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 B2Children'sThe Blue Jar Story BookA young girl wanders London’s bustling streets, enchanted by colorful shops and pretty things, but must choose between a charming blue vase or practical new shoes—discovering the v…
Level C1RomanceThe Blue GooseIn a shadowy underground lab, Luna wrestles with fear, theft, and a ruthless man named Pierre, as they clandestinely process stolen gold; tension rises in this dark world where tru…
Level B2Science FictionThe Blue GermAfter a mysterious concussion caused by a seemingly magical black cat, a scientist unlocks a groundbreaking discovery: the transformation of one germ into another.
Level C1ClassicsThe Blue FlowerA boy’s restless heart is captured by the longing for a mysterious Blue Flower, symbolizing the elusive quest for true happiness.
Level C1ClassicsThe Blue DuchessAn indecisive artist reflects on his unfulfilled ambitions and complex love life while recounting a real-life adventure that skirts tragedy and irony, blending art, passion, and fa…
Level C1AdventureThe Blue Dragon: A Tale of Recent Adventure in ChinaA young Chinese immigrant faces harsh prejudice and hostility in small-town America, revealing tensions between cultures and the struggles of a proud people seeking respect and opp…
Level B2Children'sThe Blue Birds' Winter NestWhen young Ruth visits her cranky Aunt Selina’s grand but gloomy estate, she brings warmth and kindness to break through the old lady’s loneliness and strict ways, all while nurtur…
Level B2AdventureThe Blue Birds at Happy HillsA spirited group of children embarks on their first solo journey to New York, navigating trains, secrets, and sibling squabbles.
Level C1ClassicsThe Blue Bird: A Fairy Play in Six ActsTwo children awaken on the eve of Christmas to embark on a magical quest for the elusive Blue Bird of Happiness, guided by a fairy through enchanted realms where dreams, memories,…
Level B2Children'sThe Blue Bird for Children: The Wonderful Adventures of Tyltyl and Mytyl in Search of HappinessTwo brave children, Tyltyl and Mytyl, embark on a magical journey through enchanted realms, guided by a mysterious blue bird, seeking the true meaning of happiness amidst wondrous…
Level B2AdventureThe Blue Balloon: A Tale of the Shenandoah ValleyAmid the turmoil of the Civil War in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, young Ephraim “Old Grizzly” Sykes, a humble yet brilliant mechanic, dreams of rising above his station through in…
Level C1MysteryThe Blotting BookIn a perfectly appointed Sussex Square home, Mrs.
Level C1Children'sThe Blossoms of Morality: Intended for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Ladies and GentlemenTwo boys, raised in contrasting ways—one nurtured with discipline, the other spoiled by indulgence—embark on a journey that reveals the delicate balance between fortune, character,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Blossoming RodA man contemplates buying a cherished trout-rod as a rare Christmas gift to himself, wrestling with financial limits and family responsibilities, while his home buzzes with festive…
Level C1PoetryThe Blood of Rachel, a Dramatization of Esther, and Other PoemsIn the ancient Persian palace of Shushan, Queen Esther conceals her identity while navigating royal intrigue and defiance, as loyal Mordecai and the cunning Haman clash in a dramat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Blood Red DawnIn a San Francisco church, an impassioned foreign speaker ignites a quiet young woman’s curiosity amidst a crowd indifferent to a distant war’s call.
Level B2MysteryThe Blonde Lady: Being a Record of the Duel of Wits between Arsène Lupin and the English DetectiveWhen a modest writing-desk disappears without a trace except for a curious encounter with a mysterious young man, a professor and his daughter find themselves entangled in a daring…
Level C1RomanceThe Blockade of Phalsburg: An Episode of the End of the EmpireIn 1814, as the allies besiege the walled town of Phalsburg during the collapse of an empire, a determined Jewish iron merchant narrates the struggles and hopes of his family amid…
Level B2AdventureThe Blockade RunnersAn enigmatic new steamship, the Dolphin, launches amid Glasgow’s bustling docks, stirring curiosity with its mysterious purpose tied to the raging American Civil War.
Level C1ClassicsThe Blithedale RomanceA poet journeys to the experimental community of Blithedale, where mysterious figures like the Veiled Lady and the enigmatic Zenobia weave a complex tale of idealism, secrets, and…
Level B2Children'sThe Blissylvania Post-OfficeOn a gloomy day, four imaginative children devise a charming plan to create their own post-office in a hollow tree, sparking a delightful adventure of friendship and fun through se…
Level C1Science FictionThe Blindman's World: 1898An astronomy professor obsessed with Mars discovers an extraordinary vision that blurs the line between scientific observation and otherworldly experience, plunging him into an imm…
Level C1Science FictionThe Blind SpotWhen an ethereal woman from another dimension appears, a mysterious city emerges from the depths, blending fantasy and science in an extraordinary tale.
Level C1ClassicsThe Blind MusicianA blind musician, gifted and refined, navigates life’s challenges with remarkable insight into the inner world of those without sight, revealing their struggles and triumphs throug…
Level C1ClassicsThe Blind Mother, and The Last ConfessionIn a serene valley, a blind mother tenderly connects with her infant son, whose first encounters with the world around him stir hope and quiet longing.
Level B2Children'sThe Blind Brother: A Story of the Pennsylvania Coal MinesIn the bustling Pennsylvania coal mines, a blind boy named Bennie bravely tends the mine door, relying on his brother Tom for guidance.
Level B1Children'sThe Blind Beggar of JerichoA blind beggar hears of Jesus passing by and cries out for mercy, hoping for a miracle.
Level C2PoetryThe Blessed DamozelA blessed Damozel in Heaven gazes down with longing, clutching lilies and stars in her hair, yearning for the arrival of her earthly beloved to join her in eternal peace and love b…
Level C1AdventureThe Blazed TrailIn the rugged wilderness of Michigan’s logging frontier, a resourceful woodsman accepts a daunting contract to harvest the last great stands of pine, navigating wild landscapes and…
Level C1HistoricalThe Blacksmith's Hammer; or, The Peasant Code: A Tale of the Grand MonarchAmid the tempestuous seas of 17th-century France, a determined sailor rises from humble peasant roots to captain his own ship, weaving a tale of resilience, family legacy, and the…
Level C1AdventureThe BlackguardIn the rugged wilderness of the Kootenay Valley, a defiant, iron-willed Mounted Police trooper known as the Blackguard battles inner demons and a relentless streak of rebellion, te…
Level C1HistoricalThe Black-Sealed Letter: Or, The Misfortunes of a Canadian Cockney.In foggy 1869 London, the Charlston family embodies industrious respectability amidst a city teeming with both wealth and squalor.
Level B1Children'sThe Black-Eyed PuppyA clever little dog with a black eye patch escapes teasing at the factory to explore the big city alone for the first time, discovering new friends, challenges, and the meaning of…
Level B2MysteryThe Black Wolf PackA young scoutmaster’s day spirals into chaos when a car breakdown and a bitter grudge unleash old secrets and sharp tensions in a bustling mill town.
Level C1HistoricalThe Black Troopers, and other storiesIn the rugged Australian frontier of 1849, tensions rise as a wounded aboriginal man and a notorious outlaw named Bobby Peel bring to light the fierce and brutal conflicts between…
Level B2MysteryThe Black Tortoise: Being the Strange Story of Old Frick's DiamondA private detective faces a haunting mystery tied to Old Frick's diamond, forcing him to confront a shadowed past as he prepares for a crucial voyage to America.
Level B2HistoricalThe Black Tor: A Tale of the Reign of James the FirstA fierce, ragtag band of armed men arrives unexpectedly at a remote castle, challenging the young Ralph Darley who guards the way.
Level B2AdventureThe Black Star: A School Story for BoysAt Deepwater College, new term excitement turns to mystery when two strange men and a stolen bag entwine with the quiet boy Billy Faraday, whose past and secrets beckon danger and…
Level B2MysteryThe Black RobeA nephew reluctantly journeys to Boulogne to accompany his ailing aunt across the Channel, only to find himself trapped in a tense, uncertain wait alongside her mysterious companio…
Level C2PoetryThe Black Riders, and Other LinesDark forces clash in vivid, haunting verses that explore sin, struggle, and the human heart’s bitter truths.
Level C1HistoricalThe Black Prophet: A Tale Of Irish Famine: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of: William Carleton, Volume ThreeIn a bleak Irish glen shadowed by famine and mystery, a young woman awaits news that could change her fate amid whispers of prophecy, murder, and survival.
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Poodle, and Other TalesA man recounts the most embarrassing episode of his life involving a menacing black poodle and his awkward attempts to win favor with new neighbors in a quiet country villa.
Level C1MysteryThe Black Police: A Story of Modern AustraliaIn the bustling streets of Auckland, a young pioneer is drawn into the mysterious death of an explorer in Queensland, setting him on a path through Australia's shadowy frontier whe…
Level C1AdventureThe Black PhantomIn the heart of the Upper Amazon jungle, a fierce storm god unleashes nature's terrifying power, stirring wild creatures into a desperate fight for survival.
Level B2ClassicsThe Black PearlA theatrical manager arrives in a remote desert village chasing a mysterious performer known only as the Black Pearl.
Level B2MysteryThe Black PatchIn a secluded Sussex garden, seven railway carriages transformed into eccentric homes hide secrets around a reclusive moneylender whose secluded domain attracts desperate borrowers…
Level C1MysteryThe Black ParrotA mysterious stranger arrives at a remote tropical hotel, carrying a striking cockatoo and secrets as deep as the surrounding jungle.
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Monk, and Other StoriesExplore the quiet desperation and subtle ironies of Russian life through sharply observed tales of misunderstood intellects, social repression, and the unprofitable struggles of ex…
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.