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 C1ClassicsMaradick at Forty: A TransitionA coastal town shrouded in mist sets the stage for the Maradick family’s annual departure, where social rituals and quiet tensions unfold amid the ebb and flow of seaside life and…
Level C1ClassicsMany Thoughts of Many Minds: A Treasury of Quotations from the Literature of Every Land and Every AgeExplore a vast collection of over 2,500 quotations spanning every topic and era, offering timeless wisdom and insight into human thought and experience.
Level C1ClassicsMany MarriagesA quiet Wisconsin manufacturer nears forty when an inexplicable inner transformation stirs dreams and doubts, challenging his steady life and forcing him to confront the heavy sile…
Level C1ClassicsMany KingdomsA pragmatic young man wakes in a strange foreign village where no one acknowledges his presence and no language is familiar, until a mysterious woman offers her help to guide him t…
Level C1HistoricalManuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South CarolinaIn the tense waters off South Carolina, a shipwrecked sailor faces unjust imprisonment under harsh laws designed to uphold a fragile, oppressive social order.
Level C1ClassicsManslaughterLydia Little, a fiercely willful young woman, clashes with the world and those around her in a tale of defiance and struggle within a grand Fifth Avenue household.
Level C1RomanceMansfield ParkRaised from modest beginnings to Mansfield Park, Fanny Price enters a world of privilege and complex family ties, where love, duty, and social expectations intertwine in a delicate…
Level C1HistoricalManners: A Novel, Vol 3In a stately Irish household marked by pride and parsimony, Miss Fitzcarril manages a strict estate while secretly indulging in forbidden fortune-telling.
Level C1RomanceManners: A Novel, Vol 2Haunted by mixed emotions and sudden farewells, Selina navigates the complexities of society and her own tender heart amid the charms and challenges of fashionable life.
Level C1ClassicsManners: A Novel, Vol 1In a quiet Yorkshire village, Mrs.
Level C1AdventureManco, the Peruvian Chief: Or, An Englishman's Adventures in the Country of the IncasAn English family settles in the rugged Peruvian Andes, where a compassionate father aids oppressed indigenous villagers amid the shadows of the ancient Inca empire.
Level C1MysteryManaliveA fierce wind sweeps through Beacon House, stirring dormant spirits and igniting a mysterious drama among its discontented residents.
Level C1AdventureMan-SizeOn the wild plains, a fierce young Native woman risks everything to sabotage ruthless whiskey smugglers poisoning her people.
Level C1PhilosophyMan and Superman: A Comedy and a PhilosophyExplore a daring philosophical drama where the natural attraction between men and women drives the action, challenging societal norms and theatrical conventions with wit, conscienc…
Level C1MysteryMan and MaidA sudden inheritance forces a reluctant man to return from a carefree holiday to an eerie family estate where he must confront an enigmatic cousin and a bizarre will that threatens…
Level C1RomanceMan and MaidHaunted by war wounds and lost love, a disfigured veteran in Paris navigates loneliness, desire, and the complex allure of three captivating women during the uncertain days of 1918…
Level C1ClassicsMammon and Co.In a witty social gathering, sharp observations and playful banter reveal the quirks of upper-class life, where memory, manners, and egotism collide.
Level C1ClassicsMamba's daughtersIn early 20th-century Charleston, Mamba, a resourceful black woman from the waterfront, dares to bridge social divides by ingratiating herself with the struggling Wentworth family,…
Level C1ClassicsMam' Lyddy's Recognition: 1908In a Southern plantation's close-knit world, Mam' Lyddy, a proud and discerning matriarch, guards the honor of the French family while navigating the trials of love and loyalty sur…
Level C1FantasyMalvina of BrittanyIn a village shadowed by ancient folklore, a mischievous fairy named Malvina stirs trouble with magical pranks that challenge the boundary between myth and reality, weaving a tale…
Level C1RomanceMalbone: An Oldport RomanceAmid the stately colonial grandeur of Oldport, a summer arrival stirs old rivalries and hidden family secrets, setting the stage for a romance shadowed by past disappointments and…
Level C1RomanceMalayan Literature: Comprising Romantic Tales, Epic Poetry and Royal ChroniclesEnter a world of enchanted palaces, mystical sentinels, and passionate tales where love and supernatural forces intertwine in captivating Malayan romances filled with vivid imagery…
Level C1HistoricalMalaeska: The Indian Wife of the White HunterIn a remote clearing by the Hudson River, settlers and Native Americans live cautiously side by side amid the dense wilderness.
Level C1ClassicsMal Moulée: A NovelTwo young women from contrasting worlds meet as roommates at a prestigious academy, their fates entwined by secrets and sorrow.
Level C1ClassicsMaking People HappyIn a lively drawing-room meeting, Cicily Hamilton leads a spirited group of women determined to advance social equality and the emancipation of women, navigating clashes and camara…
Level C1ClassicsMakar's Dream, and Other StoriesJourney to the remote Siberian wilderness where Makar, a weary exile, endures harsh labor and loneliness yet fiercely protests the injustices of life and the afterlife.
Level C1MysteryMajor BarbaraIn a grand London home, a determined matriarch confronts her reluctant son about their complicated family and the surprising choices of her daughter Barbara, who has joined the Sal…
Level C1AdventureMaiwa's Revenge; Or, The War of the Little HandAmid rising winds and fading light, a skilled hunter faces a thrilling challenge to outshoot elusive woodcocks in a Yorkshire spinney, setting the stage for a gripping adventure wh…
Level C1HistoricalMaitre CorneliusIn the shadowed cathedral of 1479 Tours, faith and passion intertwine as nobles and commoners alike seek solace and secret rendezvous beneath flickering candlelight.
Level C1ClassicsMain-Travelled RoadsFollow the harsh realities of rural life on the American frontier, where endless toil, poverty, and isolation test the spirit of farmers and their families along the dusty, unforgi…
Level C1HistoricalMain currents in American thoughtExplore the evolution of American ideas from Puritan New England through Jeffersonian agrarianism, tracing how European intellectual traditions intertwined with native aspirations…
Level C1HistoricalMain Street: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")Step back through time on a mysterious Main Street, where ancient forests and indigenous rulers meet the dawn of a new civilization, revealing the layered history beneath a seeming…
Level C1ClassicsMain StreetIn a small Midwestern town where tradition reigns supreme, a young woman named Carol Milford yearns to break free from the confines of conformity and find her true self amidst the…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young GermanyPolitical idealism clashes with reactionary forces in post-Napoleonic Germany, where hopes for unification and freedom are dashed by conservative powers determined to restore old o…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 5. The Romantic School in FranceExplore the vibrant literary and political upheavals in France from 1824 to 1828, where the rise of the bourgeoisie and the clash between tradition and modernity shape a generation…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 4. Naturalism in EnglandExplore the rise of Naturalism in early 19th-century English literature as it challenges classical conventions, ignites patriotic spirit, and champions the voices of common people…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 3. The Reaction in FranceExplore the clash between tradition and reason as France grapples with restoring authority after the Revolution, revealing how religion, politics, and society intertwine in a drama…
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 2. The Romantic School in GermanyDive into the intricate world of the German Romantic School, where literature intertwines with life’s deepest emotions and cultural currents.
Level C1HistoricalMain Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 1. The Emigrant LiteratureExplore the turbulent literary landscape of early nineteenth-century Europe, where revolutionary ideals clash with fading Enlightenment values, tracing the rise and fall of key mov…
Level C1FantasyMaiden Mona the Mermaid: A Fairy Play for Fairy PeopleAmid moonlit caves and enchanted forests, a penniless Gnome King, an audacious rooster, and a mysterious mermaid weave a whimsical tale of magic, friendship, and fortune in a fairy…
Level C1ClassicsMaid of the MistA thrilling fox hunt turns perilous when riders face the treacherous Old Roman Road, testing their courage and endurance.
Level C1RomanceMaid Marian, and Other StoriesA reserved New York lawyer becomes captivated by a striking portrait of Maid Marian, stirring a deep, unexpected romantic sentiment within his practical life.
Level C1RomanceMaid MarianIn a forest abbey, a wedding is violently interrupted when the bride’s noble lover is accused of treason and drawn into a desperate fight for love and honor.
Level C1RomanceMaid Margaret of GallowayBound to a harsh convent against her will, a spirited young noblewoman wrestles with the stifling life imposed upon her and dreams of reclaiming the freedom and love she was denied…
Level C1PoetryMaha-bharata: The Epic of Ancient India Condensed into English VerseIn an ancient kingdom on the Ganges, rival princes—god-born sons of two royal brothers—vie for honor and power through a grand tournament of skill and valor.
Level C1ClassicsMagnum Bonum; Or, Mother Carey's BroodA compassionate young doctor and his devoted mother open their home to a vulnerable orphaned teacher, weaving a tale of kindness, duty, and unexpected connections in a world where…
Level C1ClassicsMagnhild; DustIn a rugged Norwegian valley, a mysterious traveler encounters Magnhild, a woman whose quiet strength and singular presence hint at untold stories woven into the wild landscape and…
Level C1FantasyMagic: A Fantastic ComedyIn a world where mighty fairies walk disguised among mortals, a mysterious stranger encounters Patricia, stirring questions of magic and reality.
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.