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 C1HistoricalThe IdiotAmid the cold, misty Russian landscape, a chance encounter on a train introduces two young men: one recently returned from abroad, battling illness and uncertainty, the other a sha…
Level C1ClassicsThe IdiotIn a quirky boarding house, the Idiot sparks lively debate by championing the charm and freedom of canal-boat living over traditional homes.
Level C1Science FictionThe IdealA brilliant but eccentric professor revives the legendary experiment of Roger Bacon, creating an iron automaton that mysteriously comes to life, challenging the boundaries of scien…
Level B2Children'sThe Ice-Maiden: and Other Tales.In the majestic Swiss mountains, bold young Rudy lives a life of adventure and solitude, guided by the wisdom of his grandfather and the cunning of a clever cat who teaches him to…
Level B2AdventureThe Ice QueenThree young siblings, left to fend for themselves after their parents’ deaths, navigate hardship and hope in a small town.
Level C1AdventureThe Ice PilotIn the rain-soaked streets of San Francisco, a weathered seafarer known as the Ice Pilot seeks escape from his failed shore life, drawn toward a perilous Arctic expedition whispere…
Level C1ClassicsThe HypocriteA charmingly cynical university student navigates the precarious balance between intellectual pretension and social deception, captivating an admiring circle while hiding his true…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hypnotic Experiment of Dr. Reeves, and Other StoriesA renowned but controversial doctor faces a life-or-death challenge when a young patient’s severe rheumatism of the heart resists all remedies.
Level C2PoetryThe Hymns of PrudentiusA soul reflecting on a life of sin and power turns to humble hymns, seeking redemption and the strength to combat heresy through daily praise.
Level C2PoetryThe Hybrids, An Epi-comic SatireA fierce, monstrous child born from unrest and unreason ignites a satirical celebration of an Amazonian age where womanhood transforms with wild contradictions and biting wit, weav…
Level C1Science FictionThe Hyborian AgeExplore a turbulent prehistoric world where ancient kingdoms crumble and savage tribes rise amid cataclysmic upheaval, as civilizations clash and mysterious lands and peoples shape…
Level C1ClassicsThe Husbands of EdithIn sunlit Paris, Brock savors leisurely mornings at the Hôtel Chatham, where chance encounters and old friends like Roxbury Medcroft promise to intertwine his cosmopolitan adventur…
Level C1ClassicsThe Husband's Story: A NovelA man reluctantly fulfills a friend's request to share a revealing manuscript, unfolding a tale that journeys from modest origins to the dazzling heights of New York’s elite societ…
Level C1ClassicsThe HuntressIn a tight-knit lakeside tribe, Bela defies tradition with her fierce independence and rebellious spirit, sparking scandal and fear among her people.
Level C1PoetryThe Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight FitsEmbark on a whimsical voyage with a curious crew led by the meticulous Bellman, as they hunt the elusive and mysterious Snark in a world where nonsense and logic entwine in poetic…
Level C1AdventureThe Hunters' Feast: Conversations Around the Camp FireSet against the rugged backdrop of Saint Louis, a diverse group of adventurers embarks on a daring hunting expedition into the vast wilderness of the prairies, where untamed landsc…
Level C1AdventureThe Hunters of the OzarkWhen a prized cow goes missing in the rugged frontier settlement of Greville, two boys set out on a hunt that leads them deep into the wild Ozark Mountains, where danger and advent…
Level C1AdventureThe Hunters of the HillsIn the wilderness of colonial New York, two boys and a rugged hunter navigate a vast lake, caught in the fierce struggle between French and English forces and the powerful Iroquois…
Level B2RomanceThe Hunter Hercules, or, The Champion Rider of the Plains: A Romance of the PrairiesA daring young hunter roams the vast Texas prairie, seeking a lost heir and adventure, when a desperate cry for help leads him into a deadly encounter with a panther—and a mysterio…
Level B2HistoricalThe Hunter Cats of ConnorloaA lonely gentleman, weakened by illness, settles in sunny California after years of wandering the world in search of health.
Level C1AdventureThe Hunted WomanA veiled woman journeys into the rugged northern frontier, encountering a wild horde of railroad builders and mysterious figures along the way.
Level C1HistoricalThe Hunted Outlaw, or, Donald Morrison, the Canadian Rob RoyIn the remote Quebec wilderness, a respected man becomes the hunted outlaw, shattering the peaceful Highland community with a crime that defies all understanding.
Level B2MysteryThe Hunt Ball MysteryWhen a man's evening clothes go missing on a delayed train, a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger on the way to a Hunt Ball sparks tension and suspicion, setting the stage…
Level B2MysteryThe Hunniwell boys and the platinum mysteryTwo adventurous brothers, skilled pilots and fishermen, are drawn into a secret mission by a government agent, promising a summer far from ordinary.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hungry Stones, and Other StoriesA weary tax collector takes up residence in a deserted marble palace once alive with joyous Persian maidens, only to find the eerie solitude slowly consuming him—and strange, haunt…
Level B2ClassicsThe Hungry Heart: A NovelNewlyweds Richard and Courtney return to the imposing Vaughan homestead, where romance meets the weight of family expectations and old resentments.
Level B2RomanceThe Hundredth ChanceCaught between pride and necessity, a young woman faces the harsh reality of her family's desperate circumstances and the unwelcome prospect of marrying a man she despises.![Cover of The Hundred Best English Poems by Adam L. [Editor] Gowans](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da70a51bccoc73elortg.webp)
Level C1PoetryThe Hundred Best English PoemsDive into a carefully curated collection showcasing a century of timeless English poetry, each piece selected for its enduring beauty and impact, from celebrated names like Shakesp…
Level C1MysteryThe Hunchback of WestminsterA struggling private detective's dull routine is shattered when a mysterious foreigner arrives with a perilous mission involving a treasure worth millions hidden in London.
Level C1ClassicsThe HunchbackIn a bustling tavern, Sir Thomas Clifford and a lively group of gentlemen engage in spirited toasts and intrigue, setting the stage for a drama filled with wit, deception, and hidd…
Level C1ClassicsThe Humourous Story of Farmer Bumpkin's LawsuitA widow’s fight for justice drags on for years through endless trials and costly delays, exposing the flaws and frustrations of a legal system stacked against the poor.
Level C1HistoricalThe Humour of Homer and Other EssaysExplore fresh perspectives on Homer’s works through essays that blend historical research and lively analysis, revealing the human side of ancient texts and challenging traditional…
Level C1ClassicsThe Humors of Falconbridge: A Collection of Humorous and Every Day ScenesFollow the unpredictable journey of a restless literary man as he ventures from Philadelphia to the Western frontier, embracing adventures from farming to theater, and ultimately f…
Level C1PoetryThe Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to SaxeDive into a curated collection of the finest short humorous poems from England and the United States, blending wit, satire, and charm without obscenity or outdated allusions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Human Interest: A Study in IncompatibilitiesA London authoress visits a cultured but constrained Newcastle hostess, uncovering the clash between provincial gloom and artistic ambition.
Level C1HistoricalThe Human DriftExplore humanity’s relentless migration driven by hunger and survival, tracing ancient drifts across continents and oceans as civilizations rise, clash, and fade in a vast saga of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Human Comedy: Introductions and AppendixA relentless pursuit of genius drives a writer to confront the vast complexities of human nature and society.
Level C1ClassicsThe Human ChordA man who breathes life into his imagined worlds by discovering their true names seeks an extraordinary adventure to escape the mundane and rediscover the wonder of his childhood i…
Level C1HistoricalThe Huguenot: A Tale of the French Protestants. Volumes I-IIIAmid the religious turmoil of seventeenth-century France, intertwined lives of Protestants and Catholics reveal how seemingly minor events ripple through history, shaping destinies…
Level C1FantasyThe Huge Hunter; Or, The Steam Man of the PrairiesOn the vast prairie, two men encounter a colossal steam-powered mechanical giant controlled by a daring driver and a bright-eyed boy.
Level C2ClassicsThe Hubble-ShueStep into a world where mystery and poetic drama intertwine, as a bewildering play unfolds with enigmatic characters and haunting scenes, leaving you to unravel the obscure motives…
Level B2ClassicsThe HoydenIn a sunlit drawing-room filled with whispered schemes and tense hopes, a mother faces the desperate necessity of her son's marriage to a spirited young woman known as the Hoyden,…
Level C1ClassicsThe House: An Episode in the Lives of Reuben Baker, Astronomer, and of His Wife, AliceA young couple dreams of building their perfect home, navigating the bittersweet realities of love, ambition, and unexpected inheritance.
Level B2ClassicsThe House with the Mezzanine and Other StoriesAn idle painter encounters the enigmatic Volchaninov family at a remote estate, where fading grandeur and quiet desolation mask deeper tensions and unspoken desires.
Level C1ClassicsThe House with the Green ShuttersIn a small Scottish town, John Gourlay stands proudly before his new house, determined to assert his dominance through his thriving business despite the quiet judgment of his neigh…
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Moor, v. 3/3A determined young woman embarks on a solitary journey across the moor to visit her uncle in Scotland, grappling with exhaustion, secrecy, and the hope of reuniting with her brothe…
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Moor, v. 2/3A determined young soldier returns home with ambitions and an army list, sparking intrigue about local figures and hidden family ties.
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Moor, v. 1/3Two siblings, trapped in a gloomy moorland house, face the relentless monotony of isolation and simmering frustration—one resigned and content, the other restless and embittered by…
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.