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 Interdependence of LiteratureExplore the rich tapestry of world literature as it weaves together ancient civilizations, from Babylonian and Hebrew texts to Greek, Roman, and beyond, revealing how cultures have…
Level C1ClassicsThe Intelligence Office (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")In a dim city office where every human longing is cataloged, a mysterious clerk listens to visitors seeking their true place in the world—whether a humble role or a throne—explorin…
Level C1AdventureThe Insurgent ChiefIn a restless town shadowed by a gloomy nunnery known as the Black House, a mysterious midnight visit stirs whispers of revolution.
Level C1HistoricalThe Instruction of Ptah-Hotep and the Instruction of Ke'Gemni: The Oldest Books in the WorldJourney into ancient Egypt’s wisdom through the teachings of Ptah-Hotep and Ke'Gemni, where timeless reflections on life, society, and the human soul reveal the enduring legacy of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Inspector-GeneralCorruption runs rampant in a small Russian town thrown into chaos when officials mistake a visitor for an incognito inspector-general.
Level C1ClassicsThe Inside of the Cup — CompleteIn a rapidly changing Midwestern city, a steadfast patriarch clings to old values amid the rise of industrial prosperity and shifting social landscapes, challenging the comfort and…
Level C1HistoricalThe Inns and Taverns of "Pickwick": With Some Observations on Their Other AssociationsExplore the vibrant inns and taverns that bring to life the lively world of The Pickwick Papers, revealing the rich social tapestry and humor of England's coaching age through deta…
Level C1RomanceThe Innocents: A Story for LoversIn a modest New York flat, an aging couple clings to love and simple joys amid the city's relentless pace.
Level C1ClassicsThe Innocents AbroadEmbark on a lively voyage across Europe and beyond with a curious band of American travelers, encountering eccentric characters, cultural clashes, and humorous misadventures as the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Inner Sisterhood: A Social Study in High ColorsIn a lively social season filled with parties and admirers, a young woman navigates the complexities of high society, longing for genuine connection amid the dazzling yet fickle wh…
Level C1ClassicsThe Inner ShrineA mother waits anxiously through the night, sensing an unseen danger looming over her son's seemingly perfect marriage in the glittering society of Paris.
Level C1PhilosophyThe Inner Life: Part 3 from The Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume VIIExplore profound questions about the origin of evil and the unseen spiritual forces that shape human suffering and moral struggle, as ancient beliefs and modern skepticism collide…
Level C1PhilosophyThe Inner BeautyThe soul relentlessly seeks beauty, finding in it a pure nourishment that uplifts and ennobles even the most ordinary lives.
Level C2PoetryThe Inn of DreamsStep into a luminous world where beauty, love, and dreams intertwine in delicate verses that capture fleeting moments of joy, longing, and the eternal dance between reality and fan…
Level C1ClassicsThe Inn at the Red OakIn a fading coastal town where prosperity has slipped away, the weathered Inn at the Red Oak stands as a relic of a bygone era.
Level C1ClassicsThe Inmate Of The Dungeon: 1894In a grim prison chamber, a gaunt, iron-willed convict is summoned unexpectedly before the State Prison Directors, sparking a tense confrontation that promises to reveal dark secre…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ink-Stain (Tache d'encre) — CompleteA young law student grapples with the monotony of his provincial upbringing and academic pursuits, until an unexpected event on December 10, 1884, promises to disrupt his uneventfu…
Level C1RomanceThe Initials: A Story of Modern LifeAn English traveler in Munich grows restless amid predictable journeys and deserted city streets, yearning to uncover the true character and hidden stories of the Germans he meets.
Level C1Science FictionThe InheritorsA mysterious woman claiming to inhabit the Fourth Dimension challenges a writer's perceptions during a chance encounter, sparking a conversation that blurs reality, identity, and t…
Level B2Children'sThe Inglises; Or, How the Way OpenedAmidst a fierce storm, the Inglis family awaits the return of the Reverend from his long journey to remote villages, where he ministers to those who might never hear the Gospel oth…
Level C1ClassicsThe Influence of Old Norse Literature on English LiteratureExplore the profound impact of Old Norse sagas and poetry on English literature, tracing their influence from Thomas Gray to William Morris and revealing a timeless connection that…
Level C1HistoricalThe Influence of India and Persia on the Poetry of GermanyExplore how 19th-century German poets drew inspiration from the rich literary traditions of India and Persia, revealing a profound cultural exchange that shaped their poetic imagin…
Level C1HistoricalThe Inflexible Captive: A Tragedy, in Five ActsIn war-torn Rome, a noble hero faces captivity and a harrowing oath: to return to enemy hands or betray his country.
Level C1RomanceThe Infidel; or, the Fall of Mexico. Vol. II.Amidst a grand feast in Tezcuco, Cortes prepares to lead a diverse army in a daring campaign against Tenochtitlan, while political tensions simmer beneath the surface of celebratio…
Level C1RomanceThe Infidel; or, the Fall of Mexico. Vol. I.Amid the fading grandeur of Tezcuco, once a majestic kingdom rich in culture and learning, the return of Spanish conquerors threatens to shatter the fragile peace.
Level C1HistoricalThe Infidel: A Story of the Great RevivalIn a world where literature is a trade and faith is tested, an unfrocked priest turned infidel grapples with his past and the harsh realities of survival.
Level C1ClassicsThe InfernoA tormented soul battles doubt, suspicion, fear, and desire in a raw, autobiographical journey through madness and redemption.
Level C1PhilosophyThe InfernoA man confined to a single room glimpses the vast spiritual tragedy of life through a crack in the wall, confronting the relentless forces that shape human existence and the haunti…
Level C1ClassicsThe Infernal MarriageA dark god’s fiery chariot whisks a reluctant maiden beneath the earth to the shadowy realm of Hades, where she confronts eerie guardians, uneasy family ties, and the haunting pric…
Level C1HistoricalThe Infant's Skull; Or, The End of the World. A Tale of the MillenniumAmidst apocalyptic fears as the year 1000 approaches, a passionate encounter unfolds between Queen Blanche and Count Hugh, revealing love, betrayal, and looming doom in a world ant…
Level C2PoetryThe Infant's Delight: PoetryDiscover gentle poems that celebrate nature, childhood, and divine care, weaving simple joys and spiritual reflections into verses filled with wonder and faith.
Level C1ClassicsThe InevitableIn a bustling Roman boarding-house blending old charm and modern life, a solitary traveler arrives, sensing both the city's beauty and an uneasy forewarning.
Level C1HistoricalThe Induna's WifeAmid the haunting remnants of a fierce Zulu battlefield, an old warrior arrives with tales of valor, sorcery, and survival that unveil the secrets of a nation’s past and the powerf…
Level C1RomanceThe Indiscretion of the Duchess: Being a Story Concerning Two Ladies, a Nobleman, and a NecklaceAn Englishman finds himself drawn into a tangled drama of intrigue and romance when his friend invites him to join a forbidden visit to a French duchess, whose life is shadowed by…
Level B2ClassicsThe Indian's Hand: 1892Tensions rise in a frontier settlement as settlers dismiss warnings of returning Native Americans—until a violent raid shatters their fragile peace, leaving a mother haunted by the…
Level C1HistoricalThe Indian queenAmid the fiery council-fires of the Iroquois, Mahaska—a half-white queen with fierce intellect and ambition—seeks to unite her people and assert her power by waging war against a r…
Level C1AdventureThe Indian Scout: A Story of the Aztec CityIn the shadowed prairies of the Far West, a daring Canadian scout and a fierce Comanche chief navigate secrets and alliances among Native tribes, revealing a world of tradition and…
Level C1AdventureThe Indian Princess; Or, La Belle SauvageAmidst early 19th-century America, a dramatic tale unfolds blending romance and adventure with the clash of cultures, as a noble Native American princess navigates loyalty, love, a…
Level C1RomanceThe Indian On The Trail: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899In a secluded lime-kiln on a quiet island, Maurice Barrett wrestles with the passion and complexities of a love that defies age and past regrets, as he awaits the woman who has awa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Indian Lily and Other StoriesA wealthy retired officer navigates the complexities of passion and duty in Berlin, where secret rendezvous and social influence collide.
Level C1AdventureThe Indian Chief: The Story of a RevolutionAmidst the haunting ruins of a once-thriving mission deep in the Mexican wilderness, three travelers—Count Louis, Valentine, and Don Cornelio—navigate treacherous alliances and the…
Level C1MysteryThe Indian BangleA widow in colonial Bombay navigates grief, wealth, and complex family ties as she prepares to honor her late husband while unraveling secrets tied to a longstanding engagement and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Indeterminate Sentence: What Shall Be Done with the Criminal Class?Exploring the persistent challenge of the criminal class, this work examines society's failure to rehabilitate offenders and the economic and social costs of short-term incarcerati…
Level C1HistoricalThe Independent Statesmen, and Liberal Landlord: or a respectful tribute to T. W. Coke, M.P. for the County of NorfolkIn a candid tribute to T.
Level C1RomanceThe Independence of ClaireTorn between duty and desire, Claire Gifford faces a heart-wrenching choice as her family's financial troubles force her to consider marriage not for love, but for survival.
Level C1Children'sThe Independence Day Horror at KillsburyOn Independence Day in Killsbury, young Laurens Angelo Cornwallis’s birthday coincides with a town steeped in patriotic fervor—and a looming danger beneath the festive celebrations…
Level B2ClassicsThe Incubator BabyIn a garden where storks deliver babies from blossoming trees, the smallest infant, Marjorie, is unexpectedly carried to a strange new world inside an incubator, where she must nav…
Level C1RomanceThe Incredible HoneymoonA young engineer inherits property and abandons his trade to pursue a pastoral dream, embarking on a whimsical adventure with a loyal dog by his side.
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.