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 C2PoetryThe Liberty BellFreedom’s call echoes through mountains and valleys as the Liberty Bell tolls, stirring hearts with hope and defiance.
Level B2ClassicsThe Lever: A NovelA chance encounter rekindles childhood friendship between Alice and Allen, setting the stage for a story of rekindled bonds, family dynamics, and the pursuit of justice in a world…
Level C1HistoricalThe Letters of the Younger Pliny, First Series — Volume 1Step into the daily life and ambitious career of a Roman gentleman navigating the courts, politics, and countryside of the early Empire.
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of a Portuguese NunAmidst the secret wars and shifting alliances of 17th-century Portugal, a passionate exchange unfolds between a nun and a French officer, revealing a tale of love, loyalty, and bet…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2Explore intimate and candid letters revealing the daily life, friendships, and reflections of a beloved writer in the mid-1880s, blending heartfelt sentiments with humor and person…
Level C2ClassicsThe Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 1Explore the intimate correspondence revealing the journeys, thoughts, and relationships of a literary figure from student days in Edinburgh to travels across Europe and America.
Level C2ClassicsThe Letters of Robert BurnsExplore the intimate correspondence revealing the personal thoughts, relationships, and reflections of a celebrated poet, offering a vivid glimpse into his world through letters to…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Jane Austen: Selected from the compilation of her great nephew, Edward, Lord BradbourneStep into the quiet world of early 19th-century England, where amidst historic upheavals, a sharp observer captures the intimate details of daily life, revealing timeless human nat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Her Mother to ElizabethA sharp-witted mother writes candid letters filled with societal gossip and advice, guiding her daughter Elizabeth through the intrigues and complexities of upper-class life and po…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Volume 2 of 2)Explore the passionate correspondence of a poet deeply engaged with Italy's turbulent politics and culture, capturing vivid travels, literary reflections, and the intimate struggle…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Volume 1 of 2)Delve into the intimate correspondence of a Victorian literary icon, revealing her private thoughts, relationships, and the heartfelt events that shaped her life—all meticulously a…
Level C1HistoricalThe Letters of Cicero, Volume 1: The Whole Extant Correspodence in Chronological OrderStep into the turbulent world of the late Roman Republic through the vivid, candid letters of a master orator and statesman.
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 3, 1836-1870Delve into the world of Charles Dickens through his candid letters, revealing the challenges and triumphs of a burgeoning dramatic writer navigating critiques, collaborations, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 2, 1857-1870Explore the vibrant life of a literary giant through intimate letters revealing his travels, theatrical ventures, and heartfelt connections with family and friends amid the bustlin…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Charles Dickens. Vol. 1, 1833-1856Step into the early literary life of a towering storyteller through intimate letters revealing his daily struggles, creative bursts, and personal reflections as he embarks on journ…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt WhitmanAn intimate collection of love letters and essays reveals the profound friendship and admiration between Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman, offering rare insight into the private exc…
Level C1ClassicsThe Letters of Ambrose Bierce, With a Memoir by George SterlingDiscover the sharp wit and complex mind of a Civil War veteran turned acerbic journalist, whose letters reveal the life and literary ascent of a man both celebrated and obscure, na…
Level B2HistoricalThe Letters of "Norah" on Her Tour Through IrelandSet sail on a vivid journey through Ireland as a determined traveler navigates seasickness, smoky train rides, and bustling ports, all while capturing the spirit and landscapes of…
Level B2RomanceThe Letter of CreditA young girl dreams beyond her humble farm life, longing for adventures and stories that transcend her reality.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lesson of the MasterA young writer visits a grand English country house, eager to meet the celebrated author Henry St.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lesser BourgeoisieIn a Paris on the brink of transformation, the Thuillier family inhabits a fading world where old neighborhoods and traditions give way to relentless modernization.
Level B2MysteryThe Lerouge CaseIn a quiet village, the sudden disappearance of the Widow Lerouge sparks alarm when her home is found ransacked and her body discovered under mysterious circumstances.
Level B2HistoricalThe Leopard's Spots: A Romance of the White Man's Burden—1865-1900In the turbulent aftermath of the Civil War, a Southern hero returns to a land reshaped by defeat and Reconstruction, where old loyalties clash with new realities and the fight for…
Level C1AdventureThe Leopard WomanA weary safari treks through the vast African veldt, guided by a determined white man and a fierce native companion, as they navigate game trails and encounter mysterious figures l…
Level B2HistoricalThe Legends of San FranciscoAn ancient Tamalpais maiden recounts the sacred legend of her people, revealing the mystical origins of Mount Tamalpais and the vanished tribes who once thrived along San Francisco…
Level C1PoetryThe Legends of Saint PatrickCaptured by Irish pirates and sold into slavery, a young man named Succath finds faith and purpose while tending sheep in a foreign land, guided by visions and prayers that promise…
Level B2FantasyThe Legends of King Arthur and His KnightsIn a Britain torn by Saxon invasions, prophecies and legends intertwine as King Arthur rises from mysterious origins to unite knights under a noble quest.
Level C1PoetryThe Legendary and Poetical Remains of John Roby: author of 'Traditions of Lancashire', with a sketch of his literary life and characterA solitary boy in Lancashire, craving companionship, finds solace in nature’s mysteries and imaginary friends, while growing up shaped by strict family ideals and a fierce thirst f…
Level C1PoetryThe Legend of the Lincoln ImpWhen a mischievous imp wreaks havoc in Lincoln Cathedral, chaos ensues until a tiny angel intervenes with a powerful curse.
Level C1AdventureThe Legend of the Glorious Adventures of Tyl Ulenspiegel in the land of Flanders and elsewhereIn the midst of 16th-century Flanders, a spirited boy named Ulenspiegel is born into a world of vibrant folk life, brewing national passion, and the looming shadow of the Spanish I…
Level C1Children'sThe Legend of the Bleeding-heartIn a forest where all things speak, a kind old Flax-spinner raises an orphan girl, Olga, weaving magic from her own heart's blood to protect her.
Level C1HistoricalThe Legend of Sleepy HollowIn a quiet valley steeped in eerie legends and haunted by the spectral Headless Horseman, a sleepy Dutch settlement harbors mysterious dreams and ghostly tales that blur the line b…
Level C1RomanceThe Legend of Sister BeatrixIn a remote gorge where ruins whisper of forgotten nobility, a noble widow known as The Saint discovers a miraculous flowering bush that reveals a radiant image of the Virgin Mary,…
Level C1RomanceThe Legend of Sir Lancelot du Lac: Studies upon its Origin, Development, and Position in the Arthurian Romantic CycleDive into the intricate origins and evolving tales of Sir Lancelot, the gallant knight entwined in love and loyalty at King Arthur’s court.
Level C1PoetryThe Legend of Kupirri, or, The Red Kangaroo: An Aboriginal Tradition of the Port Lincoln TribeIn a land where ancient legends shape the wild, two hunters confront the towering and fearsome Kupirri, the great Red Kangaroo, unraveling a tale of survival, transformation, and t…
Level C1MysteryThe Legacy of CainInside the walls of an English prison, a governor recounts the chilling case of a woman condemned for the cold-blooded murder of her husband—a tale of passion, premeditation, and t…
Level C1MysteryThe Leavenworth CaseWhen a wealthy merchant is found shot in his library, a young lawyer is drawn into a baffling murder mystery that threatens to unravel family secrets and hidden motives.
Level C1ClassicsThe Leatherwood GodIn a frontier settlement shaped by faith and hardship, a mysterious figure known as the Leatherwood God arrives, stirring deep spiritual and social tensions among the pioneers.
Level C1ClassicsThe Learned WomenTwo sisters clash over love and intellect: one embraces marriage and domestic joys, while the other scorns them for the pursuit of philosophy and learning, revealing a sharp satire…
Level C1MysteryThe LeakA brilliant scientist known as The Thinking Machine is enlisted to uncover the source of a costly leak in a financier’s office, where secret plans are mysteriously exposed and thwa…
Level C1AdventureThe League of the Scarlet PimpernelAmid the brutal chaos of revolutionary Paris, a mysterious Englishman rescues a desperate woman from a hostile crowd, revealing a world where danger and intrigue hide beneath the s…
Level C1AdventureThe League of the LeopardIn the sweltering heat of a remote West African trading post, a dying man's fevered tales of hidden gold and a secretive, deadly league stir intrigue.
Level B2Children'sThe Leader of the Lower School: A Tale of School LifeOn a gloomy afternoon at a girls' boarding school, the arrival of a mysterious, confident new girl named Gipsy stirs curiosity and promises to shake up the quiet routine.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lead of HonourA determined young man embarks on a journey down a mysterious southern river, drawn by ambition and a restless spirit.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lazy Tour of Two Idle ApprenticesTwo idle apprentices, craving nothing but leisure, abandon their duties to embark on a purposeless journey northward.
Level C1PoetryThe Lazy MinstrelA whimsical collection of poetry unfolds through charming sketches, playful songs, and lively scenes, capturing moments from leisurely days to spirited gatherings with wit and warm…
Level C2PoetryThe Lay of the SheriffStep into the lively world of Cane End, where a proud mother celebrates her son's appointment as High Sheriff amidst rustic feasts and local fanfare, while the new sheriff wrestles…
Level C1PoetryThe Lay of the Nibelung MenDive into an epic saga where gods mingle with mortals, and heroic deeds unfold amid love, betrayal, and vengeance.
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.