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 C1HistoricalShenandoah : A Military Comedy: Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911Amid the backdrop of the American Civil War, sharp wit and theatrical insight illuminate the complexities of drama and society, blending humor with thoughtful reflections on playwr…
Level B2ClassicsShenac's Work at HomeAmid the sorrow of forced exile from Scotland, two Highland cousins forge new lives in the wild Canadian forests, facing the hardships of pioneering while preserving their cherishe…
Level B2Children'sShells and pebbles: A story for childrenAn eight-year-old boy from inland England discovers the wonders of the sea during a winter visit to the coast, exploring beaches, marine birds, and ships while learning about the o…
Level B2PoetryShellsExplore heartfelt reflections and vivid emotions through poems that capture life’s joys, sorrows, and the quiet moments in between, weaving music and meaning from everyday experien…
Level C2ClassicsShelley: An EssayExplore the complex relationship between poetry and the Church as this essay argues for the restoration of poetry’s sacred role, urging faith to embrace beauty and inspiration rath…
Level C1HistoricalShelley at OxfordExplore the intimate and tumultuous friendship between two Oxford contemporaries, revealing the early life and complex character of a visionary poet through candid personal recolle…
Level C1PhilosophyShelley and the Marriage QuestionExplore the turbulent debates on marriage as a societal institution under scrutiny, where traditional bonds clash with emerging calls for equality and freedom, igniting a revolutio…
Level C1ClassicsShelleyExplore the brief, brilliant life of a visionary poet whose complex genius and untimely death left the world yearning for the masterpieces he might have created, revealing the prof…
Level C1ClassicsShelleyExplore the turbulent life and mind of a poet whose fierce sincerity and boundless benevolence challenged the oppressive politics and stifling hypocrisy of early 19th-century Engla…
Level B2AdventureShelled by an Unseen FoeThree young cadets wrestle with duty, family, and war as one plans a daring return to England amid global conflict, while another faces a personal crisis that could change everythi…
Level C2HistoricalShelburne Essays, Third SeriesExplore the intimate letters and poetry of William Cowper, revealing the delicate interplay between his personal struggles and the understated elegance of 18th-century verse, offer…
Level B2RomanceSheilah McLeod: A Heroine of the Back BlocksIn a remote South Pacific island, a rugged overseer clashes with a bold new missionary determined to impose his will, igniting a fierce battle of wills amid stunning tropical beaut…
Level B2Children'sSheer Off: A TaleIn a village stirred by the christening of the school-master’s first child, tensions simmer as envy and old grievances clash.
Level B2RomanceSheavesIn a whimsical tale where the dead trader Hugh Grainger playfully haunts his Indian companions, children Jim and Daisy, bedtime stories unfold with humor and mystery, blending ghos…
Level C1ClassicsSheared cream o' wit: A classified compilation of the best wit and humorDive into a lively anthology of humor and wit, featuring clever anecdotes, playful verses, and sharp observations gathered from decades of laughter.
Level C1ClassicsShe's All the World to MeIn a mist-shrouded Manx mansion, a family's legacy unravels through a father's stern discipline and a son's restless heart, set against the haunting backdrop of a rugged island fis…
Level C1ClassicsShe and he; Lavinia; MemoirA young girl born into a world of aristocratic contrasts navigates the turbulent bonds of family, love, and loss in a tale set against the backdrop of France’s shifting social land…
Level C2RomanceShe and I, Volume 2: A Love Story. A Life History.Caught between dreams and reality, a man grapples with love and longing as he envisions a haunting ascent of the Alpine peaks, where a chasm bars his path to the woman he adores, t…
Level C1RomanceShe and I, Volume 1: A Love Story. A Life History.In a charming, forgotten corner of London, a chance encounter in an ancient church sparks a deep, enchanting romance.
Level C1FantasyShe and AllanAn aging adventurer recounts his mysterious encounter with Ayesha, a mesmerizing and possibly immortal woman who claims supernatural powers and reveals hidden realms, challenging h…
Level C1HistoricalShe Would Be a Soldier; Or, The Plains of ChippewaAmid the tumult of early 19th-century America, a determined woman defies conventions by taking up arms to fight on the Plains of Chippewa, blending patriotism and daring in a tale…
Level C1ClassicsShe Stoops to Conquer; Or, The Mistakes of a Night: A ComedyIn a charming old mansion, family tensions and mistaken identities collide as a witty young woman devises a bold plan to win the heart of a shy gentleman, leading to a night full o…
Level C1FantasySheA strikingly handsome young man and his peculiar guardian embark on an extraordinary African adventure, uncovering mysteries that challenge belief and promise profound discoveries…
Level B2Children'sShawn of SkarrowA spirited boy named Shawn spends his days fishing and causing mischief until a kind woman offers to support his dream of becoming a doctor.
Level B2ClassicsShavings: A NovelIn a bustling New England town, Gabriel Bearse stumbles upon vibrant windmills and wooden toys crafted by a mysterious artisan, sparking a wave of gossip and curiosity that promise…
Level B1AdventureSharp Eyes, the Silver Fox: His Many AdventuresIn the heart of the North Woods, Sharp Eyes and his siblings learn the cunning craft of survival from their clever father, as they prepare to face the wild and outwit dangers lurki…
Level B2MysterySharing Her Crime: A NovelOn a stormy Christmas Eve, a cold, commanding widow summons a mysterious doctor to a shadowy mansion where secrets and sinister plots begin to unfold beneath the eerie glow of a si…
Level C1ClassicsShapes that Haunt the DuskOn a cold Christmas Eve, Mary slips quietly into a silent barn under a moonlit sky, where shadows and mysterious shapes seem to stir in the stillness.
Level C2PoetryShapes of ClayA sharp and personal collection of verses and reflections that challenge society and its figures with biting satire and candid critique, daring to preserve provocative truths befor…
PoetryShapes and ShadowsExplore a collection of evocative poems that delve into themes of nature, memory, love, and time, painting vivid shapes and shadows of human experience through lyrical verse.
Level C1HistoricalShanty the Blacksmith; a Tale of Other TimesIn a fading borderland castle, a restless young heir struggles between lofty dreams and harsh realities, turning to invention and the local blacksmith to revive his family's fortun…
Level C1RomanceShaming the Speed LimitA romantic young woman escapes her strict household to indulge in forbidden love stories, only to encounter a mysterious stranger who both intrigues and unsettles her—setting the s…
Level C1RomanceShameless Wayne: A Romance of the last Feud of Wayne and RatcliffeAmidst a fierce moorland feud, a resolute young Wayne faces loss and loyalty as storms rage around Marsh House, where old grudges and new love collide beneath the tolling death bel…
Level C1ClassicsShallow SoilA young man’s journey from hardship in Norway’s rugged north to the struggles and dreams of city life unfolds with stark realism and intense introspection, revealing the raw challe…
Level C1ClassicsShakspere, Personal RecollectionsStep into a soul-lit journey through the life and genius of Shakespeare as seen through the eyes of a timeless narrator who claims a spiritual bond spanning centuries.
Level C1PhilosophyShakspere and Montaigne: An Endeavour to Explain the Tendency of 'Hamlet' from Allusions in Contemporary WorksExplore the hidden political and philosophical conflicts behind Shakespeare's Hamlet, unveiling its role in a fierce theatrical controversy with contemporaries and its debate over…
Level C1HistoricalShakspere & TypographyExplore the intriguing theory that Shakespeare, before fame, worked as a printer in Elizabethan London, revealing how his intimate knowledge of typography may have influenced his t…![Cover of Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 2 of 2]: Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his age by Nathan Drake](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf6bsoe1ofc73dhbqn0.webp)
Level C1HistoricalShakspeare and His Times [Vol. 2 of 2]: Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his ageExplore the life and times of Shakespeare through the lens of his patrons, peers, and the rich cultural fabric of Elizabethan England, revealing the influences behind his celebrate…![Cover of Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 1 of 2]: Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his age by Nathan Drake](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dagp4sa5dk3s73eg9big.webp)
Level C1HistoricalShakspeare and His Times [Vol. 1 of 2]: Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his ageExplore the life and times of a towering literary figure through detailed biography, critical analysis, and vivid portrayals of Elizabethan customs, superstitions, and culture, all…
Level C1HistoricalShakspeare and His TimesExplore the turbulent reception of Shakespeare’s genius in France as this essay traces his profound impact on dramatic art, revealing the challenges of translating his unique style…
Level C1ClassicsShakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, MacbethExplore the inner workings of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies as vivid imagination meets detailed analysis, revealing the shared substance and structure behind Hamlet, Othello, Ki…
Level C1HistoricalShakespearean Playhouses: A History of English Theatres from the Beginnings to the RestorationDiscover the vibrant origins of English theatre as actors transform inn-yards into bustling stages, where audiences from raucous commoners to aristocrats gather to witness the birt…
Level C1HistoricalShakespeare: His Life, Art, And Characters, Volume I.: With An Historical Sketch Of The Origin And Growth Of The Drama In EnglandExplore the mysterious origins and enduring legacy of Shakespeare through detailed historical records and personal accounts, uncovering the life behind the greatest name in English…
Level C1ClassicsShakespeare: A LectureDiscover the humble origins and extraordinary genius of a man who transformed the world through words, rising from a small English village to become the unparalleled master of dram…
Level C1HistoricalShakespeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and FletcherExplore the essence of poetry as a unique art that transcends science and prose, revealing how imagination, passion, and simplicity combine to create profound intellectual and emot…
Level C1HistoricalShakespeare, Bacon, and the Great UnknownExplore the enduring debate over the true authorship of Shakespeare's plays, weighing the claims of Francis Bacon and examining the historical, literary, and legal arguments that c…
Level C1HistoricalShakespeare's treatment of love & marriage, and other essaysExplore the intricate interplay of love, marriage, and poetic imagination in Shakespeare’s works, as this collection delves into how his personal beliefs and social ideals shape hi…
Level C1ClassicsShakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice: Arranged for Representation at the Princess's Theatre, with Historical and Explanatory Notes by Charles Kean, F.S.A.In Venice's vibrant streets, a merchant's fortunes and a wealthy heiress's fate intertwine amid themes of mercy, justice, and love.
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.