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 Cost of KindnessIn a quaint village, the contentious Rev.
Level B2ClassicsThe CostIn a small town, spirited Pauline Gardiner faces the rough teasing of John Dumont, a boisterous boy whose bullying masks a growing fascination.
Level C1HistoricalThe Cossacks: A Tale of 1852In the quiet streets of Moscow, a restless traveler wrestles with the complexities of love and self-understanding as he prepares to leave behind a life tangled in regret and longin…
Level C1Science FictionThe Cosmic CourtshipOn her twenty-first birthday, Miriam Mayne soars above a transformed New York City, mastering the art of personal flight in a future where subterranean cities and gleaming marble p…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coryston Family: A NovelIn the charged atmosphere of the House of Commons, Lady Coryston and her daughter Marcia navigate political tensions and societal expectations amidst debates over a transformative…
Level B2HistoricalThe Corsican LoversIn a Corsican castle steeped in the legacy of vendetta, a young woman defies her brother's demand to marry a man she does not love, challenging the bonds of family duty and a deadl…
Level B2HistoricalThe Corsican BrothersJourney through the rugged Corsican landscape, where ancient vendettas and fierce family loyalties shape every encounter.
Level C1ClassicsThe Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872, Vol. IExplore the rich intellectual friendship between two towering 19th-century thinkers through their candid letters, revealing insights into literature, philosophy, and the challenges…
Level C1ClassicsThe Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872, Vol II.Two towering minds exchange letters revealing their struggles, triumphs, and the literary world of their time—discussing poetry, politics, piracy, and the shaping of history throug…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cornish Fishermen's Watch-Night, and Other StoriesIn a storm-lashed Cornish village where fishermen’s livelihoods hide dark secrets of wrecking and murder, a determined young minister confronts their ruthless ways with fearless fa…
Level C2PoetryThe Cornflower, and Other PoemsExplore heartfelt moments and vivid scenes of everyday life through a rich collection of poems that capture love, nature, and human experience with warmth and insight.
Level B2AdventureThe Cornet of Horse: A Tale of Marlborough's WarsIn the shadow of Marlborough’s wars, a young nobleman hones his fencing skills and courtly manners, preparing for a life where courage and grace will be tested on both battlefield…
Level C1MysteryThe Corner HouseIn a glittering world of wealth and mystery, the enigmatic Countess Lalage captivates London society while a dark, shuttered house nearby hides secrets of a tragic past.
Level B2MysteryThe Corbin necklaceA priceless family necklace becomes the center of attention as whispers of theft and danger swirl around Judith Corbin’s upcoming wedding.
Level B2AdventureThe Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific OceanThree boys shipwrecked on a remote Pacific island must rely on courage and friendship to survive thrilling adventures in a tropical paradise shaped by nature’s tiny architects—the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coquette, or, The History of Eliza Wharton: A Novel: Founded on FactIn a world bound by rigid social codes, Eliza Wharton navigates the delicate balance between desire and duty, revealing the complexities faced by a woman whose charm and independen…
Level B2MysteryThe Coquette's Victim: Everyday Life Library No. 1A noble young man stands accused of breaking into a count's room and stealing precious jewels, but his calm demeanor and mysterious motives puzzle the seasoned magistrate overseein…
Level B2Children'sThe Copy-Cat, and Other StoriesIn a quaint school, plain little Amelia idolizes the dazzling Lily Jennings, striving to mimic her beauty and grace despite differences in appearance and attire.
Level C1HistoricalThe CopperheadAn orphan raised as a farmhand in a rural community, the narrator grows up under the stern guidance of Abner Beech, a learned but increasingly isolated farmer whose devotion to pol…
Level B2AdventureThe Copper Princess: A Story of Lake Superior MinesA daring rescue aboard a speeding train sparks an unlikely friendship between a struggling gentleman and a humble mine worker in the rugged Lake Superior mining region, where both…
Level C1MysteryThe Copper HouseAmid the chaos of 1917 Stockholm, a mysterious figure known only as the "Man in the Whirlpool" manipulates the deadly game of war and espionage.
Level B2ClassicsThe Cook's Wedding and Other StoriesIn a bustling household kitchen, a young boy observes the uneasy preparations for the cook Pelageya’s unexpected wedding to a sober cabman, stirring questions about love, duty, and…
Level B2PoetryThe Coo-ee Reciter: Humorous, Pathetic, Dramatic, Dialect, Recitations & ReadingsA young couple's playful battle over carrying their restless baby unfolds amid a sunlit journey, revealing tender tensions and affectionate banter that explore the challenges and h…
Level C1ClassicsThe Convict: A TaleA young scholar at Cambridge, driven by ambition and burdened by relentless study, struggles against the weight of his family's lost fortune and the desire for a different life.
Level C1MysteryThe Convict's Farewell: with Advice to Criminals, before and after TrialA convict's heartfelt farewell reveals the tragic descent from a peaceful life to chains and exile, warning against the vices that lead to ruin.
Level B2AdventureThe Convict Ship, Volume 3 (of 3)Trapped aboard a ship overrun by convicts, a small group plans a daring escape using a tiny captain’s boat while navigating the dangerous chaos of mutiny, survival, and shifting po…
Level B2HistoricalThe Convict Ship, Volume 2 (of 3)A runaway boy hides aboard a brutal convict ship bound for Australia, struggling to survive the harsh crew and claustrophobic darkness below deck.
Level C1HistoricalThe Convict Ship, Volume 1 (of 3)A woman recounts her extraordinary journey aboard a convict ship filled with male prisoners, revealing a gripping tale of loss, survival, and the fading era of transporting crimina…
Level C1ClassicsThe ConvertA young woman sneaks into a grand household nursery, where mischievous children and a strict nurse create a lively scene of innocence and discipline.
Level C1ClassicsThe Convent School; Or, Early Experiences of a Young FlagellantA young girl recounts her strict upbringing under a formidable governess and her father's stern discipline, revealing a world where punishment shapes education and family alliances…
Level C2PoetryThe Conuercyon of swerers: (The Conversion of Swearers)In a vivid poetic plea, the voice of Christ laments the cruelty of swearing and urges kings and commoners alike to abandon sinful oaths, embracing mercy and spiritual renewal to es…
Level C1ClassicsThe ContrastStep into the lively world of early America where sharp wit and satire expose the clash between honest simplicity and polished hypocrisy.
Level B2AdventureThe Continental Dragoon: A Love Story of Philipse Manor-House in 1778Amid the turmoil of 1778’s Revolutionary War, three riders press northward along a perilous Albany post-road, weaving through British-occupied New York.
Level C1MysteryThe Continental Classics, Volume XVIII., Mystery Tales: Including Stories by Feodor Mikhailovitch Dostoyevsky, Jörgen Wilhelm: Bergsöe and Bernhard Severin IngemannAt a high-stakes card party, a mysterious secret revealed by the enigmatic Count St.
Level C1ClassicsThe ConsulAn aging U.
Level C1AdventureThe Constant PrinceFive young princes of Portugal, restless for glory, debate honor, knighthood, and the chance to fight the infidel—setting the stage for a gripping tale of courage, faith, and sacri…
Level C1ClassicsThe Constant Couple; Or, A Trip to the Jubilee: A Comedy, in Five ActsIn this lively comedy, a charming rake navigates love and misadventure amidst the bustling backdrop of London’s high society, where wit and folly collide in a spirited quest for co…
Level C1HistoricalThe Constable De BourbonAmid the grandeur of 16th-century France, Charles de Bourbon commands a formidable cavalry, embodying both noble birth and battlefield prowess.
Level C1FantasyThe Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the MoonExplore a fantastical journey bridging the earthly realms and the moon, where empires rise through innovation, trade flourishes across wild frontiers, and ancient Eastern wisdom ch…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conscript: A Story of the French war of 1813Amid the booming glory of Napoleon’s empire, a humble watchmaker’s apprentice is swept into the brutal reality of conscription and war, revealing the harsh human cost behind the gr…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conscript MotherAs war looms over Italy, a mother embarks on a desperate journey across the Campagna to catch a fleeting glimpse of her son, a soldier stationed in a hostile town where fear and un…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and ClarkAmid rising tensions on the American frontier, a bold expedition sets out to chart unknown lands and navigate alliances with Native tribes.
Level C1HistoricalThe Conquest of Plassans (La Conquête de Plassans)As France teeters between religious fervor and free thought, the Catholic Church launches a powerful campaign to reclaim its influence and reshape the Republic.
Level C1ClassicsThe Conquest of CanaanIn the quiet Indiana town of Canaan, a group of elderly sages gather each morning at the National House, observing the world with sharp wit and deep reflection as they debate the m…
Level B2Science FictionThe Conquest of America: A Romance of Disaster and Victory, U.S.A., 1921 A.D.As a victorious Germany invades an unprepared America after World War I, cities burn and battles rage from New York to Boston, forcing a desperate fight for survival and patriotism…
Level C1HistoricalThe Conqueror: Being the True and Romantic Story of Alexander HamiltonExplore the early life and heritage of Alexander Hamilton through vivid portraits of Nevis, a flourishing Caribbean island, as the story traces the roots and remarkable character o…
Level C1Science FictionThe ConnoisseurIn a future where human lives are bartered like commodities, a man negotiates for a young girl’s future with rare treasures from a dying spaceship—challenging the value of both obj…
Level C1HistoricalThe Connecticut Wits, and Other EssaysExplore the spirited literary circle of Yale graduates who sought to transform Connecticut’s intellectual landscape with epic poetry and satire during America’s Revolutionary era,…
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.