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 English Stage: Being an Account of the Victorian DramaExplore the vibrant world of Victorian drama through vivid portraits of actors, playwrights, and theatrical movements, as sharp critiques challenge revered figures and reveal the t…
ClassicsThe English Spy: An Original Work Characteristic, Satirical, And Humorous.: Comprising Scenes And Sketches In Every Rank Of Society, Being Portraits Drawn From The LifeDive into a sharp, satirical journey through every social rank of early 19th-century England, where wit and humor expose the quirks of school life, city society, and the literary w…
Level C1ClassicsThe English Rogue: Described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty ExtravagantFollow the wild exploits of Meriton Latroon, whose witty extravagance and roguish adventures reveal the raw, unvarnished face of vice amid licentious times, blending candid confess…
Level C1AdventureThe English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Second PartDive into the wild escapades of Meriton Latroon as he navigates a world of cunning tradesmen, dubious gaming, and romantic entanglements, revealing the murky underside of 17th-cent…
Level C1AdventureThe English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth PartEmbark on a rollicking journey through cunning schemes, wild adventures, and colorful characters as this lively continuation follows the escapades of Meriton Latroon across distant…
Level C1ClassicsThe English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third PartIn a world rife with deceit and vice, cunning Mrs.
Level B2ClassicsThe English Orphans; Or, A Home in the New WorldA family torn by estrangement and hardship leaves England behind, seeking a new life in America aboard the Windermere.
Level C1HistoricalThe English Novel and the Principle of its DevelopmentExplore the rise of the English novel as a powerful new literary form shaping modern society, dissecting its influence from moral and social perspectives and its widespread impact…
Level C1HistoricalThe English NovelExplore the evolution of English prose fiction from classical roots to the nineteenth century, tracing the novel's rise through romance, adventure, and love stories that shaped its…
Level C1ClassicsThe English Mail-Coach and Joan of ArcExperience the thrilling rush of the English mail-coach's relentless journey and delve into a vivid, dreamlike exploration of Joan of Arc's vision, blending motion, mortality, and…![Cover of The English Lake District by Joan Berenice [Editor] Reynolds](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf0qeoe1ofc73dha7b0.webp)
Level C1HistoricalThe English Lake DistrictExplore the serene beauty and poetic heritage of the English Lake District, where Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and tranquil lakes inspire reflections on nature’s quiet grandeur.
Level C1RomanceThe Enemies of Women (Los enemigos de la mujer)Amid the backdrop of war-torn Europe, a group of men watches a battalion of spirited English soldiers whistle their way toward the Italian front, sparking reflections on courage, c…
Level C1HistoricalThe End: How the Great War Was Stopped. A Novelistic VagaryIn a serene French village overshadowed by distant war, two sisters find themselves drawn into a mysterious fear that sets in motion a daring effort to end the Great War.
Level C1RomanceThe End of the World: A Love StoryIn the heart of the Ohio Valley, a vivid tapestry of rural life unfolds, exploring genuine love that transcends social boundaries and challenges hypocrisy.
Level C1ClassicsThe End of the TetherCaptain Whalley commands the aging steamer Sofala on a familiar, unchanging coastal route through the Far East, haunted by a lifetime of daring voyages now reduced to a monotonous…
Level B2Children'sThe End of a CoilA delicate, thoughtful eleven-year-old girl named Dolly arrives in a strange new world, where kindness and curiosity meet as she begins to navigate her unfamiliar surroundings and…
Level C1MysteryThe End of Her HoneymoonOn their last night in Paris, newlyweds Nancy and artist Jack Dampier embrace the city's vibrant streets, but beneath the honeymoon bliss, an unsettling event at Gare de Lyon hints…
Level C1FantasyThe Enchanted TypewriterAn old typewriter discovered in a dusty attic begins to mysteriously type on its own, revealing astonishing messages linked to the great Shakespeare himself.
Level B2FantasyThe Enchanted Island of Yew: Whereon Prince Marvel Encountered the High Ki of Twi and Other Surprising PeopleIn a land where fairies once walked openly and magic shapes the lives of kings and commoners alike, the enchanted Isle of Yew holds secrets, sorcery, and fierce battles.
Level B2FantasyThe Enchanted IslandIn a sunlit kingdom surrounded by mysterious islands, Prince Daimur encounters a dying old man who reveals himself as a fairy protector threatened by a dark enemy from the haunted…![Cover of The Enchanted Castle: A Book of Fairy Tales from Flowerland by Hartwell [Editor] James](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dabkdh89638s73a2pdgg.webp)
Level B2Children'sThe Enchanted Castle: A Book of Fairy Tales from FlowerlandA kind-hearted girl follows a magical primrose to the gates of an enchanted castle, where a fairy’s mysterious promise awaits.
Level B2FantasyThe Enchanted CastleThree siblings reunite for the holidays, eager to escape strict school rules and create their own adventures in the Hampshire countryside, where imaginative games and mysterious di…
Level B2ClassicsThe Enchanted CanyonIn the gritty slums of New York’s MacDougal Street, a tough, red-haired boy named Nucky struggles between the pull of poverty, crime, and the hope for a better life—caught in a wor…
Level C1AdventureThe Enchanted Burro: And Other Stories as I Have Known Them from Maine to Chile and CaliforniaIn a rugged frontier landscape where ancient cliffs guard green fields, a slow-moving boy named Lelo senses distant cries that hint at danger, setting him on a path woven with the…
Level B2RomanceThe Enchanted BarnA young stenographer struggles to support her ailing mother and siblings while facing eviction from their cramped home, forcing her to seek a new place and hope for a brighter futu…
Level C1ClassicsThe Empty SackAn aging bank clerk faces the harsh realities of business when his request for a raise is met with cold efficiency and tough decisions.
Level B2AdventureThe Empire Makers: A Romance of Adventure and War in South AfricaThree courageous young men leave England for South Africa, where they face danger from the Transvaal Government and uncover an ancient hidden nation.
Level C1Children'sThe Empire Annual for Girls, 1911On Christmas Day, four siblings debate how to celebrate amid family tensions and distant friends, sparking a daring plan to surprise the beloved but struggling Revell family fifty…
Level C1PoetryThe Emperor's RoutExplore a vivid world where moths and caterpillars reveal their secret lives, from silk-producing cocoons to eerie Death’s Head markings, blending natural history with poetic intri…
Level C1HistoricalThe Emperor — CompleteAmidst the Roman dominion in Egypt, a tale unfolds exploring the rise of early Christianity and the flourishing of Greek art under Emperor Hadrian’s rule, blending historical fact…
Level B2ClassicsThe Emperor of PortugalliaA poor farmer faces the harsh realities of life and fatherhood when his wife gives birth amid storms and hardship, challenging his hopes for a better future and his place in the wo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Emigrants Of Ahadarra: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoA weary father and his daughter visit a wealthy but neglectful farmer’s estate, where abundance is marred by slovenliness and decay.
Level C1PoetryThe Emigrant: or Reflections While Descending the OhioA young emigrant journeys down the Ohio River, capturing his somber reflections and the unfolding American frontier in verse.
Level C1AdventureThe Emigrant's Lost Son; or, Life Alone in the ForestA thirteen-year-old boy is suddenly orphaned and lost in the vast Guiana forest, forced to rely on his wits and faith to survive years alone in nature’s wild classroom, discovering…
Level C1HistoricalThe Emigrant TrailIn 1848, amid relentless rains and restless pioneers, emigrants gather in Independence, Missouri, preparing to brave thousands of miles toward the promise of California and Oregon'…
Level C1PoetryThe Emigrant Mechanic and Other Tales in Verse: Together with Numerous Songs Upon Canadian SubjectsFollow the journey of a skilled mechanic whose rural hardships, moral reflections, and Christian faith shape his emigration from England to the Canadian bush, capturing the trials…
Level B1FantasyThe Emerald City of OzIn a magical land, the furious Nome King plots revenge after losing his powerful Magic Belt to a brave girl named Dorothy.
Level C1ClassicsThe Emblems of Fidelity: A Comedy in LettersAn esteemed English novelist and a rising American writer exchange witty letters blending literary camaraderie with charming requests, revealing a garden of kinship, creativity, an…
Level B2Science FictionThe EmancipatrixA team of explorers uses telepathy to investigate distant worlds, but conflicting visions of justice and governance threaten to unravel their mission—and their relationships.
Level C1ClassicsThe EmancipatedIn sunlit Naples, a young English widow wrestles with exile, fading health, and the sharp tensions of family and faith.
Level B1FantasyThe Elves of Mount FernMischievous elves find a cozy home in a stone wall of the Giant World and celebrate their new life with music, friendship, and nightly adventures.
Level C1AdventureThe Elusive PimpernelAmid the bloodshed and chaos of revolutionary Paris in 1793, a new order rises with the cult of the Goddess of Reason—challenging old beliefs and igniting a fierce struggle for pow…
Level C1ClassicsThe Elm-tree on the MallIn a richly detailed salon of a Cardinal-Archbishop, power and piety intertwine as church leaders navigate political unrest and personal ambitions.
Level C1Children'sThe Elm Tree TalesIn a quiet village, a kind stranger discovers Jennie, a fragile street sweeper with a broken arm, struggling to support her ailing parents.
Level C1HistoricalThe Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 4Delve into the mysteries of the Elizabethan stage with detailed analyses of anonymous plays, masks, and entertainments, revealing the origins, production dates, and debated authors…
Level C2HistoricalThe Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 3Explore the intricate world of Elizabethan theatre, revealing how diverse stages and evolving practices shaped the dramatic spectacles performed both publicly and at Court, amidst…
Level C2HistoricalThe Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 2Explore the intricate history and organization of Elizabethan theatrical companies, revealing how boy actors and provincial troupes shaped the vibrant world of early English drama…
Level C1HistoricalThe Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 1Explore the vibrant world of Elizabethan theatre, from courtly pageants and masquerades to the rise of London’s playing companies amid political and religious tensions.
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.