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 B1Children'sSix Little DucklingsSix playful ducklings enjoy a sunny picnic with their loving mother, who shares tales of her past life on a noisy farmyard.
Level C1Children'sSix Girls: A Home StoryBeneath a grand old beech tree in a sunlit garden, six sisters navigate the joys and restlessness of youth, dreaming of adventure beyond their quiet home.
Level B2Children'sSix Girls and the Tea RoomSix spirited girls transform their cozy city flat into a charming tea room, weaving joy and friendship through winter’s challenges.
Level B2Children'sSix Girls and Bob: A Story of Patty-Pans and Green FieldsSix lively sisters and their brother Bob navigate the cozy chaos of a tiny kitchen and a bustling household, finding warmth, humor, and togetherness amid their sunny, cramped fourt…
Level B2MysterySix Feet FourA fierce mountain storm traps a diverse group of strangers at a remote road house, where secrets and suspicions brew as they await the arrival of a missing stagecoach driver.
Level C1PoetrySix Centuries of English Poetry: Tennyson to ChaucerExplore the rich evolution of English poetry from its medieval roots through the vibrant works of Chaucer and beyond, revealing the language's transformation and the emergence of t…
Level B2ClassicsSix Bad Husbands and Six Unhappy WivesExplore the unraveling marriage of a once-kind man whose love and confidence erode under his wife's constant criticism and superiority, revealing the painful dynamics behind six un…
Level B2ClassicsSisters ThreeThree sisters trapped in a quiet country home long for excitement beyond daily chores, dreaming of adventure and change as they face the monotony of their sheltered lives and the w…
Level C1ClassicsSistersA young sailor marries a struggling girl and, after months apart, prepares a heartfelt surprise homecoming for his new family.
Level C1ClassicsSister TeresaIn a convent gripped by financial crisis, Evelyn confronts unexpected challenges that test faith and resilience.
Level C2PoetrySister Songs: An Offering to Two SistersAmid the vibrant stirrings of spring, a poet’s heart leaps with the season’s awakening, weaving song and nature’s beauty into an offering of love and praise for two cherished siste…
Level A2HistoricalSister Gertrude: A Tale of the West RidingIn the bustling cloth market of 1880s Huddersfield, two young men navigate the vibrant town life and its social complexities amid the backdrop of the woollen trade and local indust…
Level C1ClassicsSister Dolorosa, and Posthumous FameA young woman named Sister Dolorosa stands at a crossroads between earthly hardship and spiritual devotion, gazing beyond a bleak landscape to a radiant vision that promises transc…
Level C1ClassicsSister Carrie: A NovelAn eighteen-year-old girl leaves her rural home for the dazzling, dangerous allure of Chicago, where the city's seductive charms and harsh realities threaten to reshape her innocen…
Level C1ClassicsSister CarmenOn a radiant Easter morning in a Moravian village, a young girl named Sister Carmen reflects amid timeless traditions and heartfelt faith, revealing a community bound by love, sacr…
Level C1ClassicsSister Anne (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume X)In the quiet Parisian night, Dubourg, an unlucky and idle man with a penchant for self-deception, grapples with debts, lost money, and a life of half-hearted work and fleeting plea…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott: A Lecture at the SorbonneExplore the remarkable journey of a novelist whose Scottish roots and dialect shaped timeless tales that captivated Europe, blending vivid local color with sweeping historical roma…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott as a Critic of LiteratureExplore the overlooked critical and scholarly works of Sir Walter Scott, revealing how his literary criticism intertwines with his renowned novels and poems to deepen our understan…
Level C1HistoricalSir Walter Scott and the Border MinstrelsyExplore the contested origins of the ballad "Auld Maitland," uncovering the truth behind Sir Walter Scott's role and the enduring tradition of Border ballads passed down through re…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the rich ancestry and historical roots of Sir Walter Scott, tracing his Celtic, Anglo-Norman, and Scottish heritage that shaped his profound connection to the past and fuel…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the early life and lineage of a literary giant, tracing his roots from noble Scottish families to his formative years amid family, legend, and education, revealing the orig…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottDive into the rich heritage and adventurous spirit that shaped the life of a great literary figure, tracing his roots from daring ancestors to the influential family that inspired…
Level C1HistoricalSir Walter Raleigh and His TimeBorn into a world of fierce faith and fierce struggles, a young nobleman rises from humble beginnings in Devon to navigate the turbulent laws of honor, ambition, and unseen eternal…
Level C1ClassicsSir TomAfter years of restless wandering and near ruin, Sir Thomas Randolph unexpectedly marries a young heiress, restoring his fortune and status.
Level C1HistoricalSir Thomas Urquhart of Cromartie, KnightDive into the turbulent 17th century with Sir Thomas Urquhart, a Scottish knight whose life intertwines literary brilliance and political turmoil.
Level C1PhilosophySir Thomas More, or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of SocietyEngage in profound dialogues with the ghost of Sir Thomas More as he and a reflective author explore the challenges and hopes for society’s progress, balancing idealism with the ca…
Level C1HistoricalSir Thomas MoreIn a turbulent London street, local tradespeople clash with foreign intruders, sparking tensions over honor, justice, and community pride.
Level C1PhilosophySir Thomas Browne and his 'Religio Medici': An AppreciationExplore the profound reflections of a 17th-century physician whose wisdom bridges science, faith, and human nature, revealed through intimate letters and literary masterpieces that…
Level C1RomanceSir Robert's Fortune: A NovelA young woman faces exile to a remote moor by her controlling uncle, but with her lover’s cunning plans, they hope to turn isolation into opportunity amid secrets and defiance.
Level C1AdventureSir Quixote of the Moors: Being some account of an episode in the life of the Sieur de RohaineA disgraced French nobleman seeks refuge with an old Scottish friend in the rugged, mist-shrouded moors of Galloway, where bleak landscapes mirror the perilous new chapter of his l…
Level C1RomanceSir Noel's Heir: A NovelOn a stormy December night, Sir Noel Thetford lies gravely injured after a mysterious horseback accident, plunging Thetford Towers into turmoil.
Level C1AdventureSir NigelIn 14th-century England, a relentless plague descends from ominous skies, bringing death and despair to every class from castle lords to peasants.
Level C1AdventureSir Mortimer: A NovelA bold captain and his crew prepare to brave treacherous seas and unknown islands in pursuit of glory and gold for England.
Level C1AdventureSir Ludar: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen BessIn 1585 London, a spirited young apprentice finds his life forever changed the day he witnesses Queen Elizabeth's royal procession, igniting a fierce loyalty and setting the stage…
Level C1HistoricalSir John OldcastleIn a turbulent Hereford, noble factions clash violently despite royal commands for peace, setting the stage for a dramatic exploration of loyalty, honor, and rebellion in the life…
Level C1RomanceSir John Dering: A romantic comedyIn a world of duels and delicate honor, Sir John Dering faces the tragic death of his closest friend, igniting a fierce enmity with a striking woman who vows revenge.
Level C1AdventureSir John Constantine: Memoirs of His Adventures At Home and Abroad and Particularly in the Island of Corsica: Beginning with the Year 1756An impoverished Cornish gentleman, Sir John Constantine defies convention through wild adventures and noble quests, weaving a tale of honor, liberty, and enchantment that spans kin…
Level C1AdventureSir Jasper Carew: His Life and ExperienceA restless adventurer charts a life marked by chance encounters, shifting fortunes, and unexpected trials across diverse lands.
Level C1HistoricalSir Isumbras at the FordIn revolutionary 1795 London, young Anne-Hilarion navigates a childhood shadowed by his French heritage and the loss of his mother amid political upheaval, as his guardians grapple…
Level B2ClassicsSir Hilton's SinA young student indulges in marmalade and chemistry lessons under the watchful eye of his devoted aunt, whose hopes and concerns for family, society, and propriety unfold against t…
Level C1ClassicsSir Henry Irving—A Record of Over Twenty Years at the LyceumFollow the relentless journey of an actor rising from humble beginnings to commanding the stage at the Lyceum Theatre, revealing the grit, discipline, and resilience behind a celeb…
Level B2RomanceSir Harry: A Love StoryA novelist-turned-vicar settles into the evocative Royd Castle, where moonlit glades and ancient walls inspire both literary dreams and tender hopes as he awaits his wife and the n…
Level C1ClassicsSir Harry Hotspur of HumblethwaiteA proud English baronet faces the crushing loss of his only son and heir, forcing him to confront the future of his centuries-old estates and the fate of his family legacy through…
Level C1ClassicsSir GibbieIn the gritty streets of a grey city, a young boy named Gibbie, with striking blue eyes and an untamed spirit, scours the gutters with an unfathomable fascination for dirt, hinting…
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IIIn the tense world of London society and politics, George Tressady navigates family conflicts and social intrigues while managing his duties in the House of Commons.
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IA newly elected MP returns from a hard-fought, narrow victory in a mining district, grappling with the weight of political promises and the simmering unrest among the working class…
Level C1RomanceSir Gawayne and the Green Knight: An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)At King Arthur’s Christmas feast, a towering Green Knight arrives unannounced, challenging the greatest of knights to a strange and perilous game.
Level C1RomanceSir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern ProseWhen Sir Gawain accepts a mysterious beheading challenge, he embarks on a quest that tests his honor, courage, and chastity amid enchantments and temptations, revealing the true na…
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.