gods and rescue the imprisoned goddess Peace, rallying the fractured city-states for a bold bid to…
Level C1ClassicsPaz (La Fausse Maitresse)In 1835 Paris, a wealthy heiress marries a young Polish exile amid political tensions and fading fortunes.
Level C1ClassicsPawnedIn the rain-soaked streets of New York’s East Side, a grieving cabman entrusts his newborn daughter to a pawnbroker’s care after a tragic loss, setting the stage for a story of har…
Level C1HorrorPausanias, the Spartan; The Haunted and the Haunters: An Unfinished Historical RomanceAmid the turbulent aftermath of the battle of Plataea, a Spartan regent rises to unparalleled power and influence across Greece, concealing a dark conspiracy that could reshape his…
Level C1RomancePauline's Passion and PunishmentA woman tormented by betrayal faces a shattering letter that ends a passionate promise, igniting a fierce resolve for a deeper, subtler vengeance than mere death.
Level C1ClassicsPaula Monti; or, The Hôtel LambertAt the 1837 Paris Opera-ball, high society mingles with mystery and scandal, centering around the enigmatic Princess de Hansfeld of the Hôtel Lambert.
Level C1ClassicsPaul the minstrel, and other storiesStep into a semi-medieval world where romantic adventures mask deeper lessons on the challenges of moral choice and the struggle between impulse and virtue, as a schoolmaster weave…
Level C1RomancePaul and Virginia from the French of J.B.H. de Saint PierreAmidst the idyllic beauty of Mauritius, two young souls, Paul and Virginia, grow up bound by innocent love and nature’s charm, their tender story unfolding against a backdrop of ph…
Level C1RomancePaul and VirginiaTwo childhood friends grow up in idyllic nature, their innocent bond blossoming amid a world where the love of the natural world deepens and shapes their lives.
Level C1ClassicsPaul VerlaineA fragile poet wrestles with the torment of creative need and personal weakness, revealing raw human emotion in every line.
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.