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 C1ClassicsTales of All CountriesIn the secluded Pyrenean valley of Vernet, a stern widow runs a modest thermal bath hotel where weary guests seek healing waters and respite from life’s burdens.
Level B1AdventureTales from the X-bar Horse Camp: The Blue-Roan "Outlaw" and Other StoriesAmid the rugged Southwest plains, cowboys navigate the challenges of the wild range while a cunning blue-roan cow fiercely protects her hidden calf during a vast cattle roundup.
Level B2AdventureTales from the Works of G. A. HentySurvivors of a deadly fever-stricken ship plead for rescue aboard a whaling vessel navigating the South Seas, where storms and hostile encounters test their courage and survival.
Level B2ClassicsTales from the VeldIn the rugged Cape Colony, Uncle Abe spins extraordinary tales of frontier life, superstition, and a mysterious bark with deadly powers—blurring the line between fact and folklore…
Level C1AdventureTales from the Telling-HouseIn the rugged moors of Exmoor, a grandfather and his grandson navigate the timeless rituals and tales of sheep herding, where truth, loyalty, and the wild spirit of the land intert…![Cover of Tales from the Old French by Isabel [Translator] Butler](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da895rsv7nos73d6p5a0.webp)
Level C1ClassicsTales from the Old FrenchEnter a magical orchard where a wondrous bird sings twice daily, its enchanting melodies healing sickness, inspiring love, and sustaining life itself—yet the fate of this enchanted…
Level C1Children'sTales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes (Spanish and Portuguese Folklore)A poor but ingenious student rallies his equally impoverished friends for a daring scheme on the roads of Spain, promising a prize worth more than gold if they dare to seize it.
Level C1Children'sTales from the Hindu DramatistsIn a mystical hermitage, King Dushyanta falls deeply in love with the beautiful maiden Sakuntala, leading to a secret marriage and a promise of union.
Level C1HistoricalTales from the Gesta RomanorumAmidst a snowbound Oxford, three students discover the Gesta Romanorum, a medieval collection of moral and entertaining tales crafted by monks to instruct and amuse.
Level C1HistoricalTales from the German. Volume II.Amid the festive Christmas Eve of 1628, a merchant’s family in Schweidnitz faces looming threats to their faith and freedom as religious tensions and ominous signs foretell a dark…
Level C1HistoricalTales from the German. Volume I.Amid the turmoil of early 18th-century Sweden, young Arwed Gyllenstierna wrestles with his father’s warnings and his own patriotic fervor as war threatens to consume their land and…
Level C1ClassicsTales from the German, Comprising specimens from the most celebrated authorsDive into a rich collection of German tales that blend psychological depth, moral complexity, and captivating storytelling—from haunting fantasies to profound explorations of human…
Level C1Children'sTales from the Fjeld: A Second Series of Popular TalesVenture into the rugged Norwegian fjeld where ancient tales come alive, blending myth and humor through stories of cunning wives, mysterious fathers, and magical adventures that re…
Level C1Children'sTales from the Arabic — CompleteIn the bustling Khalifate of Haroun er Reshid, a young merchant squanders his inheritance and turns to strangers for fleeting friendship, setting the stage for a night that will ch…
Level C1ClassicsTales from Two HemispheresA young Norseman arrives in America, full of hope and ideals about freedom and republicanism, only to face the bewildering realities of immigration and society.
Level B2AdventureTales from Spenser, Chosen from the Faerie QueeneIn a realm where magic and valor intertwine, a humble young knight dons enchanted armor to aid Una, a brave princess seeking to free her captive parents from a fearsome dragon.
Level C1Children'sTales from ShakespeareOn a remote island, Prospero, a learned magician, and his innocent daughter Miranda live among enchanted spirits freed from a witch’s curse, weaving magic and mystery into their is…
Level C1ClassicsTales from Many Sources, Vol. VIn a cold northern hall, mysterious house spirits quietly labor while two sharp-witted heiresses of Lingborough secretly carry out acts of kindness rooted in tradition and faith, w…
Level C1ClassicsTales from GorkyA poor, friendless boy with a restless spirit and a spark of genius survives brutal hardships in Tsarist Russia, chronicling his grim adventures among society’s outcasts.
Level C1ClassicsTales from BohemiaStep into the bustling world of a young journalist climbing the ranks in an 1887 newspaper office, where friendships spark over literary ambitions and the drama of the stage ignite…
Level C1AdventureTales from "Blackwood," Volume 9In 1833 Madrid, Federico, a handsome and skilled young student known as El Rubio, shuns romantic advances and society, choosing instead a solitary life of study and ambition amidst…
Level C1ClassicsTales from "Blackwood," Volume 8Amidst the turmoil of railway speculation and the pangs of early marriage, a man navigates the highs and lows of financial risk and personal duty, uncovering the unpredictable fate…
Level C1ClassicsTales from "Blackwood," Volume 7An Englishman unexpectedly encounters a familiar yet transformed young French cavalry sergeant, Frank Oakley, whose reckless past and rapid descent into debt hint at a life of wild…
Level C1ClassicsTales from "Blackwood," Volume 6In a bustling European spa town, a wealthy Dutchman plots a marriage shrouded in deception and hidden motives, while a wandering traveler uncovers the vibrant lives and secret intr…
Level C1AdventureTales from "Blackwood," Volume 5A daring venture into the untamed Texas prairie unfolds as a Marylander stakes claim to a vast, unknown land filled with promise and peril.
Level C1ClassicsTales from "Blackwood," Volume 4Caught in the throes of financial panic, a determined investor grapples with plummeting stocks and mounting debts amid a tightening economy.
Level C1ClassicsTales from "Blackwood," Volume 3A mismatched group of Oxford undergraduates embarks on a summer "reading party" in the remote Welsh town of Glyndewi, where academic ambition collides with rustic charm and unexpec…
Level C1HistoricalTales from "Blackwood," Volume 2Amid the hardships of the Siege of Gibraltar, a detailed journal reveals the daily struggles and rare moments of respite for soldiers and civilians alike, capturing vivid anecdotes…
Level C1ClassicsTales from "Blackwood," Volume 1A penniless gentleman and his equally impecunious friend navigate the wild railway mania sweeping Scotland, blending satire and adventure in a world where aristocratic pride meets…
Level C1RomanceTales for Young and OldAmidst war and suspicion, a young bride embarks on a perilous journey to join her husband, only to face betrayal and deadly schemes from those entrusted to escort her.
Level C1Children'sTales for Fifteen; Or, Imagination and HeartA young girl's vivid imagination, fueled by romantic novels, leads her to believe her fantasies are real, blurring the line between reality and fiction in a charming, whimsical tal…
Level C1FantasyTales for Christmas EveIn a richly detailed Victorian London setting, two devoted friends navigate the challenges of finding the perfect home, uncovering the quirks and secrets of high society along the…
Level C1ClassicsTales by Polish AuthorsBartek, a simple village man, faces the upheaval of war as he is called from his peaceful life to fight against the French, leaving his family and homeland behind.
Level C1ClassicsTales and Stories: Now First CollectedExplore the profound and haunting tales woven by a pioneering author whose imagination gave birth to unforgettable characters and themes of compassion amidst horror.
Level B2ClassicsTales and Sketches: Part 3 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierA middle-aged man wrestles with his conscience and commerce in a series of vivid dreams sparked by a curious iron soldier figurine, exploring the clash between business interests a…
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 10: HelenYoung Helen faces a heartbreaking reversal when her beloved uncle’s death reveals devastating debts instead of the fortune she expected, forcing her to navigate sorrow, financial r…
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 09A young boy’s innocent London evening turns eerie when a mysterious old man, Simon the Jew, appears with tales that blur fear and fascination.
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 08Amid tangled family loyalties and social ambitions, Alfred Percy’s impending marriage stirs old resentments and fragile reconciliations, revealing the costs of pride, debt, and sac…![Cover of Tales and Novels — Volume 07: Patronage [part 1] by Maria Edgeworth](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da6bp72pmtvc73csj140.webp)
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 07: Patronage [part 1]In a stormy coastal night, siblings Rosamond and Godfrey debate love, pride, and humanity while watching a mysterious light near the beacon—setting the stage for a tale exploring m…
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 06In the glittering social whirl of Lady Clonbrony’s gala, secrets and ambitions simmer beneath polished manners and whispered gossip.
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 05: Tales of a Fashionable LifeIn a world where social maneuvering and delicate stratagems govern every interaction, a young woman navigates family secrets and the subtle art of influence, revealing the complex…
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 04Step behind the scenes of Irish gentry life through the candid, unvarnished memoirs of Thady, an old steward whose tales reveal the true characters and domestic dramas behind noble…
Level C1RomanceTales and Novels — Volume 03: BelindaA young woman raised with country values faces the high society world of Bath and London, where her ambitious aunt schemes to secure her a wealthy marriage.
Level C1ClassicsTales and Novels — Volume 02: Popular TalesIn the depths of Cornwall’s tin mines, the mysterious disappearance of a lame stable boy sparks eerie tales of ghostly sightings and local legends, inviting readers into a world wh…
Level C1Children'sTales and Novels — Volume 01: Moral TalesA young man shuns society's polished manners, valuing independence and sincerity above all, while a collection of moral tales explores virtue, education, and the challenges of grow…
Level C1PoetryTales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — CompleteDive into a rich collection of fables, tales, and poetic stories that blend wit, wisdom, and timeless human nature, revealing the quirks and morals of society through charming char…
Level C1ClassicsTales and FantasiesJohn Nicholson, a well-meaning but clumsy young man, navigates the strict, austere world of his Scots family and their rigid principles while clinging to a rebellious friendship th…
Level C1ClassicsTales Of HearsayAn aging officer recounts the harrowing retreat of Napoleon’s Grand Army through a frozen Russian landscape, revealing the grim reality of war where valor meets despair amid relent…
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.