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 B2ClassicsThe Crescent MoonIn war-torn East Africa, a weary stranger arrives in Nairobi to escort wounded soldiers but encounters a mysterious, distant woman whose haunting presence evokes memories of a fara…
Level C1ClassicsThe Creators: A ComedyIn a world of celebrated artists and biting wit, a complex relationship unfolds between Jane Holland, a fiercely independent writer, and George Tanqueray, as they navigate fame, ge…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crayon PapersAmidst a wild Hudson River landscape, a young dreamer nurtures a vivid imagination fueled by fairy tales and ancient family lore, turning a sprawling ancestral mansion into a realm…
Level C1AdventureThe Crater; Or, Vulcan's Peak: A Tale of the PacificUncharted islands and mysterious volcanic peaks lie hidden in the vast Pacific, their secrets lost to history and untouched by explorers.
Level C1ClassicsThe CraterIn the oppressive heat off East Africa, a mysterious man named Ross shares a tale of Norah Sinclair, a proud woman whose reckless choices unravel amid the unforgiving wilderness wh…
Level C1Science FictionThe Crack of DoomA mysterious society challenges the very nature of the universe as a disillusioned traveler encounters a brilliant, enigmatic man whose radical ideas promise to change everything h…
Level B2AdventureThe Coyote: A Western StoryIn a rugged western landscape, a man named Rathburn confronts a dangerous bounty on "The Coyote," a notorious outlaw.
Level C1RomanceThe Coxswain's Bride; also, Jack Frost and Sons; and, A Double RescueAs a fierce hurricane threatens the western shores, Sturdy Bob, the brave coxswain of the Greyton lifeboat, prepares to face wild seas and storms, all while his heart is anchored b…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coxon FundWhen the enigmatic Frank Saltram takes up residence with the Mulvilles, their infinite hospitality is tested by his dazzling intellect and mysterious allure.
Level A2PoetryThe Cowslip; Or, More Cautionary Stories, in VerseTender lessons unfold through charming verses as children navigate mischief, kindness, and learning—from sharing stories and facing punishment to discovering courage and compassion…
Level C1HistoricalThe Coward: A Novel of Society and the Field in 1863In the tense days before Gettysburg, a web of misunderstandings, secrets, and shifting loyalties unfolds among soldiers and civilians alike, revealing the complex nature of courage…
Level B2MysteryThe Coward Behind the CurtainWhen Dorothy leaves the sheltered convent garden, she meets her late father's rough, unpredictable guardian—Georgie Emmett—whose presence upends her sheltered world and challenges…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coverley Papers, From 'The Spectator'Step into the genteel world of Sir Roger de Coverley, where wit and wisdom illuminate the quirks of country life and manners.
Level C1AdventureThe Covered WagonAs spring dawns in 1848, families gather at the Missouri frontier, ready to brave the perilous trail westward to Oregon.
Level C2ClassicsThe Covent Garden Theatre, or Pasquin Turn'd DrawcansirStep behind the scenes of Covent Garden Theatre, where satire and farce expose the social foibles of the age in this witty two-act afterpiece.
Level B2PoetryThe Courtship, Marriage, and Pic-Nic Dinner of Cock Robin & Jenny Wren: With the Death and Burial of Poor Cock RobinFollow the whimsical journey of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren as they navigate courtship, marriage, a festive picnic, and the unexpected trials that follow, brought to life with charmi…
Level B2RomanceThe Courtship of Susan BellA young widow and her two daughters live a quiet life in Saratoga Springs, but when a mysterious young man arrives on a cold winter's day, the promise of romance and change stirs b…
Level C1RomanceThe Courtship of Morrice Buckler: A RomanceA bookish student revisits a tumultuous two-year period marked by adventure, intrigue, and romance, as memories of a distant Tyrolean castle and a mysterious countess come vividly…
Level C1RomanceThe Courtship of Miles Standish:: With Suggestions for Study and NotesIn a time of religious strife and exile, a determined band of Puritans embarks on a perilous journey to the New World, seeking freedom to worship and a place to build a new life am…
Level C1ClassicsThe Court of the King, and Other StudiesStep beyond the ordinary into realms where fairyland’s magic weaves through everyday life, revealing hidden meanings in nature, history, and imagination.
Level C1PoetryThe Court of Chancery: a satirical poem.Dive into a sharp satire exposing the endless delays and corrupt practices of the Court of Chancery, where legal battles drain clients’ resources and patience alike.
Level B2AdventureThe Courier of the OzarksAmid the brutal guerrilla warfare of 1862 Missouri, a young courier and his loyal dog navigate dangerous rebel forces plotting to ignite a fierce uprising.
Level C1ClassicsThe Courage of the CommonplaceOn Tap Day at Yale, fifteen seniors must choose just as many juniors to join secret societies, igniting fierce hopes and heartbreaks beneath the watchful eyes of the entire campus.
Level C1AdventureThe Courage of Marge O'DooneStranded on a snowbound train deep in a frozen wilderness, passengers face a chilling ordeal as fear and uncertainty mount.
Level C1ClassicsThe Country of the Pointed FirsAmid the rugged beauty of a Maine coastal village, a visitor returns to Dunnet Landing, where quaint homes and fragrant herb gardens reveal a close-knit community steeped in tradit…
Level C1Science FictionThe Country of the Blind, and Other StoriesExplore vivid, imaginative tales where the ordinary meets the extraordinary—tiny men in canoes, prehistoric monsters, and mysterious worlds governed by unfamiliar logic—offering a…
Level B2ClassicsThe Country School: An Entertainment in Two ScenesStep into a lively 19th-century country schoolhouse where mischievous pupils stir up antics, from playing hooky to playful pranks, as a stern teacher strives to maintain order amid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Country HouseAs guests arrive at the sprawling Pendyce estate, old alliances, social tensions, and personal ambitions quietly unfold among the landed gentry in this vivid portrait of English co…
Level C1HistoricalThe Country DoctorA dedicated country doctor transforms a bleak, crumbling valley into a thriving community through unwavering goodness and sacrifice, while grappling with personal remorse and the c…
Level B2AdventureThe Country Beyond: A Romance of the WildernessIn a lush, untamed wilderness where spring floods the land with life, a courageous young dog named Peter embarks on a daring adventure that will unknowingly shape the destinies of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess of Rudolstadt: A Sequel to "Consuelo"In the opulent Berlin opera-house of Frederick the Great's reign, political intrigue and royal scrutiny unfold amid grand performances and rigid court customs.
Level C1RomanceThe Countess of Pembroke's ArcadiaJourney into a richly imagined world where poetic romance and prose narrative intertwine, exploring the evolving nature of storytelling through passion, imagination, and reason in…
Level C1MysteryThe Countess of Lowndes Square, and Other StoriesCynthia, once a countess married into wealth, now faces ruin after her father and husband die in debt.
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess of EscarbagnasIn a provincial town buzzing with gossip and courtly airs, a young couple navigates secret love amid family feuds and the comical extravagances of the vain Countess of Escarbagnas,…
Level B2HistoricalThe Countess of Charny; or, The Execution of King Louis XVIIn revolutionary France, the fierce Countess of Charny navigates love, loyalty, and betrayal amidst the looming execution of King Louis XVI.
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess FannyIn a remote Cornish estate shadowed by loss and isolation, Ambrosia Sellar prepares to leave her gloomy home for a marriage of duty—but she yearns to escape the suffocating monoton…
Level C1RomanceThe Countess Cosel: A Romance of History of the Times of Augustus the StrongAs the once-mighty Augustus the Strong mourns his lost Polish crown in a shadowed Dresden castle, court intrigues and shattered dreams unfold.
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess CathleenIn a famine-stricken land where the dead walk and strange creatures lurk, Countess Cathleen returns to her childhood home, confronting hunger, despair, and eerie omens that threate…
Level B2FantasyThe Counterpane FairyWhen lonely and sick, Teddy’s world brightens as the mysterious Counterpane Fairy appears, inviting him to explore magical stories hidden within the colorful squares of his quilt.
Level C1MysteryThe Count's MillionsOn a stormy night in a grand Paris mansion, the servants whisper about their reclusive master—the wealthy Count—and his mysterious, uneventful life.
Level B2MysteryThe Count's ChauffeurAn expert driver and mechanic accepts a mysterious Italian count’s offer to become his personal chauffeur, stepping into a world of secret family affairs and high society intrigue…
Level C1HistoricalThe Count of the Saxon Shore; or The Villa in Vectis.: A Tale of the Departure of the Romans from BritainAmidst the declining Roman Empire, soldiers at a coastal British camp grapple with delayed pay, uncertain leadership, and looming Saxon threats.
Level B2HistoricalThe Count of Nideck: adapted from the French of Erckmann-ChartrianSummoned urgently to the remote Castle of Nideck during a harsh winter, Gaston confronts a mysterious family curse afflicting the ailing Count, whose strange malady may only be cur…
Level C1ClassicsThe Count of Narbonne: A Tragedy, in Five ActsAmidst grief and political strife, a noble Count faces betrayal, loss, and a mysterious disappearance that threatens his legacy and honor.
Level C1ClassicsThe Council of SevenA powerful politician returns unexpectedly to a London club, stirring admiration and hostility alike, as Helen Sholto grapples with a shocking newspaper report that threatens every…
Level C1PoetryThe Council of DogsIn a whimsical gathering, dogs of various breeds debate and jockey for position, revealing their distinct personalities and quirks through lively verse and charming illustrations.
Level C1MysteryThe Cottage on the FellsA struggling barrister falls passionately for a mysterious woman living apart from society in a quiet seaside town, but shadows from her past threaten to keep them apart.
Level B2ClassicsThe Cottage of Delight: A NovelIn a grim mill town, young John Trott wakes to a smoky kitchen where orphaned Dora Boyles struggles to prepare breakfast amid hardship and uneasy household 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.