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 C1MysteryThe Further Adventures of Jimmie DaleIn a dim, squalid room, a desperate man hides a roll of banknotes as a relentless detective bursts in, probing for secrets behind torn canvases and whispered lies.
Level B2AdventureThe Furnace of GoldIn the rugged Nevada desert, Beth Kent ventures into the wild gold country to find her ailing half-brother, accompanied by her determined fiancé and a mysterious chaperone.
Level B2Science FictionThe Furious RoseIn a dystopian future where executions are routine and emotions are controlled by state-mandated lighting, a weary Federal Executioner confronts mysterious disruptions and a persis…
Level B2AdventureThe Fur-Seal's Tooth: A Story of Alaskan AdventureA spirited young athlete from New England, burdened by a careless streak, finds himself penniless and adrift in a foreign land.
Level B2FantasyThe Fur Country: Or, Seventy Degrees North LatitudeA daring expedition ventures into the uncharted Arctic wilderness at seventy degrees north latitude, confronting icy perils, mysterious wildlife, and the struggle to establish a fu…
Level B2AdventureThe Fur Bringers: A Story of the Canadian NorthwestTensions flare between two partners in the remote Canadian Northwest as the stirrings of June fever ignite restless tempers and uneasy alliances.
Level B2RomanceThe Funny Philosophers, or Wags and Sweethearts. A NovelIn a lively debate beneath the stars, a young lawyer challenges the laws of gravity and the nature of love, spinning a whimsical tale of romance, philosophy, and unexpected discove…
Level B2ClassicsThe Funny Bone: Short Stories and Amusing Anecdotes for a Dull HourDive into a collection of witty anecdotes, clever axiom, and humorous tales where sharp observations and playful twists bring everyday moments to life with charm and laughter.
Level B2AdventureThe Fugitives: The Tyrant Queen of MadagascarThree fugitives race through Madagascar's perilous wilderness, pursued by deadly foes and forced to navigate treacherous cliffs and shattered paths.
Level B2Science FictionThe FugitivesJeff Engel is thrust into a strange, alien world where humans are the outsiders, hunted and feared.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fugitive: A Play in Four ActsTensions simmer in a London drawing-room as George Dedmond confronts the mysterious absence of his wife Clare on a night meant for Bridge and social games.
Level C1RomanceThe Fruit of the TreeIn a hospital ward, a determined assistant mill manager confronts harsh realities after a mechanic’s devastating injury, seeking help beyond the rules to save a life and confront t…
Level C1Science FictionThe Frozen PirateCaught in a savage storm near the treacherous southern seas, a lone sailor battles towering waves and biting winds aboard the fragile brig Laughing Mary, only to discover a mysteri…
Level B2AdventureThe Frozen DeepAt a grand ball celebrating an Arctic expedition’s departure, a young woman dances with a mysterious seriousness, haunted by visions linked to the eerie Scottish superstition calle…
Level C1PoetryThe Frost Spirit, and other poems: Part 1 From Volume II of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierNature’s changing seasons come alive through vivid poems that trace the Frost Spirit’s icy touch, the serene Merrimac River’s sunset glow, and reflections on memory and faith, invi…
Level C1HistoricalThe FrontiersmenIn a fortified pioneer stockade, young Peninnah molds bullets by firelight as war with the Cherokee looms outside, blending courage and tender love with the fierce fight for surviv…
Level B2AdventureThe Frontiersman: A Tale of the YukonIn the frozen Yukon wilderness, a lone frontiersman encounters a mysterious dog bearing a desperate plea for help, sparking a perilous quest through the unforgiving snow and silenc…
Level C1AdventureThe Frontier Fort: Or, Stirring Times in the North West Territory of British AmericaA spirited party journeys across the vast, flower-strewn prairies of the North-West Territory, navigating untamed landscapes and uncertain futures while aspiring to transform wilde…
Level B2AdventureThe Frontier Boys in the Sierras; Or, The Lost MineBraving fierce seas aboard the sturdy Sea Eagle, the Frontier Boys set sail from Hawaii toward California, eager to explore the wild Sierra Nevadas and uncover the secrets of a los…
Level B2AdventureThe Frontier Boys in the Grand Canyon; Or, A Search for TreasureThree daring boys race across the rugged Southwest, navigating wild ponies and hostile Apache territory in a thrilling quest for hidden treasure near the Grand Canyon.
Level B2RomanceThe Frontier Angel: A Romance of Kentucky Rangers' LifeIn a perilous frontier town near the Ohio River, young Marian Abbot prepares to journey westward on a flat-boat, leaving behind her beloved Russel Mansfield amid threats from reneg…
Level B2MysteryThe FrontierTensions rise as the German frontier post near the circus of the Butte-aux-Loups is repeatedly felled, hinting at brewing conflict.
Level C1ClassicsThe Front Yard, and Other Italian StoriesIn a sun-drenched Italian town, Prudence Wilkin battles the grime and decay that mar her new home, fixating on a decrepit cow-shed blocking her path as she dreams of reclaiming her…
Level C1ClassicsThe FrogsWhen the god Dionysus longs to bring back the golden age of Greek tragedy, he journeys to the underworld to challenge the spirits of great playwrights and restore true artistry to…
Level B2Children'sThe Frog Who Would A Wooing GoA young frog defies his cautious mother's warnings to woo a charming mouse, only to face dangers lurking beyond his safe pond.
Level B2Children'sThe Frog Prince and Other StoriesA princess loses her golden ball in a mysterious fountain, only to be aided by an unlikely companion—a talking frog who demands friendship and promises magic in return.
Level C1PoetryThe Frithiof SagaIn a rugged Norse kingdom, Frithiof, a fearless young warrior, grows up alongside King Bele’s daughter, Ingeborg, forging a bond that defies royal expectations and sets the stage f…
Level B1Science FictionThe Frightful OnesA young boy faces his deepest fears when alien invaders land near his town, forcing him to confront strange, insect-like beings in a desperate bid to protect his family and communi…
Level B2Science FictionThe Frightened PlanetA lone Cro-Magnon man named Karn flees tribal enemies into a forest where he encounters a mysterious, otherworldly craft and its strange, fragile occupants—hairless, small men and…
Level C1Children'sThe Friends; or, The Triumph of Innocence over False Charges: A Tale, Founded on FactsIn a peaceful Kent village, two boys forge a deep friendship under the care of a devoted family who teaches them kindness, charity, and faith.
Level B2ClassicsThe Friendly Road: New Adventures in ContentmentSet out on a peaceful journey along country roads, where the simple joys of springtime and the warmth of unexpected friendships invite you to discover contentment beyond the everyd…
Level B2Children'sThe Friendly Five: A StoryAt the Coventry Institute, a distinguished visitor introduces his young, motherless granddaughter, Elfie, to the school’s girls, hoping they will embrace her as their own sister du…
Level C1HistoricalThe Friendly Daemon, or the Generous Apparition: Being a True Narrative of a Miraculous Cure, Newly Perform'd Upon That Famous Deaf and Dumb Gentleman, Dr. Duncan Campbel, by a Familiar Spirit That Appear'd to Him in a White Surplice, Like a Cathedral Singing BoyA renowned physician is struck by a debilitating affliction that disrupts his mind and body, leaving him unable to practice his art.
Level C1HistoricalThe Friendly Club and Other PortraitsStep into post-Revolutionary Connecticut, where a spirited group of young poets and thinkers gather in smoky taverns, weaving literary brilliance and patriotic dreams that illumina…
Level C1HistoricalThe Friar's Daughter: A Story of the American Occupation of the PhilippinesAmidst the twilight of Spanish rule in Manila, Ambrosia, the daughter of a friar, stands at a crossroads of tradition and revolution as her lover Camillo returns from exile to join…
Level C1MysteryThe French powder mysteryA brilliant logician faces a baffling murder within the elite French family, navigating a web of secrets, suspects, and intricate clues.
Level C1HistoricalThe French in Algiers: The Soldier of the Foreign Legion; and The Prisoners of Abd-el-KaderA young lieutenant leaves a dull garrison life to join the French Foreign Legion in Algeria, facing relentless desert battles and harsh conditions under a fierce new governor.
Level B2HistoricalThe French TwinsIn war-torn Rheims, a devoted mother cleans her beloved cathedral while her twin children prepare for Confirmation, embodying the courage and hope of a family striving to protect t…
Level C1HistoricalThe French Prisoners of Norman Cross: A TaleIn 1808, weary French soldiers captured at the Battle of Vimiero are marched to the bleak Norman Cross Barracks, a grim prison camp where hope and freedom feel as distant as the ba…
Level C1PoetryThe Freeman, and Other PoemsExplore themes of freedom, hope, and despair through a collection of evocative poems that delve into history, art, and human spirit, inviting reflection on enduring struggles and i…
Level C1ClassicsThe FreelandsIn the quiet English countryside, a laborer faces an uncertain future as life stirs around him, while in London, Felix Freeland navigates a world of cultural critique and social ob…
Level B2Science FictionThe FreelancerIn a dystopian future where even words are copyrighted, freelance Monitor Jeb battles oppressive laws and a loveless marriage as he hunts for violations—and a way to survive the co…
Level C1AdventureThe Freebooters: A Story of the Texan WarIn the untamed forests of Spanish America, Fray Antonio navigates a world of danger, deception, and shifting loyalties amid the looming conflict of the Texan War.
Level C1HistoricalThe Freebooters of the WildernessIn the rugged American West of 1909-1910, government rangers and lawmen battle ruthless freebooters who steal timber, destroy livestock, and defy the law, risking their lives to pr…
Level B2AdventureThe Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the MississippiIn the vast, untamed wilderness along the Mississippi, a skilled young woodsman known as Shif’less Sol embraces the wild, ready to protect his land and people amidst nature’s grand…
Level C1ClassicsThe Free PressIn a world dominated by corrupt and controlled media, a small but powerful Free Press rises to expose the truth and challenge the lies that shape politics and society.
Level C1RomanceThe Free Lances: A Romance of the Mexican ValleyIn the tense lead-up to the Texas Revolution, a determined young Irishman answers the call to volunteer, meeting Cris Rock, a towering Texan with a fierce spirit and a plan to rall…
Level C1MysteryThe Frame UpWhen a mysterious caller promises to reveal the killer of Hermann Banf, District Attorney Wharton finds himself caught in a fierce political battle fraught with corruption, ambitio…
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.