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 Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 3 (of 5): Nature poemsImmerse yourself in vivid verse that captures the beauty and mysteries of nature—from whispering winds to quiet woods, each poem invites you to explore the seasons, landscapes, and…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 2 (of 5): New world idylls and poems of loveImmerse yourself in lyrical eclogues and evocative verses that weave the changing seasons with tender moments of love and longing, set against the enchanting backdrop of nature’s N…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Madison Cawein, Volume 1 (of 5): Lyrics and old world idyllsImmerse yourself in vivid lyric poems and idyllic scenes that weave old-world charm with meditative reflections on nature and life, capturing the serene spirit of Kentucky’s landsc…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Goethe, Translated in the Original MetresExplore the profound spirit of nature and human feeling through meticulously translated poems that capture the original metre and depth of thought, revealing the timeless artistry…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Giacomo LeopardiExplore the passionate verses of a poet whose intense love of beauty, patriotism, and deep philosophical reflections blend sorrow and aspiration in stirring odes and lyrics, reveal…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Felicia HemansExplore the heartfelt journey of a gifted poet from childhood to adulthood, tracing her inspirations, triumphs, and intimate reflections through a lifetime of evocative verse and l…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Emma Lazarus, Volume 2: Jewish poems: TranslationsExplore the poignant reflections and haunting melodies of a sensitive spirit wrestling with identity, loss, and heritage.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems of Emma Lazarus, Volume 1Explore the profound and melancholic world of a gifted poet whose early works delve into themes of loss, beauty, and myth, capturing the restless spirit of youth and the timeless a…
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Verses of Charles DickensStep into a world where comic opera meets familiar English scenes, as a young writer teams up with a composer to bring lively songs and spirited characters to the stage.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Prose of Ernest Dowson, With a Memoir by Arthur SymonsDive into a haunting collection of poetry and prose that reveals the restless spirit and delicate melancholy of a poet whose life was as fleeting as his verses.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Prose Poems of Charles Baudelaire: with an Introductory Preface by James HunekerDive into the dark, sensual world of a poet haunted by legend and self-mystification, where beauty, death, and despair intertwine in provocative verses and haunting prose poems.
Level C1PoetryThe Poems and Fragments of CatullusDive into the intricate art of classical poetry as this collection explores the challenges and triumphs of translating ancient Latin metres into English, revealing the delicate bal…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pocket R.L.S.: Being Favourite Passages from the Works of StevensonImmerse yourself in vivid reflections on nature, friendship, and the spirit of adventure, as a wanderer finds beauty in unexpected moments and the profound harmony between the worl…
Level C1HistoricalThe Pocket Bible; or, Christian the Printer: A Tale of the Sixteenth CenturyIn 16th-century Paris, amid rising crime and social upheaval, a printer named Christian navigates the turbulent dawn of the Reformation, where old feudal orders clash with emerging…
Level C1AdventureThe Pobratim: A Slav NovelIn a Balkan town stirred by political shifts, two men embark on a secret mission to Cettinje, entangling friendship, duty, and an unexpected marriage that challenges tradition and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Poacher; Or, Joseph RushbrookOn a stormy November night, a fallen schoolmaster and a pedlar grapple with the ruinous effects of drink in a small Devonshire village, revealing harsh truths about despair, duty,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Plum TreeA young lawyer battles poverty and self-doubt in a small Midwestern town, inspired by his courageous mother to claim his independence and establish his own practice amidst the skep…
Level C1AdventureThe Plowshare and the Sword: A Tale of Old QuebecIn 1637 Quebec, a fortress city teeters between fragile peace and looming war as French settlers, soldiers, and cunning priests navigate alliances with natives and rival European p…
Level C1HistoricalThe Plow-WomanOn the vast Dakota prairie, a determined young woman named Dallas wrestles with the land, guiding her aging mules through the hard work of tilling new soil to prepare for winter, w…
Level C1PoetryThe Pleasures of a Single Life, Or, The Miseries of Matrimony: Occasionally writ upon the many divorces lately granted by Parliament. With The choice, or, the pleasures of a country-life. Dedicated to the beaus against the next vacation.Escape the trials of matrimony and embrace the serene joys of single life, where books, nature, and quiet contemplation offer boundless delight and wisdom without the storms of wor…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pleasures of IgnoranceDiscover the joy found in our shared ignorance of nature, from the elusive cuckoo's song to the surprise of spring blooms, as each new discovery renews wonder and transforms the fa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pleasant Street Partnership: A Neighborhood StoryIn a neighborhood clinging to tradition, a quirky new building disguised as a drug store stirs curiosity and resistance, especially when a poised young woman arrives to lease the u…
Level C1ClassicsThe Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. StevensonIn 18th-century Edinburgh, William Brodie leads a double life as a respected craftsman by day and a cunning housebreaker by night, weaving a tense drama of loyalty, secrecy, and da…
Level C1ClassicsThe Plays of Philip Massinger, Vol. IExplore the refined and moral dramas of early English playwrights, carefully adapted to omit coarse language and scenes, revealing vivid characters and compelling plots that champi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Playboy of the Western World: A Comedy in Three ActsIn a rugged Irish village, Pegeen Mike, a spirited young woman, navigates love and local life amid the wild imagination and raw realities of her community, where every word and ges…
Level C1Science FictionThe Plattner Story, and OthersAn ordinary language teacher wakes to find his internal organs mysteriously reversed, throwing his world—and his own body—into baffling disarray.
Level C1HistoricalThe Plague of Athens, which hapned in the second year of the Peloponnesian Warre: First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latin by Lucretius. Now attempted in EnglishAs Athens faces invasion during the Peloponnesian War, a devastating plague strikes the city, baffling doctors and overwhelming the population.
Level C1PoetryThe Placid Pug, and Other RhymesA placid pug leads a dull, uneventful life in the park, unaware of the fierce struggles beyond his world.
Level C1RomanceThe Place of HoneymoonsTorn between restless ambition and a longing for meaning, Courtlandt drifts through the dazzling allure of Parisian nights and distant jungles, seeking a path that will finally sat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Place Beyond the WindsIn a remote village where rugged landscapes and deep traditions shape life, Priscilla Glenn faces the challenges of farm life and the lure of the wider world beyond.
Level C1MysteryThe Pit Town Coronet: A Family Mystery, Volume 3 (of 3)Seventeen years after a sudden health crisis, Reginald Haggard and his family settle into Walls End Castle under the watchful eye of Lord Pit Town, navigating aristocratic duties,…
Level C1MysteryThe Pit Town Coronet: A Family Mystery, Volume 2 (of 3)In a secluded Swiss villa overlooking a mysteriously blue lake, Georgie Haggard leads a quiet life shadowed by distant letters from her husband in Mexico—until a hidden family secr…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirates of the Prairies: Adventures in the American DesertIn the vast, untamed prairies of the American desert, wild landscapes teem with exotic flora and fierce creatures, while fearless Native warriors command the land.
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate, and The Three CuttersSet sail into a vivid world where pirates are neither mere villains nor romantic heroes, but complex figures navigating loyalty, survival, and shifting allegiances on the high seas…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate of the Mediterranean: A Tale of the SeaAmidst the fortified harbors and bustling streets of Valetta, Malta, a tale unfolds of naval intrigue, diverse cultures, and the enduring struggle to protect this Mediterranean str…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate WomanAs the feared pirate chieftain lies dying, his fierce daughter Dolores stands guard over a mysterious cave rumored to hold untold wealth and secrets.
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate Slaver: A Story of the West African CoastA swift British brig sets sail along the West African coast in 1840, hunting elusive slave ships hidden in the treacherous Congo River.
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate Island: A Story of the South PacificA fierce November gale batters the coast as townsfolk anxiously watch for shipwrecks, while young Bob, a lone survivor of a tragic maritime disaster, keeps vigilant lookout—driven…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate City: An Algerine TaleA spirited Sicilian youth dreams of a sailor’s life, but family duty and expectations pull him toward the Church.
Level C1RomanceThe PirateAmid the rugged beauty of the Orkney Isles, a tale unfolds where history, legend, and romance intertwine, as a mysterious pirate’s presence stirs passion and intrigue among islande…
Level C1AdventureThe PirateStranded on a dismasted, waterlogged ship in the stormy Bay of Biscay, three survivors cling to life amid the wreckage—an exhausted woman, a man, and a pale infant—facing the cruel…
Level C1ClassicsThe Piper: A Play in Four ActsIn medieval Hamelin, a mysterious piper’s enchanting music promises to rid the town of a devastating rat plague, but his sudden disappearance leaves the townsfolk questioning fate,…
Level C1PoetryThe Piper and the ReedA fragile reed by the river becomes the key to a divine melody as the eternal Piper seeks the perfect harmony in a cosmic song.
Level C1AdventureThe Pioneers; Or, The Sources of the SusquehannaIn the rugged wilderness at the source of the Susquehanna River, settlers forge a new community amid dense forests and untamed waters, navigating the challenges of frontier life an…
Level C1AdventureThe PioneersIn the wild Canadian wilderness, a rugged pioneer and his son confront the challenges of uncharted lands, driven by a restless spirit to explore and discover the unknown.
Level C1MysteryThe Pink ShopIn a discreet pink shop nestled in a forgotten Kensington lane, Madame Coralie offers society’s aging women a tantalizing secret: the illusion of youth restored through mysterious…
Level C1AdventureThe Pilot: A Tale of the SeaAmidst the vast and unpredictable sea, a skilled pilot navigates treacherous waters with unmatched expertise, revealing the true life and trials of sailors beyond romance and storm…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pilot and His WifeOn a remote Norwegian island, a solitary former pilot clings to life in isolation, haunted by his past and sustained by an unlikely alliance with smugglers.
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.