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 C1ClassicsA Great SuccessA rising lecturer's sharp portraits of political figures ignite London’s intellectual circles, drawing acclaim, rivalry, and a whirlwind of invitations that test the balance betwee…
Level C1ClassicsA Great Man: A FrolicIn Victorian London, Henry Knight, a dedicated draper’s manager, pours his passion into letters fighting social injustices, but when urgent matters arise, he faces baffling obstacl…
Level B2Children'sA Great Emergency and Other TalesFour siblings, led by resourceful Rupert, turn a sleepy life lively with lessons on courage and quick thinking from an old leather-bound manual, preparing for any emergency—from fi…
Level C1RomanceA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IIIA man haunted by worldly doubts seeks a secret marriage to bind him and his beloved beyond any power that might separate them, challenging the true meaning of love and trust in a s…
Level C1RomanceA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IIAt Castle Innisfail, sharp wit and hidden passions collide as Lord Fotheringay debates Irish history with an austere historian, while secrets and confessions stir between Edmund Ai…
Level C1ClassicsA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I, II and III: CompleteThree friends debate the nature of women and hope while sharing tales of rural Ireland, blending sharp wit with reflections on society, love, and the struggles of everyday life in…
Level C1ClassicsA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IThree friends debate the nature of women amid the rugged Irish hills, weaving tales of loyalty, secrets, and hope.
Level C1Children'sA Grandmother's RecollectionsA spirited teenager braces for the arrival of her formidable grandmother, expecting strict discipline but finding herself caught in playful chaos and unexpected warmth.
Level C1ClassicsA Grammar of Colloquial Chinese, as Exhibited in the Shanghai DialectExplore the unique sounds and tones of the Shanghai dialect through a detailed study of its alphabet, pronunciation, and word groupings, revealing the rich linguistic character dis…
Level C1ClassicsA Good-For-Nothing: 1876A delicate yet determined youth defies parental expectations and societal norms as he navigates his unusual path toward greatness, torn between dreams of military glory, literary f…
Level B2ClassicsA Good SamaritanA young theological student with a charming, carefree spirit struggles to balance his promising career with the pull of friendship and unexpected challenges on the bustling streets…
Level C1PoetryA Golfing Idyll; Or, The Skipper's Round with the Deil On the Links of St. AndrewsOn the storied links of St Andrews, an old caddie known as the Skipper recounts a vivid, animated tale of an extraordinary encounter with the Devil himself, blending rugged Scottis…
Level B2ClassicsA Golden Venture: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 11.A humble family’s ordinary breakfast turns extraordinary when a mysterious letter reveals an unexpected inheritance, sparking a wave of excitement and suspicion in their close-knit…
Level C1RomanceA Golden Book of VeniceIn 16th-century Venice, beneath sunlit skies and amidst grand churches, a vibrant city of art, power, and mystery awakens, where noble families, artists, and clergy gather in a wor…
Level C1ClassicsA Girton GirlIn a sunlit Guernsey hotel garden, three friends—an artistic American, his English wife, and their rugged Scottish cousin—navigate the paradoxes of love, ambition, and societal exp…
Level B2ClassicsA Girl of the Plains CountryA spirited young girl embarks on a rugged journey across the vast plains with her new guardians, discovering the harsh beauty and unexpected challenges of frontier life.
Level C1Children'sA Girl of the PeopleIn the gritty streets of Liverpool, Bet, a spirited newspaper girl, wrestles with family strife and harsh realities, determined to prove her independence while clinging to the smal…
Level B2ClassicsA Girl of the North: A Story of London and CanadaA renowned naturalist embraces the wild beauty of Canada, building a life filled with love and nature’s fierce allure.
Level B2Children'sA Girl of the LimberlostElnora Comstock escapes a harsh home life and sets out on a determined journey to high school, facing judgment and hardship as she seeks knowledge and a better future beyond the Li…
Level C1AdventureA Girl of the KlondikeIn the frozen wilderness of Alaska, gold fever drives men to desperate cruelty and fierce competition.
Level C1HistoricalA Girl of the CommuneIn a respected English town, a prominent solicitor's family faces tensions as his eldest daughter returns from Girton College with radical ideas about women's roles, challenging th…
Level B2RomanceA Girl of VirginiaOn a crisp Virginia morning, a spirited young woman and a visiting student share a fleeting moment beneath the university’s historic Rotunda, where pride, place, and unspoken secre…
Level B2Children'sA Girl of To-dayTwo siblings reunite after months apart, stepping into the gentle rhythms of village life where friendship, family ties, and youthful adventures await.
Level B2AdventureA Girl of High AdventureA spirited girl of Irish and French heritage lives under the stern care of her aunt and adoring uncle, dreaming of her family's faded glory while defying expectations with fearless…
Level B2Children'sA Girl in Ten ThousandA young woman determined to break free from her modest life embraces the challenge of becoming a nurse, seeking independence and a new purpose despite her family's worries.
Level B2Children'sA Girl in Spring-TimeOn the eve of midsummer holidays, a group of schoolgirls share lively tales of picnics, seaside adventures, and haunted farmhouses, inviting readers into a charming world of youthf…
Level C1HistoricalA Girl Among the AnarchistsAn intimate journey into the world of English anarchists reveals the complexities behind a misunderstood movement, exploring its philosophies, personalities, and the social forces…
Level B2ClassicsA Ghetto Violet: From "Christian and Leah"In a humble Ghetto home, siblings Ephraim and Viola grapple with hope and heartbreak as their father returns from prison, stirring deep family wounds and a vow to set their beloved…
Level B2ClassicsA Gentleman's Gentleman: 1909Three friends reunite beside the serene Thames, sharing tales of art, ambition, and the clash of American wealth with English tradition.
Level C1AdventureA Gentleman of France: Being the Memoirs of Gaston de Bonne Sieur de MarsacA fallen nobleman, stripped of fortune and favor, clings to honor amid the turbulent politics of 16th-century France, awaiting a summons that could change his fate.
Level B2AdventureA Gentleman of Courage: A Novel of the WildernessIn the vast Canadian wilderness, Pierre Gourdon and his family seek a new home, drawn by the untamed beauty and promise of the land.
Level B2ClassicsA Gentleman from MississippiIn a South shadowed by history and political intrigue, an honest planter rises to the U.
Level C1ClassicsA Gentleman Vagabond and Some OthersIn a vivid portrait of Southern society and spirited characters, a Major navigates friendships, social ranks, and personal histories in a world rich with tradition and transformati…
Level C1AdventureA Gentleman Player; His Adventures on a Secret Mission for Queen ElizabethIn 1601 London, amidst the vibrant chaos of the Globe Theatre, a gentleman undertakes a secret mission for Queen Elizabeth, navigating intrigue and danger beneath the public specta…
Level B2Children'sA Garland for GirlsSix young Boston girls form the Mayflower Club, gathering weekly to read, sew, and grapple with the challenges of helping others less fortunate.
Level C1ClassicsA Garden of Peace: A Medley in QuietudeStep into a garden where peace and conflict intertwine, as two voices debate the meaning of tranquility amid history's battles—from ancient Eden to royal intrigues and revolutionar…
Level B2ClassicsA Gamble with LifeA desperate inventor proposes a risky financial gamble backed by his own life insurance, confident his scheme will bring fortune—or else he has a final escape planned.
Level C1RomanceA Galahad of the Creeks; The Widow LamportAn ambitious young Englishman takes up his post as assistant commissioner in remote Pazobin, Burma, where the mysterious creeks and local customs challenge his resolve and reveal a…
Level C1HistoricalA Frontier MysteryRival warriors on opposite sides of a river face off in a fierce, bloodied contest, bound by shared heritage yet divided by fierce loyalty and territory.
Level B2RomanceA Frog He Would A-Wooing GoA determined frog sets out on a whimsical wooing adventure, joined by a rat and a mouse, but their merry-making is soon interrupted by unexpected dangers in this lively animal fabl…
Level C1HistoricalA Friend of Cæsar: A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C.In the heated summer of 50 B.
Level C1ClassicsA Fountain SealedIn wintry Boston, three lifelong friends from vastly different worlds—steadfast Mary, elegant yet discontent Rose, and restless Jack—navigate the complexities of love, loss, and id…
Level C1AdventureA Fortune Hunter; Or, The Old Stone Corral: A Tale of the Santa Fe TrailAmid the serene yet untamed Santa Fe Trail, a haunting tragedy lingers at the Old Stone Corral, where lost love and buried secrets await discovery.
Level B2HistoricalA Fortunate TermIn a bleak, snowy northern town, delicate Mavis battles bronchitis while dreaming of the warm, blooming gardens of Durracombe.
Level B2ClassicsA Fortnight of FollyA daring hotelier offers a select group of distinguished authors a free summer retreat at the remote and grandly scenic Hotel Helicon, nestled atop the rugged Mt.
Level C1HistoricalA Forgotten Hero; Or, Not for HimIn 1290 England, young Clarice is sent away from home to be educated under noble ladies, navigating the rigid customs and whispered scandals of medieval court life as she prepares…
Level C1RomanceA Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the ThirtiesIn the untamed wilderness of 1830s Indiana, a fiercely just matriarch battles nature and family strife while her gentle daughter, Rita, navigates the harsh realities of pioneer lif…
Level C1ClassicsA Foregone ConclusionIn wartime Venice, Don Ippolito, a reserved priest, nervously seeks a passport from the American consul, navigating the city's silent canals and hidden tensions.
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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.