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 C1ClassicsThe Gentleman from IndianaIn a quiet Indiana town where life moves slowly and the world beyond seems distant, a young man arrives to stir the settled rhythms of Plattville.
Level C1MysteryThe Gentleman Who Vanished: A Psychological PhantasyOn a sweltering London night, two friends gamble away fortunes amid tension and bitter rivalry.
Level C1Children'sThe Gentleman Cadet: His Career and Adventures at the Royal Military Academy WoolwichA young boy endures a strict and often harsh upbringing under his stern Aunt Emma before embarking on the challenging and regimented life of a Woolwich Cadet, revealing the trials…
Level C1RomanceThe Gentle Shepherd: A Pastoral ComedyIn a serene pastoral setting, rustic characters navigate love and life with elegance and heartfelt sentiment, proving that humble occupations can inspire timeless beauty and deligh…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gentle GrafterIn a flood-isolated Texas town, two cunning men seize control of all the saloons, turning Bird City into their personal stronghold.
Level B2ClassicsThe Gentle Art of Cooking WivesIn a lively ladies' club meeting, spirited young women debate a scandalous article titled "How to Cook Wives," blending humor, social satire, and sharp wit as they navigate the com…
Level C2HistoricalThe GeniusIn 1840 Russia, Princess Sophia, trapped in a loveless marriage, prays desperately for a child to ease her loneliness—when a mysterious, radiant visitor appears, offering a chance…
Level C1ClassicsThe Genial Idiot: His Views and ReviewsDive into a witty debate as a skeptical thinker challenges the timeless wisdom of proverbs, revealing their contradictions and questioning their role in shaping character through s…
Level B2HistoricalThe Gayton Scholarship: A School StoryRivalry ignites among schoolboys competing for the prestigious Gayton Scholarship, with spirited races, unexpected mishaps, and the watchful eye of an important inspector setting t…
Level B2MysteryThe Gay Triangle: The Romance of the First Air AdventurersIn the misty Norfolk fens, a revolutionary motor-car transforms into a silent monoplane, piloted by two daring adventurers.
Level C1ClassicsThe Gay Lord Quex: A Comedy in Four ActsIn a vibrant London manicure parlor, sharp wit and social intrigue unfold over the course of twenty-four hours, weaving comedy through the tangled lives of its colorful characters…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gay Gnani of Gingalee; or, Discords of Devolution: A Tragical Entanglement of Modern Mysticism and Modern ScienceIn a world where mysticism clashes with modern science, a cautious occultist is drawn into temptation by a daring friend promising a glimpse of forbidden knowledge—and a mysterious…
Level C1AdventureThe Gaunt Gray Wolf: A Tale of Adventure With Ungava BobA determined college freshman embarks on a solo summer adventure in the rugged wilderness of Labrador, where the historic fur trading post and untamed forests promise thrilling enc…
Level C1RomanceThe Gathering of Brother HilariusA young novice monk wrestles with his longing for the untamed forest beyond the monastery walls, where the serene peace of cloistered life meets the mysterious call of the natural…
Level B2AdventureThe Gates of MorningA mysterious castaway named Dick arrives at the coral-ringed lagoon of Karolin, chosen by the islanders as their chief and protector.
Level B2RomanceThe Gates of DawnA lone gamekeeper journeys through the English countryside in a colorful caravan, seeking an elusive destination beneath a towering pine.
Level C1MysteryThe Gates of ChanceA mysterious calling card thrust into a crowded New York intersection sets a reluctant man on a curious path to an unknown address, promising an evening of intrigue amid the city's…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gates BetweenA seasoned physician recounts an extraordinary event that defies his scientific understanding, revealing a mysterious encounter that challenges his lifelong worldview and compels h…
Level B2ClassicsThe Gates AjarGrieving a brother lost to war, a young woman confronts the unbearable silence of home and the haunting question of what lies beyond death’s gate.
Level C1RomanceThe Gateless BarrierA successful man escapes the glittering but hollow society of New York for a solitary voyage, wrestling with questions of true achievement, love, and the soul’s worth beyond worldl…
Level C1RomanceThe Gaspards of Pine Croft: A Romance of the WindermereAn engineer and artist torn between Scottish and French heritage embraces a bold new life in British Columbia’s Windermere Valley, where vast wilderness and opportunity beckon him…
Level C1MysteryThe Garret and the Garden; Or, Low Life High UpIn a gritty London alley, a weathered seaman and a sharp street-smart boy forge an unlikely alliance amid the city's lowly courts.
Level B2ClassicsThe GarottersCaught in a fierce snowstorm, Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Garies and Their FriendsIn a Philadelphia divided by freedom and slavery, a distinguished free African American family navigates social challenges and aspirations amid a society shaped by race and resilie…
Level C1HistoricalThe Garden of SwordsIn 1870 Strasbourg, the wedding of Beatrix Hamilton, an English bride, to soldier Edmond Lefort draws a vibrant crowd steeped in history, memory, and whispered secrets, as old bond…
Level C1HorrorThe Garden of SurvivalA man confesses a haunting experience that blurs the line between physical desire and spiritual connection, sparked by the melancholy singing of a mysterious woman whose beauty and…
Level C1HistoricalThe Garden of MemoriesIn 1703 Sussex, the proud Elmacott family tends their exquisite garden while war calls their sons to battle.
Level C1AdventureThe Garden of GodA desperate search for lost children leads a father and a crew to a remote island in the Pacific, where a drifting dinghy holds haunting clues to a tragic past.
Level B2AdventureThe Garden of EdenA mysterious stranger arrives at a rugged mountain town, seeking silence amidst the wilderness.
PoetryThe Garden of DreamsImmerse yourself in a collection of evocative poems that weave nature's beauty, life's fleeting moments, and profound emotions into a serene garden of dreams and reflections.
PoetryThe Garden of Bright Waters: One Hundred and Twenty Asiatic Love PoemsExplore a rich tapestry of Asiatic love through one hundred and twenty poems drawn from diverse cultures, each capturing the passion, longing, and beauty of romance across distant…
Level C1RomanceThe Garden of AllahA restless journey brings Domini Enfilden to North Africa, where the clash of cultures and lonely souls hint at a transformative experience in a land both mysterious and challengin…
Level B2ClassicsThe Garden Party, and Other StoriesMisty mornings at Crescent Bay set the stage for intertwined lives and fleeting moments, where nature’s delicate beauty mirrors the subtle dramas of everyday existence.
Level C1ClassicsThe Garden God: A Tale of Two BoysA retired scholar reflects on a life of quiet solitude, cherishing memories both real and imagined, as he contemplates love, friendship, and the passage of time in a peaceful, time…
Level B1Children'sThe Gap in the FenceIn a sunny English garden, a family learns that a mysterious foreign gentleman is moving into the long-empty Haver Grange, threatening their secret hideaway through the gap in the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gamester (1753)A gripping exploration of gambling’s destructive grip on a man’s life unfolds in this powerful middle-class tragedy.
Level C1ClassicsThe Game of Chess: A Play in One ActIn a richly appointed room, two men engage in a tense chess game that mirrors political strategy and personal cunning, while a mysterious visitor arrives, prompting secrets and pow…
Level C1MysteryThe Game and the CandleTwo brothers face financial ruin and must choose between honor and desperation to save their family estate.
Level C1ClassicsThe GameA young boxer faces the final fight that promises a fresh start with his love, yet the brutal pull of the ring challenges their bond and reveals the fierce, unyielding man beneath…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gambler: A NovelA reserved Englishman journeys through misty Irish roads to visit an old friend after decades apart, uncovering contrasts between their lives and the vibrant spirit of Ireland’s ru…
Level C1ClassicsThe GamblerIn a glittering casino town, a tutor entangled with aristocrats struggles against his own gambling addiction while navigating secrets, debts, and high society’s shifting alliances.
Level B2HistoricalThe Galley Slave's Ring; or, The Family of Lebrenn: A Tale of The French Revolution of 1848Amidst the turbulent days leading to the French Revolution of 1848, a humble linen draper and his Breton family navigate the clash of old and new principles sweeping Paris.
Level B2Science FictionThe Galleon's Gold; or, Frank Reade, Jr.'s Deep Sea Search.A determined antiquarian and a seasoned captain unite to uncover a legendary Spanish treasure lost beneath the sea, following cryptic clues from a cursed dungeon and the wreck of t…
Level B2MysteryThe G-man's son at Porpoise IslandTwo adventurous boys set sail for the mysterious Porpoise Island, only to be shadowed by a suspiciously fast, gray speedboat.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fête At Coqueville: 1907In the isolated fishing village of Coqueville, two rival families—the ancient Mahés and the rising Floches—battle for power and pride amid harsh seas and fierce enmity, while a for…
Level C1HistoricalThe Future of English PoetryExplore the uncertain future of English poetry as it navigates cycles of innovation and decline, grappling with the challenge of fresh expression in a rapidly evolving literary lan…
Level C1AdventureThe Further Adventures of Robinson CrusoeHaunted by vivid visions and an unshakable longing, a seasoned adventurer feels compelled to return to the island where he once faced peril and discovery, driven by restless curios…
Level C1HistoricalThe Further Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Under-Graduate: Being a Continuation of "The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman"An innocent and credulous country youth returns to Oxford, navigating the challenges and lessons of university life with newfound experience and enduring simplicity.
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.