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 A2Children'sThe DoersA curious little boy and his playful cat watch as men use horses and tools to dig a big hole for a house's cellar, sparking wonder and discovery about the world of building and tea…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. IIA family abroad navigates the trials of money, bureaucracy, and new languages while seeking refuge from past troubles.
Level C1ClassicsThe Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. IAn Irish family's ambitious journey through Europe unfolds in a series of witty letters, revealing their comical misadventures and cultural misunderstandings.
Level B2MysteryThe Doctor, his Wife, and the ClockA respected citizen is found shot dead in his locked home, with no apparent clues left behind.
Level C1ClassicsThe Doctor's Wife: A NovelIn a quaint Midlandshire town, young doctor George Gilbert strives to live honorably under the watchful eye of his devoted father, navigating the expectations of a narrow, traditio…
Level B2ClassicsThe Doctor's Red Lamp: A Book of Short Stories Concerning the Doctor's Daily LifeIn a small village, a cross-eyed young man named Abe Dodge endures ridicule yet excels in school, while a compassionate new teacher strives to reach him despite the obstacles posed…
Level C1ClassicsThe Doctor's FamilyA young surgeon struggles to build his medical practice in a rough new district, overshadowed by family secrets and personal disappointments.
Level C1PhilosophyThe Doctor's Dilemma: Preface on DoctorsExplore the troubling contradictions of the medical profession, where doctors wield power over life and limb yet face conflicts of interest that challenge trust and ethics.
Level C1ClassicsThe Doctor's DilemmaTrapped in a gloomy London room and pushed to the brink of madness, a determined narrator battles unseen forces demanding submission.
Level C1ClassicsThe Doctor's DaughterAmid reflections on life's sorrows and joys, an earnest author offers a humble tale shaped by personal experience and steadfast perseverance, inviting readers into a world where ev…
Level C1ClassicsThe Doctor's Christmas EveOn a bitter Christmas Eve in Kentucky, two spirited children set out from their family manor to share a festive celebration with close friends, weaving a tale of friendship, warmth…
Level B2MysteryThe Doctor of Pimlico: Being the Disclosure of a Great CrimeAmid military inspections and mysterious identities, a retired major and a secretive writer find themselves entangled in the revelation of a great crime, where loyalty and deceptio…
Level C1ClassicsThe Doctor : A Tale of the RockiesNestled in the serene beauty of the Rockies, a quaint old mill and its hardworking family reveal tales of love, tradition, and the enduring spirit of Highland ancestry against the…
Level C1HistoricalThe Dixie Book of DaysExplore the rich history and literature of the Old South through a curated collection of prose and verse that reveals the region's profound influence on America’s founding, culture…
Level B2PoetryThe Diving Bell; Or, Pearls to be Sought forDive beneath the surface with tales and fables that invite you to think deeply and discover hidden wisdom, much like exploring the depths with a diving bell.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Vision, and Other PoemsJourney through twilight realms where ancient gods and faery lights awaken forgotten dreams and immortal moods, weaving a poetic tapestry of love, freedom, and the eternal quest fo…
Level C1RomanceThe Divine Lady: A Romance of Nelson and Emma HamiltonIn a quiet London suburb, a beautiful young woman with a passionate spirit faces suspicion and scorn, yet her vibrant voice and presence hint at a story that will intertwine with t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Divine FireIn the serene Devonshire garden, Horace Jewdwine grapples with the discovery of a promising young poet, Savage Keith Rickman, whose genius may ignite a brilliant future—or prove a…
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy, Volume 3, ParadiseDante, guided by Beatrice, ascends through the celestial spheres of Paradise, encountering radiant spirits and divine truths that challenge his understanding of faith, love, and sa…
Level C1PoetryThe Divine Comedy, Volume 2, PurgatoryJourney through the realm where souls undergo purification, ascending the mountain of Purgatory to shed their sins.
Level C1PoetryThe Divine Comedy, Volume 1, HellLost in a dark forest, a poet meets the ancient Roman Virgil, who offers to guide him through the harrowing realms of the afterlife.
Level C1PoetryThe Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: The InfernoJourney through a vivid underworld where the poet himself navigates the harrowing circles of Hell, revealing his deepest fears, strengths, and a poignant plea to his native Florenc…
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Purgatory, CompleteJourney through a realm where the human spirit is cleansed of sin, guided by divine forces and ancient wisdom, as a soul ascends from darkness toward heavenly light.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Paradise, CompleteJourney through realms of divine light where a pilgrim guided by Beatrice ascends beyond mortal limits to witness the eternal harmony that shapes the universe and the soul’s destin…
Level C2HistoricalThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 10Descend into a frozen abyss where tormented souls endure eternal punishment, their frozen anguish revealing dark betrayals and sins.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 09Journey through the haunting depths of Hell, where tormented souls bear the scars of their sins and ancient punishments unfold amid eerie landscapes, revealing the grim fates of al…
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 08Journey through a haunting underworld where tormented souls bear heavy burdens and dark secrets unfold.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 07Descend into the fiery depths of Malebolge, where sinners endure relentless torment amid rocky trenches and demonic lashes, revealing tales of deceit, corruption, and unending puni…
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 06Journey through a shadowed forest where twisted trees whisper tormented souls’ tales, and monstrous Harpies prey, revealing dark punishments of the damned.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 05Descend into the darkest depths of the underworld, where ancient horrors and relentless torment await.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 04Descend through the harrowing circles of Hell, where souls suffer eternal justice for their earthly sins, and witness the clash of divine wrath and human folly in a vivid, poetic j…
Level C2HistoricalThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 03Journey through the harrowing second circle of Hell, where lustful souls are swept endlessly by a fierce storm, and witness tragic figures caught in eternal torment as their past p…
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 02Descend into a shadowed realm where souls wander lost, punished by divine justice and haunted by eternal despair.
Level C2PoetryThe Divine Comedy by Dante, Illustrated, Hell, Volume 01Lost in a dark and terrifying forest, a weary traveler encounters three fearsome beasts blocking his path and meets the ghost of the ancient poet Virgil, who offers to guide him th…
Level B2PoetryThe Diverting History of John Gilpin: Showing How He Went Farther Than He Intended, and Came Safe Home AgainA frugal London linendraper sets off on a holiday ride with his family, but his horse has other plans, galloping wildly and sending John on an unexpected, riotous adventure beyond…
Level B2RomanceThe Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian MutinyAmidst the looming chaos of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, young ensign Ted Russell grapples with his brother Jim’s unexpected infatuation with a spirited young woman, challenging thei…
Level C1AdventureThe Disowned — CompleteA young traveler sets out on a twilight journey through England's wild lanes, encountering a mysterious, imposing companion whose passionate views on progress and freedom hint at d…
Level C2HistoricalThe Disguising at HertfordIn the royal Christmas festivities at Hertford Castle, weary swains plead with the noble prince about the torment of marriage, revealing sharp-witted wives and the comic strife tha…
Level C1ClassicsThe DisentanglersIn a shabby London room, two struggling young men hatch a daring plan to escape poverty and reshape society, driven by wit, ambition, and the promise of a "Great Idea" that could c…
Level C1MysteryThe Disappearing EyeA tangled web of love, wealth, and social ambition unfolds as Cannington, a penniless lord, navigates the affections of Lady Mabel and the mysterious Wentworth Marr, while secrets…
Level C1MysteryThe Disappearance of Lady Frances CarfaxA solitary woman vanished after leaving a Swiss hotel, carrying priceless jewelry and a mysterious financial trail.
Level B2MysteryThe Disappearance of Kimball WebbOn the eve of his wedding, playwright Kimball Webb mysteriously vanishes, leaving his devoted but conflicted family and fiancée Elsie Powell in anxious suspense.
Level B2MysteryThe Disagreeable Woman: A Social MysteryAt a bustling boarding house in New York, a sharp-tongued woman known only as the Disagreeable Woman stirs curiosity and unease with her biting remarks and mysterious past.
Level B2ClassicsThe Dinner ClubSix distinguished men form a club where each hosts a dinner and shares a gripping story from his profession.
Level B2AdventureThe Dingo Boys: The Squatters of Wallaby RangeThree adventurous boys arrive at the rough frontier town of Port Haven, eager to stake their claim and explore the wild Australian inland.
Level C1RomanceThe Dim LanternIn a fading suburb overshadowed by change, Jane Barnes embraces life with boundless enthusiasm while her brother Baldwin battles despair and dreams of a brighter future.
Level C1ClassicsThe DictatorAn exiled dictator awakens in a London hotel, surrounded by symbols of power and memory, plotting a return to glory.
Level B2ClassicsThe Diary of a SaintA young woman grapples with faith, doubt, and the weight of her community’s strict beliefs as she cares for a troubled child haunted by the fear of damnation.
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.