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 C1HistoricalFor the CauseIn a Paris shadowed by political violence and secret loyalties, a young student confronts the brutal reality of his father's execution and the dangerous times that demand courage a…
Level C1ClassicsFor the Allinson HonorIn a peaceful country cottage, Mrs.
Level C1RomanceFor love and life; vol. 2 of 2A young man’s world shifts when love entwines his fate with another’s, compelling him to abandon pride and seek work for the sake of his beloved.
Level C1ClassicsFor love and life; vol. 1 of 2Set against the rugged beauty of Loch Arroch, a young gentleman navigates the delicate ties of duty, pride, and social divide as he cares for a proud, aging matriarch and her innoc…
Level C1AdventureFor Treasure BoundA fierce November gale drives a foreign full-rigged ship toward the treacherous Chesil Beach, where desperate attempts to save the vessel and its crew unfold against the unforgivin…
Level C1AdventureFor The AdmiralIn a France torn by religious war, a wounded messenger bearing a secret warning arrives at a castle where loyalties and danger collide.
Level C1HistoricalFor Sceptre and Crown: A Romance of the Present Time. Vol. 2 (of 2)Amid mounting tension and strategic maneuvers, the Prussian army prepares for a decisive march while waiting on allies and facing diplomatic deadlock, capturing the restless antici…
Level C1HistoricalFor Sceptre and Crown: A Romance of the Present Time. Vol. 1 (of 2)Amid the tense political intrigue of 1866 Berlin, a sharp observer enters the shadowy world of diplomacy and power, revealing the pivotal struggles shaping Prussia’s rise and the f…
Level C1ClassicsFor Love of the King: A Burmese MasqueIn a vibrant sixteenth-century Burmese palace, a young king navigates political intrigue and a postponed royal marriage amid dazzling ceremonies and mystical traditions.
Level C1AdventureFor Love of a Bedouin MaidWhen a luxury yacht mysteriously encounters an uncharted island, its passengers uncover a baffling secret that challenges maps and reason.
Level C1RomanceFor Love of Country: A Story of Land and Sea in the Days of the RevolutionAmid the turmoil of the American Revolution, a young patriot navigates love, loyalty, and fierce naval battles that test the spirit of a nation.
Level C1HistoricalFor God and GoldEmbark on a daring voyage with Jasper Festing, a scholar-turned-soldier, as he joins Sir Francis Drake’s perilous expedition to the Spanish Main, navigating intrigue and adventure…
Level C1AdventureFor Fortune and Glory: A Story of the Soudan WarA young man returns home to Holly Lodge, where whispers surround his mysterious uncle who vanished into the desert and returned with strange beliefs.
Level C1ClassicsFootsteps of FateA passionate revolt brews among young Dutch writers challenging the sleepy traditions of their predecessors, sparking a fierce literary revolution filled with beauty, delicacy, and…
Level C1HistoricalFootprints on the Sea-Shore (From "Twice Told Tales")A solitary wanderer escapes the bustle of society to find peace along a rugged sea-shore, where the waves, sand, and fleeting encounters with nature inspire deep reflection and qui…
Level C1MysteryFootprintsIn a misty hotel lobby, Judith Quilter Whitefield, a wealthy widow from a famed Oregon ranching family, arrives with a secretive purpose—to confront her charming and elusive brothe…
Level C1ClassicsFootlightsIn a small-town vaudeville theater, an actress battles loneliness, shattered dreams, and the harsh backstage reality as she faces the ultimate humiliation of returning home to a fo…
Level C1PoetryFood for the Mind: Or, A New Riddle-bookDive into a world where riddles unlock hidden truths and sharpen the mind, blending ancient wisdom with playful challenges that reveal the art of disguise and discovery in everyday…
Level C1ClassicsFontainbleau; a comic opera. In three actsIn a bustling London tavern during race time, the prideful but penniless gentleman Lackland clashes with the sharp-witted landlady, setting the stage for comic misunderstandings, l…
Level C1RomanceFolly CornerIn the sweltering heat of London and the dusty calm of a market town, a young woman’s desperate hope collides with Jethro Jayne’s daring impulse—a story of longing, social divides,…
Level C1ClassicsFollowing darknessAn intimate fragment of a renowned art critic’s unfinished autobiography unravels the enigmatic life and tragic death of Peter Waring, revealing his intense, morbid aestheticism an…
Level C1Children'sFollowers of the TrailIn a remote forest clearing, a solitary man known as the Hermit lives in harmony with nature, harvesting healing plants and finding unexpected friendship when a stray dog named Pal…
Level C1Children'sFollow My Leader: The Boys of TempletonThree boys embark on a nerve-wracking journey to Templeton school, facing the daunting exam that will decide their place among the land’s public schoolboys.
Level C1ClassicsFolle-FarineA young girl named Folle-Farine, called "dust" and deemed worthless, endures harsh labor and cruelty at a mill, while watching the free-floating dust she shares a name with—ponderi…
Level C1ClassicsFolks from DixieIn a snowy Kentucky plantation, Anner ’Lizer, the most admired young woman among the enslaved community, faces a tender but troubled romance with Sam Merritt amid the stirring back…
Level C1HistoricalFolk-lore of ShakespeareExplore the rich folklore woven into Shakespeare's works, revealing the enchanting world of fairies, their courts, and the mystical beliefs of Elizabethan England that inspired his…
Level C1ClassicsFolk-Speech of Cumberland and Some Districts Adjacent: Being Short Stories and Rhymes in the Dialects of the West Border CountiesExplore the rich dialects and lively folk tales of Cumberland and its border counties through vivid short stories and rhymes, capturing the authentic speech and culture of the regi…
Level C1ClassicsFolk-Lore and Legends: OrientalIn the bustling city of Isfahan, an honest cobbler is forced to abandon his trade and pose as an astrologer to satisfy his ambitious wife’s dreams of wealth, plunging him into a pe…
Level C1PoetryFoliage: Various PoemsExplore a vivid collection of poems that celebrate nature, human kindness, and life's simple joys, capturing moments from thunderstorms to May mornings with heartfelt reflection an…
Level C1AdventureFoes in AmbushIn the scorching Arizona desert, a weary paymaster confronts delays and silent tensions as his caravan prepares for a perilous journey through hostile Apache lands, where danger an…
Level C1HistoricalFoesIn the lush Scottish glen, a tutor and a wise woman share tales of visions and ancient omens, hinting at a stirring rebellion and the mysteries entwined with a young laird’s fate.
Level C1ClassicsFoe-FarrellAmid the trenches of the Aisne, a seasoned officer recounts stories that escape the war’s horrors, revealing the camaraderie and quiet struggles of soldiers carving out moments of…
Level C1MysteryFlying the Coast Skyways; Or, Jack Ralston's Swift PatrolTwo daring pilots, flying under aliases, embark on a secret mission from San Diego to the East Coast, navigating smoky skies and coded conversations to meet with Secret Service con…
Level C1PoetryFly LeavesStep into a world where dawn chases night and lovers meet beneath ancient trees, while whimsical creatures and quiet moments of reflection paint a vivid tapestry of nature, love, a…
Level C1RomanceFlute and Violin, and Other Kentucky Tales and RomancesIn post-Revolution Kentucky, a devoted but misunderstood parson struggles to build a church and inspire faith amidst skepticism and hardship.
Level C1RomanceFloyd Grandon's HonorAfter seven years away, Floyd Grandon returns to the grand stone house of his youth, stirring tensions among his ambitious sisters and curious mother as whispers swirl about a myst…
Level C1AdventureFlowing GoldIn booming Dallas, a distinguished stranger awakens to a city ripe with opportunity and danger, navigating the wild world of oil, power, and intrigue where every encounter promises…
Level C1HistoricalFlowers from a Persian Garden and Other PapersExplore a rich tapestry of Persian poetry, wit, and folklore through essays that blend wisdom and humor, revealing timeless tales of kings, poets, and everyday life in the East.
Level C1ClassicsFlowers and fruit from the writings of Harriet Beecher StoweExplore the profound inner life where souls connect beyond absence and death, and truth melts like music into the heart.
Level C1ClassicsFlower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces;: or, the Wedded Life, Death, and Marriage of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, Parish Advocate in the Burgh of Kuhschnappel.Delve into the intricate life and reflections of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, whose story unfolds amid the nuances of marriage, death, and community in Kuhschnappel, enriched by…
Level C1MysteryFlower of the GorseIn a quaint Breton village, three young women navigate local traditions and hidden tensions as a mysterious bell tolls, promising fortune and stirring secrets among artists and vil…
Level C1RomanceFlower of the DuskA blind composer, surrounded by devoted women and memories of past grandeur, confronts the delicate beauty of a spring evening that stirs his soul and challenges the boundaries bet…
Level C1RomanceFlower o' the lily: A romance of old CambrayAmidst the turmoil of 16th-century battles, a wounded French nobleman fights fiercely against overwhelming foes, driven by loyalty and rage.
Level C1ClassicsFlower o' the PeachIn the vast, sunlit Karoo, a young boy watches over his flock as an old shepherd recounts a haunting tale of a mysterious, singing madman wandering the veld.
Level C1RomanceFlower o' the Heather: A Story of the Killing TimesA reckless student’s drunken prank leads to harsh punishment, forcing him from Oxford to the wilds of Scotland.
Level C1HistoricalFlora Lyndsay; or, Passages in an Eventful Life, Vol. II.Aboard a cramped brig bound for new horizons, Flora Lyndsay navigates the challenges of shipboard life, rough seas, and unexpected company.
Level C1ClassicsFlora Lyndsay; or, Passages in an Eventful Life, Vol. I.A young couple faces the harsh realities of limited means and must decide whether to leave their comfortable English home for the uncertain promise of a new life on a Canadian farm…
Level C1RomanceFlora Adair; or, Love Works Wonders. Vol. 2 (of 2)Haunted by past heartbreak yet captivated by Flora’s gentle charm, Mr.
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.