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 C1PoetryThe Sylphs of the Season with Other PoemsJourney through a visionary realm where the seasons are ruled by ethereal sylphs, blending nature's beauty with poetic dreams and celestial encounters.
Level C1HistoricalThe Sword of the KingA broken sword hanging in a great hall holds the secret to a family’s honor and history, as a mother begins to recount a tale of love, legacy, and the trials that shape them all—st…
Level C1MysteryThe Sword of Damocles: A Story of New York LifeIn the shadowed streets of New York, a desperate woman confronts the harsh realities of love and fate, while a talented pianist contemplates leaving his art for the perilous world…
Level C1Science FictionThe Sword and the AtopenIn a near-future war where gravity-defying technology and atomic weapons reshape the battlefield, a groundbreaking discovery harnessing solar energy offers a last hope against an u…
Level C1AdventureThe Sword MakerIn a turbulent Frankfort crippled by corruption and famine, merchants unite in a desperate bid to break the noble stranglehold on the Rhine trade.
Level C1AdventureThe Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert IslandA Swiss family survives a violent shipwreck and finds themselves stranded on a mysterious, fertile island near New Guinea.
Level C1ClassicsThe Swing of the PendulumA reluctant traveler and a spirited young woman cross paths aboard a stormy sea voyage to Norway, where unexpected encounters and simmering tensions hint at more than just a scenic…
Level C1MysteryThe Swindler and Other StoriesA sharp-eyed woman confronts a cold, enigmatic man aboard a rolling ship, suspecting him to be a detective hunting a notorious swindler—her own charming cousin.
Level C1RomanceThe Sweet and Touching Tale of Fleur & Blanchefleur: A Mediæval Legend Translated from the FrenchAmidst a backdrop of war and captivity, two children—Fleur, the son of a heathen king, and Blanchefleur, a Christian captive—grow up inseparable, their deep bond challenged by roya…
Level C1ClassicsThe Swan of VilamortaUnder the silver moonlight near a quiet town, a young man finds solace in echoing poetry against an ancient church wall, only to be disrupted by crude muleteers.
Level C1AdventureThe Swamp Doctor's Adventures in The South-West: Containing the Whole of The Louisiana Swamp Doctor; Streaks of Squatter Life; and Far-Western Scenes; In a Series of Forty-Two Humorous Southern and Western Sketches, Descriptive of Incidents and CharacterVenture into the rugged life of a swamp doctor braving the wild American South-West, where frontier medicine meets untamed nature and colorful characters in a series of humorous an…
Level C1AdventureThe Survivors of the Chancellor: Diary of J.R. Kazallon, PassengerA passenger boards the sturdy sailing ship Chancellor for a voyage from Charleston to Liverpool, drawn by the charm of the sea and the promise of adventure, but soon senses hidden…
Level C1MysteryThe SurvivorIn a remote village chapel, a worldly lady's unexpected presence disrupts a young preacher's solemn sermon, igniting a clash between rigid faith and vibrant life.
Level C1HistoricalThe Surrender of Calais: A Play, in Three ActsAmid the siege of Calais, brave French soldiers struggle with hunger, fear, and loyalty as they face the looming English conquerors.
Level C1AdventureThe Surprising Adventures of Baron MunchausenEmbark on wildly exaggerated journeys with Baron Munchausen, whose fantastical tales of marvellous travels and daring campaigns blur the line between truth and imagination, invitin…
Level C1HistoricalThe Surgeon's DaughterAmidst the rise of a humble artisan to civic prominence, a surgeon’s daughter embarks on a perilous journey to India to join her distant fiancé, whose fortunes have transformed but…
Level C1PoetryThe Suppressed Poems of Alfred Lord TennysonExplore a rare collection of poems penned during the peak of a celebrated poet's career but never republished, revealing early experiments, lyrical fragments, and suppressed verses…
Level C1ClassicsThe Supply at Saint Agatha'sIn a prestigious church known for wealth, music, and tradition, a bold vestryman seizes control of the pulpit supply during the rector’s winter vacation, setting the stage for unex…
Level C1HistoricalThe Supernatural in Modern English FictionExplore the enduring allure of the supernatural in modern English fiction, where ghostly and psychic motifs shape stories from Gothic romance to contemporary tales, revealing human…
Level C1AdventureThe Sunset TrailA young hunter known as Bat navigates the rugged American West during its transformative cattle era, where ancient trails and fierce wilderness shape a man’s fate amidst the fading…
Level C1Science FictionThe Sunken Isthmus; or, Frank Reade, Jr., in the Yucatan Channel.An audacious scientist claims a sunken isthmus once connected Cuba and Yucatan, and plans to prove it by exploring the ocean floor in a revolutionary submarine invented by Frank Re…
Level C1FantasyThe Sundering FloodA mighty river named the Sundering Flood flows through a rich city and its countryside, where ships mingle with farmsteads and villagers dream of distant lands.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sundered Streams: The History of a Memory That Had No Full StopsIn the tranquil English town of Darnley-on-Downe, an obscure family of steady yet unnoticed wealth faces the subtle upheavals of social change and tradition.
Level C1HistoricalThe Sun VirginAmid the harsh wilderness of the New World, a determined young cavalier defends a doomed expedition seeking a legendary Kingdom of Gold, challenging a governor ready to abandon the…
Level C1Science FictionThe Sun KingIn a decadent city ruled by the ruthless Sun King, a virgin’s miraculous pregnancy sparks fear and wonder, challenging forgotten gods and unleashing ancient powers on the brink of…
Level C1ClassicsThe SummonsAs the 1912 Olympic Games end in Stockholm, Captain Harry Luttrell faces a life-altering choice: answer a mysterious summons from Cairo or remain trapped in the restless ennui of p…
Level C1MysteryThe Summit House Mystery; Or, The Earthly PurgatoryHigh atop Deer Mountain, a man returns to a rugged wilderness where old family pride has faded and a haunting mystery unfolds.
Level C1RomanceThe Suitors of Yvonne: being a portion of the memoirs of the Sieur Gaston de LuynesIn a world of intrigue and ambition, a drunken young noble's reckless behavior threatens the fragile trust of powerful patrons, setting the stage for a tale of honor, betrayal, and…
Level C1PoetryThe Sufistic Quatrains of Omar KhayyamExplore the profound quatrains of a philosopher-poet who blends Sufistic mysticism with sharp wit, moral reflection, and a quest for the eternal, challenging dogma while seeking di…
Level C1PoetryThe Sufism of the Rubáiyát, or, the Secret of the Great ParadoxExplore profound spiritual paradoxes through poetic reflections on the universe, the divine, and the hidden forces that transform matter into spirit, inviting seekers to uncover th…
Level C1MysteryThe Substitute PrisonerA mysterious woman arrives unannounced to warn Herbert Whitmore that George Collins, driven to rage, knows of his secret dealings and plans to confront him.
Level C1FantasyThe Substance of a DreamA mysterious love story unfolds like a fairy tale, exploring the enigmatic nature of attraction and the complexities of understanding between men and women.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sublime JesterA young boy’s dreams of newfound wealth and a better life clash with cruel taunts and prejudice at his strict school, revealing the harsh realities behind his hopeful fantasies.
Level C1MysteryThe Sturgis wagerOn a frigid December night in bustling Broadway, a mysterious cabman collapses at the wheel, sparking a chaotic accident that draws the attention of a shrewd reporter and a doctor.
Level C1HistoricalThe Student's Companion to Latin AuthorsExplore the lives and works of key Latin authors with detailed facts, original quotations, and historical context, designed to deepen understanding and complement literary apprecia…
Level C1ClassicsThe Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson: By One of the FirmThree business partners navigate the challenges of British commerce, rivalry, and reputation, revealing the delicate art of partnership and the power of advertisement in a changing…
Level C1ClassicsThe Stronger InfluenceA young woman recovering from illness seeks adventure and companionship on a mountain journey, but the uneasy company and perilous climb reveal the wild beauty and hidden tensions…
Level C1AdventureThe Strong ArmIn a tense desert standoff, an aged Emir commands forty seasoned horsemen armed with nothing but spears to outwit a fierce German commander wielding a deadly two-handed sword.
Level C1HistoricalThe Strolling Saint; being the confessions of the high and mighty Agostino D'Anguissola, tyrant of Mondolfo and Lord of Carmina, in the state of PiacenzaA man reflects on how the name given to his mother shaped her life of devout sacrifice and how his own troubled existence was marked as a votive offering before birth, setting the…
Level C1HistoricalThe StrollersAmid the glitter and scandal of London’s theater world, a celebrated actress’s fierce onstage confrontation with a foreign marquis ignites a web of passion, power, and political in…
Level C1ClassicsThe Strength of Gideon and Other StoriesIn a plantation community stirred by a powerful sermon, a boy named Gideon grows under the weight of a sacred destiny, embodying strength, discipline, and faith as he leads his fam…
Level C1ClassicsThe Streets of Ascalon: Episodes in the Unfinished Career of Richard Quarren, Esqre.In a bustling Irish household caught in financial turmoil, Richard Quarren faces mounting debts and strained friendships.
Level C1ClassicsThe StrawIn a modest Connecticut kitchen in 1912, a struggling father battles illness, poverty, and family tensions as his daughter lies sick, revealing the harsh realities of working-class…
Level C1ClassicsThe Stranger: A Drama, in Five ActsIn a world where moral perfection is demanded yet elusive, a scandalous tale unfolds of a betrayed husband, a repentant wife, and the devastating consequences of illicit love, chal…
Level C1FantasyThe Strange Voyage and Adventures of Domingo Gonsales, to the World in the MoonA daring voyage begins from the remote island of St.
Level C1ClassicsThe Strange VisitationOn a stormy Christmas Eve, the ruthless multi-millionaire Josiah McNason wields immense power over trade and society, yet his cold heart stands opposed to the season’s spirit of pe…
Level C1MysteryThe Strange Schemes of Randolph MasonA masterful exploration of crimes designed to evade legal detection, challenging the boundaries between wrongdoing and law.
Level C1ClassicsThe Strange Friend of Tito GilA poor shoemaker’s son, raised amid nobility and courtly pleasures, faces heartbreak and exile when his protector dies, forcing him back to his humble trade—yet a mysterious friend…
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.