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 Green Helmet and Other PoemsDive into evocative verses where dreams, love, and the clash of noble ideals unfold against vivid imagery, exploring the depth of human passion and the haunting beauty of loss thro…
Level C1AdventureThe Green Hand: Adventures of a Naval LieutenantA young minister's son defies his strict upbringing to embark on a daring naval apprenticeship, facing the harsh realities of life at sea.
Level B2ClassicsThe Green GoddessA devoted vicar grapples with grief and love, cherishing memories of those lost while preparing to let go of his beloved daughter.
Level C1MysteryThe Green GodA weary traveler seeking shelter from a fierce storm accepts a mysterious stranger’s offer for a ride, leading him to a gloomy estate shrouded in secrets.
Level B2Children'sThe Green Forest Fairy BookStep into a magical world where fairyfolk, talking trees, and enchanted creatures still roam green forests, and discover the lost wonder tales once sung by The Golden Bird—tales of…
Level C1HistoricalThe Green Flag, and Other Stories of War and SportAmidst the bitter Irish land struggles, Dennis Conolly joins a British regiment riddled with secret rebellion and fierce hatred.
Level B2Children'sThe Green Fairy BookJourney through enchanting tales from around the world where witches turn men into swine, giants roam, and magic rings grant invisibility—stories that have thrilled children and ad…
Level B2FantasyThe Green DoorIn a quiet old house, curious Letitia is forbidden from opening a mysterious little green door that holds secrets beyond her imagination.
Level B2Children'sThe Green Casket, and other storiesA young girl named Ruth embarks on a new life as an under-housemaid at the grand Tower House, where an old-fashioned lady takes a personal interest in her training.
Level C1ClassicsThe Green CarnationIn glittering London society, the charismatic and unapologetically self-adoring Reginald Hastings revels in scandal and spectacle, challenging conventions with his bold embrace of…
Level C1Children'sThe Green BoughIn a quiet Devon village, Mary Throgmorton’s life unfolds as a poignant testament to the struggles and sacrifices of women bound by society’s harsh laws.
Level C1HistoricalThe Greek oratorsExplore the origins and evolution of Greek oratory, tracing its roots from the eloquence of Homeric heroes to the polished speeches of Athens' greatest orators, revealing the art o…
Level C1RomanceThe Greek Romances of Heliodorus, Longus and Achilles Tatius: Comprising the Ethiopics; or, Adventures of Theagenes and Chariclea; The pastoral amours of Daphnis and Chloe; and the loves of Clitopho and LeucippeJourney into a world where imagination weaves tales of love, adventure, and the customs of ancient life, revealing the passions and trials of heroes and heroines bound by fate and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Grecian DaughterIn a gripping tragedy of valor and virtue, a daughter’s fierce devotion challenges tyranny and ignites a nation’s fight for freedom.
Level C1ClassicsThe Greatest Plague of Life: or, the Adventures of a Lady in Search of a Good Servant.A determined lady navigates the trials of domestic life while searching for a trustworthy servant amid the chaos of ungrateful staff, all against the backdrop of her family's strug…
Level C1ClassicsThe Greatest Heiress in EnglandIn a quiet country town, a wealthy old man lives comfortably under the care of his modest relatives, whose lives revolve around managing his household and children.
Level B2ClassicsThe Greater PowerAmidst the frozen wilderness of British Columbia, a refined man turned logger battles the brutal cold and backbreaking labor to survive in a harsh, unforgiving land where strength…
Level C1ClassicsThe Greater InclinationA young admirer becomes captivated by Mary Anerton, the elusive muse behind beloved poetry, whose guarded life and complex relationships with famed poet Vincent Rendle reveal a wor…
Level B2Science FictionThe Great White Queen: A Tale of Treasure and TreasonAn orphaned youth escapes a dull future as a clerk to embark on a perilous journey through an uncharted land, where he encounters mysteries and the elusive Great White Queen.
Level C1AdventureThe Great White Hand; Or, the Tiger of Cawnpore: A story of the Indian MutinyAmid the brewing storm of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, this gripping tale plunges into the heart of rebellion and valor in the city of Meerut, where history’s fiercest battles and st…
Level B2HistoricalThe Great White ArmyAs Napoleon's Grand Army marches triumphantly into Moscow, a veteran surgeon and his daring nephew navigate the city's eerie silence and unexpected dangers, uncovering mysteries th…
Level C1Science FictionThe Great War of 189-: A ForecastTensions escalate across Europe after an assassination attempt on Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, igniting fears of an imminent continental war.
Level C1HistoricalThe Great War in Verse and ProseExperience the unfolding of the Great War through stirring verse and prose that capture the hopes, struggles, and patriotism of the Allied nations from 1914 to the 1919 Peace Confe…
Level B2Science FictionThe Great War SyndicateTensions between the United States and Great Britain ignite when a disputed fishing vessel seizure sparks a fierce naval clash, plunging the nations toward war.
Level C1PoetryThe Great ValleyExplore the lives, faiths, and histories rooted in Illinois' great valley through vivid poetic portraits—from pioneering forts to profound spiritual reflections—capturing the stren…
Level C1AdventureThe Great TabooAmidst a turbulent Pacific voyage, Felix Thurstan plunges into dark waters to save Muriel Ellis, a timid rector's daughter clinging for life.
Level C1Science FictionThe Great Stone of SardisA futuristic ocean liner splits into two floating hulls connected by a ball-and-socket joint, ensuring a smooth voyage across the Atlantic.
Level C1HistoricalThe Great Stone Face, and Other Tales of the White MountainsIn a valley shadowed by a majestic mountain face shaped by nature itself, a boy named Ernest grows up captivated by a prophecy that a man bearing the Great Stone Face’s noble featu…
Level B2AdventureThe Great Sioux Trail: A Story of Mountain and PlainIn the tense frontier where plains meet mountains, a young soldier witnesses the fierce defiance of Red Cloud, the great Sioux war chief, who vows to bar the white settlers' advanc…
Level C1AdventureThe Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic TalesAmidst the looming threat of Napoleon’s invasion, a vigilant boy watches the beacon fires ignite across the land, signaling a nation on the brink of war.
Level B2MysteryThe Great SecretA chance encounter in a London hotel thrusts a man into a shadowy world of danger and espionage, where unseen enemies lurk just beyond his door.
Level C1ClassicsThe Great ReturnWhen a mysterious transfiguration of a revered lama and strange poltergeist phenomena surface in distant lands, the boundary between the known and the inexplicable begins to blur,…
Level B1AdventureThe Great Red FrogA magical mishap transforms a young king into a red frog, while a cunning imposter seizes the throne.
Level B2AdventureThe Great Quest: A romance of 1826, wherein are recorded the experiences of Josiah Woods of Topham, and of those others with whom he sailed for Cuba and the Gulf of GuineaIn the summer of 1826, Josiah Woods sets out from his quiet village, unaware that his routine errand will launch him into a wild sea voyage to Cuba and the Gulf of Guinea, filled w…
Level C1MysteryThe Great Prince ShanIn a fading London club, a group of diplomats and gentlemen gather for a high-stakes bridge game, but urgent business and secretive connections hint at deeper mysteries beneath the…
Level A2Children'sThe Great Panjandrum HimselfDive into a vibrant collection of charming pictures and lively songs, perfect for young imaginations to explore colorful stories and delightful sketches that bring each tale to lif…
Level B2MysteryThe Great Oakdale MysteryTwo boys and their hunting dog explore forbidden woods, seeking game and adventure while navigating friendship, school pressures, and unexpected challenges on a crisp autumn day.
Level C1ClassicsThe Great Miss DriverIn a quiet English town, Nicholas Driver rises from humble tanner to powerful landowner, shaping the social landscape with ambition and cunning.
Level B2MysteryThe Great Keinplatz Experiment and Other Tales of Twilight and the UnseenAn unexpected inheritance draws a modest doctor to a mysterious Wiltshire estate, where ancient barrows and eerie surroundings hint at secrets beyond the veil of the ordinary.
Level C1MysteryThe Great K. & A. RobberyA railroad superintendent finds himself entangled in a web of corporate rivalry and intrigue when he is tasked with overseeing a high-profile party traveling across the wild Americ…
Level B2HistoricalThe Great Invasion of 1813-14; or, After Leipzig: Being a story of the entry of the allied forces into Alsace and Lorraine, and their march upon Paris after the Battle of Leipzig, called the Battle of the Kings and NationsAmid the serene village of Charmes in 1813, a shoemaker’s family faces the upheaval of the Allied invasion following the Battle of Leipzig.
Level C1HistoricalThe Great Indian EpicsExplore the vast and captivating worlds of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, ancient Indian epics rich with mythology, romance, and social insight, revealing timeless stories that shap…
Level B2MysteryThe Great ImpersonationAn Englishman lost in German East Africa encounters a strikingly similar German military commander whose identity and intentions remain shrouded in mystery—setting the stage for a…
Level C1HistoricalThe Great HouseIn 1840s Paris, a young English artist's daughter contemplates her confined life from a cold attic window overlooking the lively Seine, yearning for connection and freedom amid the…
Level B2MysteryThe Great Green Diamond; Or, Thief Against ThiefAn African explorer fleeing deadly enemies from a secretive Abyssinian cult seeks help in New York, haunted by the sinister gaze of Ajeeb, the fanatical high priest.
Level C1AdventureThe Great Gold Rush: A Tale of the KlondikeAmid the fevered rush to the Klondike goldfields, novice dreamers and hardened prospectors alike embark on a perilous journey filled with adventure, toil, and the hope of fortune.
Level B2ClassicsThe Great God Success: A NovelA recent Yale graduate without a knack for money enters the bustling newsroom of the News-Record, seeking to learn the craft of writing while navigating the challenges of ambition,…
Level C1MysteryThe Great God PanA doctor claims to have discovered a way to lift the veil between our world and a hidden reality, promising to reveal the terrifying truth hidden beneath everyday life—an experimen…
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.