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 Hidden Servants and Other Very Old StoriesStep into a world where ancient Italian legends and heartfelt ballads come alive, weaving faith, beauty, and simple wisdom through vivid stories told with poetic grace.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hidden MasterpieceA struggling young artist, driven by admiration and poverty, ventures into the atelier of a renowned painter in early 17th-century Paris, confronting the awe and uncertainty that a…
Level C1HistoricalThe Hidden Force: A Story of Modern JavaUnder a blood-red moon in the Dutch East Indies, a heavy silence blankets the colonial town, where the complex and tense relations between Europeans and natives simmer beneath the…
Level C1RomanceThe Hidden ChildrenAmid the fading legacy of the Iroquois Confederacy, a tale unfolds where history and romance intertwine, revealing the struggles and spirit of noble tribes bound by loyalty, betray…
Level C1GothicThe HeroineIn a world where Regency ideals shape womanhood, a witty and satirical tale explores the adventures and social expectations of the delicate yet spirited heroine, blending humor wit…
Level C1HistoricalThe Heroic AgeExplore the origins and shared traits of heroic poetry across Teutonic and Greek cultures, uncovering their historical, mythical, and anthropological roots through a comparative st…
Level C1Children'sThe Heroes of Asgard: Tales from Scandinavian MythologyStep into the icy halls of ancient Scandinavia, where gods and heroes shape a vivid world of myth and magic.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hermit of Far EndIn a quiet, shabby London room, a woman waits anxiously for a man she once loved, clutching a little pearl ring as a sign.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hermit and the Wild Woman, and Other StoriesA young boy, scarred by violent war and loss, retreats to a solitary cave to live a life of piety and peace, seeking refuge from a brutal world and the torment of his haunted soul.
Level C1MysteryThe Hermit Of ——— Street: 1898A young woman, captivated by the enigmatic and reclusive Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of the SiouxAs spring breathes life into the vast mesa, a seasoned rancher wrestles with restless ambition and the call of the open range, determined to lead his roundup despite uncertain prom…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of the Kurts, Volume 2 (of 2)In a small community, four remarkable young women known as "The Staff" navigate friendship, music, and the challenges of youth, while the enigmatic Sheriff's daughter Nora grapples…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of the Kurts, Volume 1 (of 2)A sprawling estate overlooking town and sea holds centuries of secrets and ambition, beginning with a mysterious exile who stakes his claim through love and power.
Level C1AdventureThe Heritage of the Desert: A NovelIn the unforgiving Utah desert, a wounded spy lies among a tense group of Mormon settlers caught between faith and violence as relentless outlaws close in, threatening their land a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of Dedlow Marsh and Other TalesTwo young siblings navigate the eerie Dedlow Marshes at sunset, their bond as strong as the mysterious landscape surrounding them.
Level C1HistoricalThe HeritageIn a frozen Balkan forest, two revolutionary leaders navigate betrayals and alliances amid rising unrest, summoned by a dying Englishman whose mysterious final request could tip th…
Level C1HistoricalThe Herd Boy and His HermitA young shepherd boy discovers a lost noble girl wandering the treacherous moorlands at twilight and must guide her safely to shelter, navigating wild landscapes and unexpected dan…
Level C1ClassicsThe HenchmanIn a politically charged convention within New York's Demijohn District, Calvin Ross Shelby rises from humble beginnings and fierce local rivalries to claim his place as the "Champ…
Level C1MysteryThe Hemlock Avenue MysteryA rising lawyer’s public clash with a rival hides deeper tensions as a young reporter becomes drawn into the mysteries behind Hemlock Avenue’s polished facade, where quiet respecta…
Level C1ClassicsThe HelpmateAwakening to a dawn filled with doubt, a newlywed wife confronts the painful truth about her husband’s past, testing the fragile bond of trust and love between them.
Level C1ClassicsThe HelpersIn a bustling Denver opera house, a newcomer wrestles with his hopes and doubts about the city’s promise, while a spirited local woman challenges his views and hints at unexpected…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heiress; a comedy, in five actsIn a witty London setting, the Blandish siblings scheme and spar over fortunes, flirtations, and social standing, weaving a sharp comedy of manners where love and money clash in th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heir to Grand-PréA young geologist embarks on a serene but mysterious voyage along Nova Scotia’s rugged shores, studying tides and landscapes while uncovering secrets hidden in the shifting current…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heir of RedclyffeIn the cozy drawing-room of Hollywell House, a sudden letter brings shocking news of Sir Guy Morville's unexpected death, setting in motion a tale of guardianship, family secrets,…
Level C1RomanceThe Heir of MondolfoIn a sun-drenched castle overlooking the Mediterranean, young Ludovico battles his tyrannical father’s hatred and vows to forge his own path as a courageous cavalier, defying the f…
Level C1AdventureThe Heir of Kilfinnan: A Tale of the Shore and OceanA young fisher lad braves the wild Atlantic alone, his heart weighed by the care of his ailing mother and a mysterious heritage tied to an ancient Irish coastal castle.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heir Presumptive and the Heir ApparentA charming tale of family dynamics unfolds as Lord Frogmore’s stepbrother, the heir presumptive, declares his intention to marry a country girl, stirring unexpected emotions and ch…
Level C1AdventureThe HeirAmidst the stirring backdrop of Cambridge’s scholarly contests, a young poet’s vivid recounting of the fall of Czarigrad captivates a foreign professor, hinting at deeper mysteries…
Level C1HistoricalThe Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of: William Carleton, Volume ThreeIn a time when education is scarce and frowned upon, Irish peasants defy the odds by gathering beneath hedges to learn from eccentric, whiskey-loving schoolmasters.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heavenly TwinsIn a city where a haunting cathedral chime echoes day and night, residents grapple with its mysterious power and meaning, revealing the tensions between tradition, faith, and perso…
Level C1RomanceThe Heather-MoonBarrie, a young woman starved for romance, discovers the garret door to a mysterious "Fairyland" unlocked for the first time—an irresistible invitation into a secret world that pro…
Level C1MysteryThe Heath Hover MysteryIn a lonely, eerie house shunned by all, a skeptical man dares to spend the night where a locked door mysteriously moves on its own at midnight—on a night rumored for strange, ghos…
Level C1RomanceThe Heart's Secret; Or, the Fortunes of a Soldier: a Story of Love and the Low Latitudes.In the sultry twilight of Havana, a young boy’s keen eyes witness the secrets of the sea and society, surrounded by military men and aristocrats amid whispers of forbidden trade an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart's KingdomA woman torn between the allure of a charming suitor and the haunting pull of her troubled family legacy must confront the mysterious stirrings of her heart in a battle for her own…
Level C1RomanceThe Heart's Highway: A Romance of Virginia in the Seventeenth CenturyIn 1682 Virginia, a disgraced English convict turned tutor accompanies the spirited young Mistress Mary Cavendish through the colonial wilderness, where social boundaries blur and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of the HillsIn the rugged hills where two feuding clans have long battled, a young boy caught between family loyalty and personal desires navigates the harsh mountain life, secret meetings, an…
Level C1AdventureThe Heart of the Ancient WoodIn the heart of an ancient, whispering forest, a solitary lumberman named Dave Titus treks a forgotten trail, unaware of the countless unseen eyes tracking his every step.
Level C1MysteryThe Heart of a WomanLouisa Harris, a sensible Englishwoman leading a quiet, ordinary life, unexpectedly receives a love letter that challenges her steadfast rejection of romance.
Level C1MysteryThe Heart of a MysteryOn a bitter December night in a remote Derbyshire hall, Miss Pengarvon’s quiet embroidery is interrupted by a mysterious late visitor knocking at the door.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of Rome: A Tale of the "Lost Water"In the heart of a crumbling Roman palace, a noble family faces ruin as their servants vanish and debts mount, leaving the once-grand Conti estate eerily deserted.
Level C1RomanceThe Heart of Princess OsraIn a city ruled by a fierce king known as the Lion, a humble smith named Stephen finds himself caught in royal intrigues when Prince Henry’s troubles stir unrest.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of PenelopeAfter twenty years of exile and disgrace, Sir George Downing returns to London, bearing the scars of a mysterious scandal intertwined with love and betrayal.
Level C1HistoricalThe Heart of Mid-Lothian, CompleteIn 18th-century Edinburgh, a determined woman's fate intertwines with the city's justice and turmoil, revealing deep social struggles and personal courage.
Level C1RomanceThe Heart of HyacinthIn tranquil Sendai, a foreign missionary embraces a new life with a local wife and child, only to face heartbreak and duty when his past calls him away, leaving love and loss entwi…
Level C1HistoricalThe Heart of Denise, and Other TalesIn the shadowed corridors of the Queen Mother's court, Denise de Mieux endures long hours of lonely watch, caught between youthful folly and the enigmatic gaze of the stoic lieuten…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of Canyon PassTwo old prospectors, once inseparable, now bitter enemies, set out from the rough mining town of Canyon Pass for another season in the unforgiving desert, their long-standing feud…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart Line: A Drama of San FranciscoIn the grimy Siskiyou House of 1877 San Francisco, a clean and curious boy finds solace in books amidst squalor and hidden treasures, setting the stage for a drama where the city's…
Level C1ClassicsThe Headsman; Or, The Abbaye des VigneronsAn American family settles in the picturesque Swiss town of Vévey, where chance meetings and the charm of Lake Geneva reveal local lore, rugged landscapes, and the clash between wo…
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.