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 C1Children'sThe Young Pilgrim: A Tale Illustrative of "The Pilgrim's Progress"A young boy encounters a clergyman near ancient shrine ruins and learns about the true meaning of pilgrimage beyond superstition.
Level C1HistoricalThe Young PhysicianA young college boy wrestles with fear and fierce courage on the ominously named Murderer’s Cross Road, where the beauty of the countryside clashes with haunting legends and person…
Level A2AdventureThe Young Outlaw; or, Adrift in the StreetsA street-smart boy with ragged clothes and a quick wit offers to guide a lost stranger through the bustling, confusing streets of New York, revealing a city where survival depends…
Level B2Children'sThe Young O'Briens: Being an Account of Their Sojourn in LondonA family's journey through a stormy London night unfolds with tender humor and quiet tension as they face an uncertain year apart.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Musician; Or, Fighting His WayLeft penniless after his father's death, young Philip Gray faces the harsh prospect of the poorhouse but vows to fight his way up through hard work and his talent for music.
Level B2ClassicsThe Young Mountaineers: Short StoriesIn a rugged mountain ravine known as Old Daddy’s Window, eerie figures appear on sheer cliffs, stirring fear and mystery among the local families.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Miner; Or, Tom Nelson in CaliforniaIn the rugged California goldfields, sixteen-year-old Tom Nelson faces the harsh realities of mining with determination and grit, contrasting sharply with others’ fleeting hopes of…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Marooners on the Florida CoastA group of resourceful young adventurers set sail for the Florida coast, facing thrilling challenges from storms to wildlife as they learn survival skills and forge lasting friends…
Level C1ClassicsThe Young Man and JournalismExplore the vital role of vocation in shaping a young man's life, focusing on journalism as a career that demands skill, judgment, and moral development while offering steady emplo…
Level C1FantasyThe Young Lovell: A RomanceA young lord keeps a midnight vigil in an ancient chapel, wrestling with haunting visions of demons, spirits, and ancient gods vying for his soul before his knighting at dawn.
Level C1Children'sThe Young Lord, and Other Tales; to which is added Victorine DurocherA young boy’s struggle with selfishness and honesty unfolds as he confronts lessons in generosity, inherited loss, and the true meaning of reward beyond earthly treasures.
Level C1AdventureThe Young Llanero: A Story of War and Wild Life in VenezuelaRaised between the wild Venezuelan plains and the echoes of Irish rebellion, a young adventurer embarks on a thrilling journey, facing storms, wild beasts, and hostile tribes as he…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Lieutenant; or, The Adventures of an Army OfficerA young lieutenant returns to the Union army, eager to prove his bravery in the Civil War's fierce battles.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Ice WhalersA seventeen-year-old boy faces the challenge of helping his family recover from financial ruin, sacrificing his dreams of college to learn the ropes of business and responsibility.
Level C2HistoricalThe Young GuardAmid the fiery crucible of World War I, young Eton cadets trade cricket fields for battlefields, facing the brutal realities of war with youthful courage and camaraderie.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Game-WardenIn a rugged wilderness, a lazy woodsman named Silas dreams of fortune amid hidden treasures and mysterious pasts—until an unexpected letter in the firewood sparks an adventure that…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Fur TradersIn the remote wilderness of the Red River Settlement, young Charley and his sister Kate face the harsh challenges of frontier life, dreaming of escape while navigating the rugged w…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Franc Tireurs, and Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian WarAs war with Prussia looms over France, young volunteers known as franc tireurs step into the chaos, facing danger and daring exploits amid a nation on edge.
Level B2AdventureThe Young ForesterTwo brothers camp by the Susquehanna River, debating the future of forestry—a profession promising adventure, conservation, and the wild frontier.
Level B1AdventureThe Young Firemen of Lakeville; Or, Herbert Dare's PluckWhen a midnight fire threatens the peaceful village of Lakeville, young Herbert Dare races to join the bucket brigade, determined to help save the day.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Explorer; Or, Claiming His FortuneA determined sixteen-year-old boy inherits a modest sum but refuses to settle for a shoemaker's life or a harsh farm job, setting his sights on the distant promise of California’s…
Level B2MysteryThe Young Engineers on the Gulf: Or, The Dread Mystery of the Million Dollar BreakwaterTwo young engineers brave a pitch-black night on a narrow breakwater, haunted by mysterious sounds and a lurking shadow threatening their safety.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Nevada; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a PickTwo young engineers venture into the Nevada wilderness, where youthful bravado and hard lessons about manhood and survival collide.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Mexico; Or, Fighting the Mine SwindlersTwo young American engineers arrive in Mexico to develop a promising gold mine, but beneath the land’s golden allure lurks deception and danger as they confront cunning swindlers t…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Colorado; Or, At Railroad Building in EarnestTwo young engineers journey into the rugged Colorado Rockies, encountering mysterious figures like the elusive "Bad Pete" as they seek the hidden railroad building camp.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Arizona; or, Laying Tracks on the Man-killer QuicksandIn the rugged Arizona desert, young Clarence Farnsworth, a naive newcomer, crosses paths with the cunning gambler Jim Duff amid whispers of treacherous quicksand threatening a dari…
Level C1RomanceThe Young Enchanted: A Romantic StoryA young man navigating the bustling chaos of Piccadilly Circus dreams of grandeur but faces the harsh realities of loneliness and ridicule.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Emigrants; Madelaine Tube; the Boy and the Book; and Crystal PalaceEmbark on a thrilling voyage across the Atlantic with the Lee family as young Tom and Annie discover the wonders of the sea—from flying fish to starry skies—while learning courage,…
Level C1RomanceThe Young DukeA young duke inherits vast wealth and estates but finds himself caught between the influence of a devoted guardian and the scheming ambitions of his aristocratic relatives, setting…
Level C1HistoricalThe Young Dragoon: Every Day Life of a SoldierA young farmer’s son defies family tradition to don the soldier’s red coat, trading ploughshares for perilous duty.
Level C1Science FictionThe Young Diana: An Experiment of the FutureIn a world where life’s meaning is a constant puzzle, Diana May embarks on a profound journey of self-discovery and wonder, challenging the boundaries of science, psychology, and e…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Deliverers of Pleasant CoveIn a bustling seaside town, a spirited crew of youths embarks on daring voyages aboard the swift brigantine "Arthur Brown," facing peril and adventure as they strive to free a humb…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at TrentonFour boys navigate the perils of the American Revolution, from secret missions to key battles like Long Island and the daring crossing of the Delaware.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at MonmouthFour young Continental Army couriers navigate the challenges of war, carrying urgent messages and witnessing pivotal moments like Washington’s daring Delaware crossing and the tens…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at LexingtonFour boys find themselves at the heart of rising tensions as Boston braces under British occupation, with colonial resistance swelling toward revolution.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at Bunker HillFour boys navigate danger and duty during the siege of Boston, delivering crucial messages and witnessing the heroic stand at Bunker Hill.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer WarsTwo brothers grow up on a Derbyshire farm amid harsh winters and changing times, learning that courage and knowledge are both needed to face challenges ahead.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Circus Rider; or, the Mystery of Robert RuddA daring fifteen-year-old bareback rider and his towering giant companion navigate the thrilling, unpredictable world of the circus, uncovering secrets and facing adventures that t…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Castellan: A Tale of the English Civil WarAmidst the fading glory of a once-mighty castle, a young boy and his loyal caretaker polish ancient armor, unaware that the English Civil War is poised to test their courage and lo…
Level C1AdventureThe Young Carthaginian: A Story of The Times of HannibalAmidst the scorching Libyan desert, a diverse band of soldiers—including fierce Numidian horsemen and rugged Iberians—prepare for the epic struggle between Carthage and Rome, where…
Level B2HistoricalThe Young Carpenters of Freiberg: A Tale of the Thirty Years' WarAmid the harsh siege of Freiberg during the Thirty Years' War, young carpenter Conrad navigates a city under siege, where soldiers bring danger and death, and bravery emerges in th…
Level C1HistoricalThe Young Captives: A Story of Judah and BabylonNoble youths defy King Josiah’s efforts for order, sparking a dangerous clash that forces one, Ezrom, to flee Jerusalem by dawn.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Captives: A Narrative of the Shipwreck and Suffering of John and William DoyleyAfter a shipwreck in the Southern Ocean, two young brothers survive the massacre of their family and crew, enduring years of captivity among island savages before a chance rescue o…
Level C1AdventureThe Young BuglersTwo mischievous brothers at Eton embark on a daring nighttime adventure to avenge a prank gone wrong, setting the stage for a thrilling tale woven with historical battles and youth…
Level B1Children'sThe Young Bridge-Tender; or, Ralph Nelson's Upward StruggleRalph Nelson, the determined young bridge-tender, fights to secure his late father's rightful land amid village disputes and missing deeds, all while managing the daily tolls on th…
Level B2Children'sThe Young Book Agent; or, Frank Hardy's Road to SuccessA determined sixteen-year-old boy steps up as his family faces hardship, learning the ropes of selling books door-to-door.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Berringtons: The Boy ExplorersTwo adventurous brothers in Queensland prepare to welcome their refined English cousins, expecting culture clashes and wild escapades as city boys face rugged colonial life, cattle…
Level B2Children'sThe Young Bank MessengerA determined sixteen-year-old boy cares for his ailing uncle on the edge of the Iowa prairie, facing hardship and responsibility as he ventures into a small village to find help.
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.