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 C1ClassicsThe New Minister's Great Opportunity: First published in the "Century Magazine"A newly appointed minister faces the daunting task of crafting a meaningful funeral sermon for the unremarkable Uncle Capen, whose simple life offers little inspiration.
Level C1ClassicsThe New MagdalenAmid the tense backdrop of the 1870 Franco-German war, a French captain and his surgeons guard a fragile victory in a secluded village cottage, where two Englishwomen find themselv…
Level C1ClassicsThe New MachiavelliA restless man at forty-two wrestles with the clash between personal passion and the lofty dream of statecraft, drawing inspiration from Machiavelli’s troubled genius to explore th…
Level C1PoetryThe New Life (La Vita Nuova)Journey through a lyrical exploration of love and devotion as poetic reflections intertwine with personal narrative, revealing the profound impact of an idealized muse on the soul…
Level C1HistoricalThe New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius CæsarPolitical intrigue and personal betrayal collide as Rome teeters on the edge of chaos following the rise of Julius Caesar.
Level C1FantasyThe New Gulliver, and Other StoriesShipwrecked mariner Lemuel Gulliver finds himself on the mysterious island of Thule, where a strange, ancient race with unique customs and fading civilization offers unexpected hos…
Level C1Children'sThe New Boy at Hilltop, and Other StoriesA new boy arrives at the chilly Hilltop School, navigating strict teachers and an unwelcoming dormitory while wondering if he’ll find friendship or frustration in this unfamiliar p…
Level C1ClassicsThe New Adam and Eve (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")In a deserted modern city, two newly created beings awaken as a new Adam and Eve, exploring the strange remnants of human civilization and grappling with the contrast between natur…
Level C1RomanceThe New Abelard: A Romance, Volume 3 (of 3)Haunted by a scandal that shatters her peace, Alma Craik embarks on a solitary pilgrimage through Europe's sacred sites, seeking solace and strength amid grief and misunderstanding…
Level C1RomanceThe New Abelard: A Romance, Volume 2 (of 3)In Victorian London, a radical preacher ignites controversy by founding a bold new church backed by a wealthy heiress, sparking scandal and fierce rivalry.
Level C1ClassicsThe Nether WorldIn the shadowed streets of London, an aged man searches for a mysterious Snowdon near the grim Middlesex House of Detention, while a young girl named Jane Snowdon listens in, setti…
Level C1RomanceThe Nether MillstoneA daring ride spirals into danger when Mary Dashwood faces a wild horse on a treacherous path—only to be saved by a mysterious stranger whose past and feelings entwine with hers in…
Level C1AdventureThe NetA weary traveler journeys through Sicily’s rugged landscape, uncovering the intricate ties of wealth, power, and passion that bind two noble families in an impending marriage that…
Level C1ClassicsThe Nest, The White Pagoda, The Suicide, A Forsaken Temple, Miss Jones and the MasterpieceA man facing imminent death reflects on life, love, and the work that defines him during a poignant train journey to the countryside, where the quiet moments before the end reveal…
Level C1RomanceThe Nest of the Sparrowhawk: A Romance of the XVIIth CenturyIn a 17th-century Kentish manor, the stern butler and his loyal assistant navigate the tensions between strict piety and youthful revelry, as laughter and love echo from the garden…
Level C1ClassicsThe Nephews: A Play, in Five Acts.In a world of family secrets and contested inheritances, two brothers clash under the watchful eyes of their stern guardian and influential father, navigating love, suspicion, and…
Level C1HistoricalThe Negro in Literature and Art in the United StatesExplore the rich contributions of African American creativity in literature and art, revealing how beauty, imagination, and fervent expression shape their unique cultural impact an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ned M'Keown Stories: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of: William Carleton, Volume ThreeExplore vivid tales that challenge stereotypes about the Irish peasantry, revealing their true character beyond caricature and prejudice through rich stories of tradition, wit, and…
Level C1MysteryThe NecromancersIn a world where piety and mystery collide, a young woman unravels the tragic story of Laurie Baxter and the girl he lost, confronting secrets that challenge faith and society’s bo…
Level C1MysteryThe Nebuly CoatAn architect is sent to oversee the restoration of the majestic but troubled Cullerne Minster, where financial strain and hidden dangers threaten the ancient church’s future.
Level C1RomanceThe Ne'er-Do-WellIn a city ablaze with football fever, Kirk Anthony, a talented but reckless athlete, battles public scandal and personal demons to lead a ragtag team to unexpected victory, proving…
Level C1PoetryThe Naughty Man; or, Sir Thomas Brown: Love, Courtship and Marriage in High Life. A Poetical SatireDive into a sharp poetic satire unraveling the humorous and scandalous antics of Sir Thomas Brown as he navigates love, courtship, and marriage in the high society of his time.
Level C1ClassicsThe Natural History of the GentA sharp satire exposes the absurd pretensions of the "Gent," a newly coined term for a social type obsessed with style but lacking true gentlemanly qualities.
Level C1AdventureThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket: Comprising the details of a mutiny and atrocious butchery on board the American brig Grampus, on her way to the South Seas, in the month of June, 1827.A young man from Nantucket embarks on a perilous voyage aboard the brig Grampus, facing mutiny, shipwreck, and unimaginable horrors in the remote South Seas and Antarctic Ocean.
Level C1HistoricalThe Napoleon of the PeopleAmidst the scorched island of Corsica, a young Napoleon rises, destined by a mysterious pact to lead a ragtag, starving army to stunning victories across Italy.
Level C1FantasyThe Napoleon of Notting HillIn a whimsically prophetic London, the art of prophecy collides with human folly and fate as clever men foresee a future shaped by both science and nature’s return.
Level C1FantasyThe Naiad: A ghost storyA young lawyer visits the enigmatic château of Ionis to handle a delicate legal matter, only to find himself entwined in the quiet mysteries of a grand estate and its intriguing in…
Level C1ClassicsThe NabobA charming tale unfolds through the intimate lens of home life, tracing the journey of a spirited French writer whose sunny childhood and Bohemian dreams intertwine with fortune, f…
Level C1PoetryThe Mythological ZooWhimsical verses bring mythological creatures to life, from Medusa’s tangled snakes to the mischievous Satyr and the elusive Sea Serpent, blending humor and fantasy in a playful ex…
Level C1ClassicsThe Mystics: A NovelIn a remote Scottish house, a young man awaits his uncle’s death, feeling a tumultuous mix of dread and liberation.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Yellow RoomAn attempted murder in a locked room baffles the police and captivates Paris, as a young reporter, Joseph Rouletabille, tackles the mysterious case surrounding the "Yellow Room" wh…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the SeaA visitor to Cruden Bay encounters a mysterious old woman whose eerie insight hints at dark secrets tied to a tragic drowning.
Level C1RomanceThe Mystery of the Lost Dauphin (Louis XVII)In post-revolutionary Paris, a young man claiming royal lineage arrives at the historic Saint-Denis chapel, stirring whispers of the lost Dauphin’s survival and igniting a passiona…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the LocksIn the fading river town of Davy's Bend, a mysterious stranger arrives on a dark, rainy night, bringing unsettling packages and impatience that stir the town’s shadows and secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Hidden RoomCalled urgently to aid Ruth, a man haunted by lost love races through a chilling October night toward a mysterious crisis involving gambling, danger, and dark secrets threatening t…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Four FingersIn the elegant Great Empire Hotel, a mysterious American multi-millionaire stirs whispers while a restless adventurer and a keen barrister find their quiet dinner interrupted by a…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the DownsCaught in a fierce storm on a lonely cliff road, Harry Marsland must seek shelter for himself and his injured horse at a remote farmhouse hidden in the darkness—where unexpected se…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of the Clasped Hands: A NovelTwo artists with contrasting temperaments navigate London's shadowy foreign eateries, where dangerous conspirators lurk and art conceals deeper intrigues.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of a Turkish BathIn a lavish English winter resort’s Turkish Baths, a group of women with mysterious ailments gather, their lives intertwined with secrets, luxury, and intrigue.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of a Hansom CabWhen a mysterious murder occurs in a late-night hansom cab, a young writer’s debut novel plunges into the shadowy slums of Melbourne, weaving a gripping detective story filled with…
Level C1ClassicsThe Mystery of Witch-Face Mountain, and Other StoriesIn the shadow of Witch-Face Mountain, a mysterious visage appears and vanishes with the shifting light, sparking eerie legends and a rugged woodsman’s pride.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of The BarrancaIn the vibrant heart of Mexico, two travelers encounter a captivating young woman and her fierce wolfhound amid a bustling train station.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of Suicide PlaceA chance encounter on a transatlantic voyage sparks a flirtation between society beauty Maybelle Maury and the charming St.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of OrcivalAt dawn near the Seine, two poachers discover a grisly scene—a woman's body in the Count de Tremorel's park—pulling them into a web of suspicion and secrets in the quiet village of…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of Murray Davenport: A Story of New York at the Present DayOn a stormy August night in New York, Thomas Larcher receives a mysterious telegram from Edna, setting him on a quest to uncover the truth about the elusive Murray Davenport—a writ…
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of Mrs. BlencarrowIn a serene country estate, Mrs.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of MetropolisvilleIn a booming frontier town fueled by speculation and dreams, Whisky Jim commands his stagecoach through a world on the brink of change.
Level C1MysteryThe Mystery of M. FelixAmidst a fierce London storm, a mysterious cry for help pierces the night near the home of the enigmatic M.
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.