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 C2RomanceThe Lay of Havelok the DaneA noble Dane's lost heritage unfolds through trials and romance in a tale rediscovered from ancient manuscripts.
Level C1RomanceThe Lay Anthony: A RomanceTony Ball, a charming yet aimless young man, hides his innocence behind a facade of worldly cynicism while navigating the lively social scene of Ellerton.
Level C1ClassicsThe Lawyers, A Drama in Five ActsIn a humble tradesman's home, a proud carpenter grapples with his son’s rise to power and the widening gulf between their worlds, as family loyalty and social ambition collide amid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Lawton GirlA young man returns to his snowbound hometown of Thessaly, navigating the stark social divides and the challenges of a harsh winter.
Level C2ClassicsThe Laws of Candy: Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10)Amidst political intrigue and shifting alliances, senators, soldiers, and noble figures navigate the complex laws of Candy.
Level C1ClassicsThe Law-Breakers and Other StoriesIn a city rife with political corruption, George Colfax grapples with his passive reformist ideals while courting Mary Wellington, whose independent spirit challenges his convictio…
Level B2MysteryThe Law-BreakersUnder the blazing prairie sun, Inspector Stanley Fyles stands watch on a remote railway platform, facing the relentless battle against crime and smuggling in a harsh, lawless land.
Level C1ClassicsThe Law of the Land: Of Miss Lady, Whom It Involved in Mystery, and of John Eddring, Gentleman of the South, Who Read Its Deeper Meaning: A NovelIn a southern plantation at dawn, Miss Lady dances alone, embodying youth and mystery, until her mother’s unexpected arrival disrupts the fragile serenity.
Level C1AdventureThe Law of the BoloIn the Philippine Islands, a brutal code known as the Law of the Bolo governs justice—where the man with the longest reach claims the spoils.
Level C1MysteryThe Law and the LadyOn a gloomy London day, a young bride’s careless signature at her wedding sets off a chain of unsettling events, as family disapproval and mysterious mistakes cloud the start of he…
Level C1ClassicsThe Law and Lawyers of Pickwick: A LectureExplore the vivid world of Dickens' "Pickwick" through a lawyer’s eyes, uncovering the colorful characters and legal dramas that mirror the author’s own childhood experiences with…
Level C1ClassicsThe Law InevitableIn a bustling Roman boarding-house, Cornélie de Retz van Loo begins her first Italian journey, encountering eccentric residents and subtle tensions beneath the city's golden sunlig…
Level C1ClassicsThe Laurel WalkIn the quaint, rain-soaked town of Craig Bay, sisters Betty and Frances navigate the quirks of their small community while dreaming of a life beyond dreary weather and humble shops…
Level C1RomanceThe Laurel Bush: An Old-Fashioned Love StoryTwo young, orphaned educators, bound by duty and circumstance, navigate the delicate balance of friendship and unspoken love while caring for mischievous children in a quiet househ…
Level B2MysteryThe Launch Boys' Cruise in the DeerfootA courageous youth preparing for West Point finds his routine walk home through dark pine woods disrupted by mysterious figures and a shadowy follower, stirring fears that somethin…
Level B2MysteryThe Launch Boys' Adventures in Northern WatersTwo adventurous boys are drawn into a thrilling chase against post office robbers along the Maine coast, using their speedy motorboat to outwit criminals in a high-stakes game of c…
Level B2AdventureThe Laughter of Slim MaloneIn the rough mining town of Appleton, the mysterious Slim Malone rides a white horse, robbing stages and stirring unrest.
Level C1FantasyThe Laughter of Peterkin: A retelling of old tales of the Celtic WonderworldAwaken beneath a moonlit poplar, Peterkin glimpses tiny, laughing moonshine-folk dancing among the leaves, their mysterious songs echoing ancient Celtic magic.
Level C1Children'sThe Laughing Prince: Jugoslav Folk and Fairy TalesIn a world where three brothers follow different paths, the youngest, Stefan, finds joy and magic in farm life, charming animals and telling stories, all while facing his skeptical…
Level C1MysteryThe Laughing Mill, and Other StoriesAn old mariner’s peaceful farmhouse by the sea sets the stage for mysterious, supernatural tales where the impossible quietly unfolds.
Level C1RomanceThe Laughing GirlA reluctant heir faces an unexpected challenge when forced to manage a remote Swiss chalet and its curious inhabitants, including a mysterious red-headed girl, amid towering mounta…
Level C1AdventureThe Laughing Cavalier: The Story of the Ancestor of the Scarlet PimpernelIn 17th-century Haarlem, a spirited cavalier known for his laughter and daring adventures comes alive, revealing the true story behind the ancestor of a legendary hero.
Level C2PoetryThe Lathe of Morpheus; or, The dream song.: A tribute to B.C. from E.MVenture into the realm of dreams with a poetic journey through sleep’s mysterious divisions, where visions and invocations intertwine in a tribute to the elusive Morpheus.
Level C1HistoricalThe Later RenaissanceExplore the vibrant flowering of European literature during the later sixteenth century, with a keen focus on Spain’s unique Golden Age of art, war, and letters, while tracing the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Later LifeA man wakes from a vivid, humorous dream of a seaside where fashion and nudity merge in absurd harmony, sparking laughter and reflection at home as family dynamics unfold with the…
Level C1MysteryThe Late TenantA young Wyoming rancher-turned-writer escapes to London seeking peace and literary success, only to confront the city's noisy chaos and social puzzles.
Level C1RomanceThe Late Mrs. NullAmidst the quiet grandeur of a Virginia estate, Miss Roberta navigates family expectations and a growing affection for a frequent visitor, balancing tradition with the stirrings of…
Level C1RomanceThe Late Miss HollingfordAs autumn deepens, a young woman reflects on her shift from a privileged school life to the rustic Hillsbro' Farm, uncovering unexpected ties and heartfelt stories told by a dear o…
Level C1HistoricalThe Last of the VikingsIn the turbulent aftermath of the Norman Conquest, a brave Danish maiden and a Saxon chieftain navigate a world of betrayal, war, and unexpected alliances amid the fading age of Vi…
Level C1AdventureThe Last of the PlainsmenJourney alongside Buffalo Jones, a relentless wildlife preserver who defies the fading frontier to capture and protect America's wild beasts, as he ventures into the rugged deserts…
Level B2AdventureThe Last of the Peterkins: With Others of Their KinThe Peterkin family embarks on a series of humorous and chaotic adventures far from home, as Elizabeth Eliza struggles to capture their misadventures in a paper for her club—amid s…
Level B2ClassicsThe Last of the Mortimers: A Story in Two VoicesTwo sisters confront family secrets and the mystery of a lost heir, Richard Arkwright Mortimer, as they navigate inheritance, identity, and the weight of their ancestral legacy.
Level C1AdventureThe Last of the Mohicans; A narrative of 1757Amid the untamed wilderness of 1757 America, fierce native warriors and colonial settlers clash as ancient tribes face displacement and cultural survival.
Level C1AdventureThe Last of the Legions and Other Tales of Long AgoAs Roman legions are ordered to abandon Britain, a Roman viceroy faces the collapse of imperial rule and rising threats from barbarian tribes and ambitious local leaders, igniting…
FantasyThe Last of the HuggermuggersIn a whimsical world where mysterious creatures called Huggermuggers roam, an extraordinary adventure unfolds that challenges the boundaries between reality and imagination.
Level C1RomanceThe Last of the Foresters: Or, Humors on the Border; A story of the Old Virginia FrontierAmid the fading frontier of old Virginia, a young hunter named Verty navigates the clash between wild nature and advancing civilization, while innocence and humor bloom in the rust…
Level B2AdventureThe Last of the Flatboats: A Story of the Mississippi and Its Interesting Family of RiversA group of determined boys embark on a thrilling adventure along the Mississippi, battling river challenges and uncovering mysterious creatures beneath the water’s surface.
Level B2ClassicsThe Last of the De Mullins: A Play Without a PrefaceAmid the fading grandeur of a centuries-old manor and the looming shadow of a family stroke, the De Mullins grapple with tradition, inheritance, and changing times in a quiet villa…
Level B2AdventureThe Last of the Chiefs: A Story of the Great Sioux WarTwo brothers journey across the harsh, sun-scorched plains toward California, battling exhaustion, rough company, and relentless heat in hopes that the mountains will bring healing…
Level C1HistoricalThe Last of the Barons — CompleteAmid the turbulent courts of Edward IV and the fierce intrigues of the Wars of the Roses, noble ambitions clash with love, loyalty, and betrayal.
Level B2ClassicsThe Last of Their RaceIsla Mackinnon stands as the last hope for the ancient Castle of Achree, a crumbling Scottish estate steeped in legend and threatened by hardship.
Level B2FantasyThe Last of Mrs. DeBrughA devoted maid faces sharp rebukes from a harsh mistress as the aging Mr.
Level C1HistoricalThe Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and WomenExplore the final moments and last words of history’s distinguished figures, revealing their thoughts, regrets, and legacies as they face death.
Level B2RomanceThe Last WomanIn the high-stakes world of Wall Street, Patricia Langdon defies convention with fierce independence and sharp wit, standing toe-to-toe with her powerful father as they confront a…
Level C1RomanceThe Last West; and, Paolo's VirginiaAmid the rugged peaks and wild landscapes of the Last West, daring alpinists challenge nature’s might while a stirring romance unfolds against the backdrop of untamed beauty and th…
Level B2HistoricalThe Last Vendée; or, the She-Wolves of MachecoulAmid the decaying grandeur of a forgotten château near the forest of Machecoul, the last noble descendant faces the shadows of a turbulent past in revolutionary France, where loyal…
Level B2AdventureThe Last TrailA weary group halts in a shadowy Ohio valley as their guide mysteriously deserts them, leaving them vulnerable in a wild frontier where danger lurks in the dark—will they survive t…
Level C1RomanceThe Last TournamentIn a kingdom shadowed by rivalry and loss, a precious prize ignites a tournament where loyalty, honor, and hidden truths clash among Arthur's knights, as looming threats challenge…
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.