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 Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of LondonA country boy arrives in bustling London, captivated by the chaotic life on London Bridge and seeking his fortune as an apprentice in the cloth trade.
Level C1ClassicsThe Colleen Bawn; or, the Brides of GarryowenIn a tangled web of love and loyalty, Hardress Cregan faces a secret family bargain and a fierce rivalry over Anne Chute’s heart, while his devoted, maimed foster-brother stands un…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collectors: Being Cases mostly under the Ninth and Tenth CommandmentsAmid smoky taverns and art debates, an insider reveals the untold truths behind celebrated painters and the murky world of art collecting, exposing passion, forgery, and rivalry be…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collector: Essays on Books, Newspapers, Pictures, Inns, Authors, Doctors, Holidays, Actors, PreachersExplore lively essays that delve into the history of books, newspapers, and London’s bustling taverns, revealing the colorful characters and social changes behind the city's vibran…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collection of AntiquitiesIn a quiet provincial town, the proud Marquis d’Esgrignon clings to his ancient noble heritage amid the upheavals of post-revolutionary France, navigating loss, loyalty, and the st…
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writings of Dougal Graham, "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow, Vol. 2 of 2In 18th-century Glasgow, Jockey and Maggy navigate family quarrels, social expectations, and the complexities of courtship amidst lively local characters and rustic humor.
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writings of Dougal Graham, "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow, Vol. 1 of 2Explore the rare and vivid chap-books of Dougal Graham, Glasgow's bellman, capturing the customs, manners, and folk-lore of his time through carefully preserved writings and insigh…
Level C1HistoricalThe Collected Writing of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. IIExplore the intimate world of early 19th-century literature and philosophy through vivid autobiographical sketches, from Oxford’s academic life to encounters with literary giants l…
Level B2ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 12: In MotleyDive into a quirky, humorous exploration of nature and human folly through the eyes of a child narrator, blending tall tales, animal lore, and playful observations in a delightfull…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 11: AntepenultimataDive into a sharp, provocative exploration of political ideologies where socialism, anarchism, and nihilism clash and intertwine, revealing the fragile balance between order and ch…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 10: The OpinionatorDive into sharp wit and biting critique as the narrator dissects the flood of contemporary novels, exposing their flaws and pondering the fading art of storytelling amid a sea of m…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 09: Tangential ViewsExplore sharp, witty reflections on civilization’s quirks, from the fading human sense of smell to the curious significance of famous noses throughout history, revealing hidden ins…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 08: Negligible Tales, On With the Dance, EpigramsA young man recounts his bizarre ordeal after obeying his mother’s dark request to “remove the Coroner” following his father’s sudden death, revealing a twisted tale of family loya…
Level B2HorrorThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 02: In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and CiviliansIn a tense Civil War landscape, a young soldier faces deadly consequences after falling asleep on duty while guarding a critical mountain pass, where the fate of an impending surpr…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 01In a distant future, a historian examines the rise and catastrophic fall of ancient America's self-governing republic, revealing the inherent flaws and human nature that doomed its…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 8 (of 8): Discoveries. Edmund Spenser. Poetry and Tradition; and Other Essays. BibliographyA theatrical troupe arrives in a decaying Irish town to perform a play steeped in heroic legend, but the faded grandeur and muted passion of the audience reveal deeper tensions bet…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 7 (of 8): The Secret Rose. Rosa Alchemica. The Tables of the Law. The Adoration of the Magi. John Sherman and DhoyaA restless gleeman wanders through a harsh landscape where spiritual battles unfold beneath Ireland’s ancient crosses.
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 6 (of 8): Ideas of Good and EvilExplore the quest to create a truly Irish popular poetry that captures the essence of the land, its legends, and its people, blending tradition with fresh, vibrant expression beyon…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 5 (of 8): The Celtic Twilight and Stories of Red HanrahanStep into a world where Irish folklore breathes through tales of faeries, banshees, and ancient visions, told by a charming old storyteller who blurs the line between belief and im…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 4 (of 8): The Hour-glass. Cathleen ni Houlihan. The Golden Helmet. The Irish Dramatic MovementIn a world where wisdom clashes with folly, Teig the Fool challenges the learned to see beyond visible truths, revealing a mystical realm where angels are near and luck is more tha…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 3 (of 8): The Countess Cathleen. The Land of Heart's Desire. The Unicorn from the StarsIn a mystical Ireland, a noble countess faces haunting choices, while dreams and visions blur the line between reality and the supernatural—unfolding in poetic plays that weave fai…
Level B2PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 2 (of 8): The King's Threshold. On Baile's Strand. Deirdre. Shadowy WatersStep into a world where kings, warriors, and witches collide as the mighty Cuchulain faces an oath that could bind his wild spirit, while shadows of betrayal and destiny loom from…
Level C2PoetryThe Collected Works in Verse and Prose of William Butler Yeats, Vol. 1 (of 8): Poems Lyrical and NarrativeImmerse yourself in haunting Irish folklore where ancient gods, faery hills, and mystical visions intertwine, revealing a secret language of symbols and dreams that blur the line b…
Level C1PoetryThe Collected Poems of Rupert BrookeVivid and sensuous, these poems trace a young poet’s passionate embrace of life’s fleeting moments, from delicate joys to the sting of disillusionment, capturing the vibrant pulse…
Level C1ClassicsThe Collaborators: 1896Two ambitious journalists debate the merits and dangers of collaboration, balancing dark imagination with humor and restraint, as they set out to craft a compelling, commercially s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cold Snap: 1898In the grip of an unprecedented New England cold snap, the community rallies as the mercury plunges and the biting frost tests their resilience and unity.
Level C1MysteryThe Coil of CarneAmid the shifting sands and deadly tides of a remote western coast stands the grim gray house of Carne, built as a sanctuary in turbulent times.
Level B2HistoricalThe Cohansey tea-fightAmid a fierce storm, a young girl’s plans to attend a sociable tea-party dissolve, prompting her grandmother to recount an unforgettable tale from 1774 about family, duty, and unex…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cockaynes in Paris; Or, 'Gone abroad'An Englishman with a taste for Parisian life navigates the quirks and clashes of the English expatriate community in the vibrant yet changing French capital.
Level B2Children'sThe Cockatoo's StoryA white cockatoo wrestles with feelings of guilt and misunderstanding as he recounts his remarkable story to a sharp-tongued gray parrot, while a kind boy named Herbert patiently t…
Level C1Children'sThe Cock-House at FellsgarthAt Fellsgarth, a storied school nestled between rivers and rugged hills, new boys face their first chaotic night amid boisterous fellows and unexpected challenges.
Level C1HistoricalThe Cock and AnchorIn early 18th-century Dublin, the grand yet antiquated inn known as the Cock and Anchor stands as a silent witness to the city's shifting streets and stories.
Level B2Children'sThe CochinealA father and son explore the hidden beauty of a tiny insect under a microscope, discovering a powerful lesson about God's care and wisdom in even the smallest creatures.
Level B2ClassicsThe Cobbler In The Devil's Kitchen: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899An Irish cobbler makes his home in a rugged lakeside cavern known as the Devil’s Kitchen, finding solitude amidst the wild beauty and rough characters of Mackinac Island.
Level C1PoetryThe Coast of BohemiaSet sail for a mystical land beyond all maps, where poets, heroes, and dreamers find eternal peace and inspiration amidst radiant skies and timeless beauty.
Level C1ClassicsThe Coast of BohemiaA young village girl with artistic talent leaves her home to study in New York, where she navigates the vibrant but challenging world of art, love, and society.
Level C1RomanceThe Coast of AdventureIn the sweltering Caribbean town of Rio Frio, a British adventurer and a principled priest navigate a world of political corruption, foreign exploitation, and simmering tensions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Co-opolitan: A Story of the Co-operative Commonwealth of IdahoIn 1897, amid widespread poverty and economic turmoil in the richest nation, a young man grapples with lost fortune and bleak prospects while envisioning a future shaped by industr…
Level B2ClassicsThe Co-CitizensA reclusive widow leaves behind a vast estate and a mysterious absence of heirs, sparking intrigue and speculation in Jordantown.
Level C1MysteryThe Clue of the Twisted CandleA determined writer journeys through rain to his secluded Elizabethan home, where a mysterious visitor named Kara awaits.
Level B2MysteryThe ClueIn the grand Van Norman mansion, poised heiress Madeleine faces the looming inheritance tied to her impending marriage—and the restless cousin whose shadow threatens the family's l…
Level C1MysteryThe Club of Queer TradesIn the labyrinthine streets of London, a secret society admits only those who have invented entirely new trades to earn their living.
Level B2Children'sThe Club at Crow's CornerIn a cozy woodland corner, a curious club of animals gathers to share tales and adventures, led by the cunning Mr.
Level C2HistoricalThe CloudsA worried father, drowning in debt from his son's extravagant horseriding habits, seeks salvation by sending him to a strange "thinking-shop" where philosophers teach cunning rheto…
Level C1MysteryThe Closed Book: Concerning the Secret of the BorgiasIn the sun-drenched streets of Florence, a passionate antiquary uncovers a mysterious medieval manuscript linked to a secret past.
Level C1RomanceThe Cloister and the HearthIn 15th-century Holland, a devoted couple navigates the joys and hardships of raising nine children amid a turbulent world ruled by cunning monarchs.
Level C1Science FictionThe Clockwork ManAs a cricket match falters under the distraction of a bizarre, windmill-armed figure, a doctor’s frustration spirals into a deeper mystery.
Level C1ClassicsThe Clockmaker; Or, the Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick, of SlickvilleStep into the sharp wit and keen observations of Samuel Slick, a clever Yankee peddler navigating the provincial slow wits and political quirks of Nova Scotia, delivering biting sa…
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.