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'sScott Burton in the Blue RidgeAssigned to manage timber sales in the mysterious Blue Ridge Mountains, Scott Burton faces a new challenge far from his familiar southwestern terrain.
Level B2MysteryScott Burton and the Timber ThievesA determined forest patrolman arrives in Florida to track down elusive timber thieves plundering the Okalatchee woods, armed with little more than a vague letter and his own grit.
Level C1RomanceScotch marriages, vol. 1Two childhood friends, a young laird and his tenant, grow up side by side in rural Scotland, their lives intertwined by shared games, local traditions, and the rhythms of country l…
Level C1ClassicsScotch Wit and HumorDiscover the sharp, playful wit hidden beneath Scotland’s serious exterior through a lively collection of anecdotes and clever repartee that reveal the true spirit of Scotch humor.
Level C1ClassicsScorn of Women: A Play In Three ActsIn the harsh Yukon winter of 1897, amid the rush for gold, a cast of complex characters including a captivating dancer, rugged miners, and government agents navigate survival, ambi…
Level C1ClassicsSchwartz: A History: From "Schwartz" by David Christie MurrayA writer haunted by a shadowy, axe-wielding presence struggles through a fog of mental exhaustion and creeping madness, as this mysterious visitor lingers relentlessly over his eve…
Level B2HistoricalSchoolgirl rivalsAn Australian girl ventures into the unfamiliar world of an English boarding school, where spirited classmates and fierce competitions test her courage and resolve.
Level C1HistoricalSchool-days in 1800Step back to 1800 through the vivid memories of a 90-year-old grandmother, who recounts lessons in both practical skills and traditional schooling, revealing education and daily li…
Level C1ClassicsSchool-Room HumourDiscover the charming and often hilarious world of schoolroom anecdotes, where teachers navigate the trials of education while capturing the unexpected wit and wisdom of their youn…
Level C1RomanceScheherazade: a London night's entertainmentThree young officers debate love and passion on a London night, their banter interrupted by the imposing Colonel Lord Florencecourt, whose sharp gaze and commanding presence hint a…
Level B2Science FictionScent Makes a DifferenceA physicist plagued by bizarre sleep disturbances seeks help from an experimental psychiatrist using powerful new tranquilizers.
Level C1ClassicsScenes of Clerical LifeStep into the intimate world of English country life, where vivid characters like the devoted Mrs.
Level C1HistoricalScenes in the West; or, The Sunday-School and TemperanceA weary missionary arrives at a harsh settler’s doorstep seeking shelter and kindness but faces cold rejection, revealing a community divided over faith, temperance, and compassion…
Level C1Children'sScenes in SwitzerlandJourney through the autumnal Swiss Alps, where misty mountains, ancient legends, and charming villages come alive alongside warm friendships and timeless traditions.
Level C1ClassicsScenes from a Courtesan's LifeAt a dazzling opera ball in 1824 Paris, a handsome young dandy searches anxiously for a mysterious woman, unknowingly shadowed by a masked figure.
Level C1PhilosophyScenes and PortraitsExplore the delicate dance between reason and mysticism as profound minds wrestle with truth, faith, and individuality.
Level C1ClassicsScenes and Characters, or, Eighteen Months at BeechcroftSpend eighteen months at Beechcroft with the Mohun family as they navigate everyday joys, challenges, and moral lessons, revealing how simple acts of duty can lead to profound self…
Level C1ClassicsScenes and Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens: Being Eight Hundred and Sixty-six Pictures Printed from the Original Wood BlocksDiscover a rich collection of nearly nine hundred illustrations that breathe life into Dickens' iconic characters and stories, blending faithful homage with vivid realism.
Level B2AdventureScarred Eagle; or, Moorooine, the sporting fawn. A story of lake and shoreIn a tense chase across Lake Erie, a scarred border scout and his Indian companion race against pursuing warriors, relying on skill and sharpshooting to survive as night falls and…
Level C1AdventureScarlett of the MountedIn a rough frontier camp thick with drink and disorder, a determined parson arrives to hold a prayer meeting, challenging hardened prospectors to confront their vices and find hope…
Level C1ClassicsScarlet and Hyssop: A NovelAs London bursts into the vibrant chaos of early summer, Lady Alston and her circle confront the restless monotony and desperate search for meaning beneath society’s polished surfa…
Level C1MysteryScarhaven KeepWhen the punctual star of a theatrical company mysteriously fails to appear for rehearsal, a nervous young playwright finds himself caught in unexpected intrigue behind the scenes,…
Level C1RomanceScaramouche: A Romance of the French RevolutionIn revolutionary France, the sharp-witted Andre-Louis Moreau navigates social injustice and political turmoil, challenging tyranny with his biting intellect and fearless spirit.
Level B2RomanceScandalIn a dazzling New York summer, Beatrix Vanderdyke, society's brightest debutante, defies expectations by secretly consorting with Sutherland York, a charming yet controversial port…
Level B2Children'sScamp and I: A Story of City By-WaysIn bustling 1875 London, a quick-witted ragged boy named Dick leads his sister Flo on a daring adventure through the city's dazzling shops and lively streets, dreaming of riches an…
Level C1ClassicsScally: The Story of a Perfect GentlemanA couple’s charming quest to find the Battersea Home for Lost Dogs leads them through London’s streets, blending humor, family debates, and small-town charm as they search for the…
Level C1AdventureSaïd the fishermanA humble fisherman dreams of rising above his modest life by buying a coffee-house and gaining respect.
Level C1RomanceSay and Seal, Volume IIAmid a sparkling Christmas in Pattaquasset, Faith Derrick unwraps a mysterious red leather portfolio filled with exquisite photographs from an Italian journey, sparking her imagina…
Level C1ClassicsSay and Seal, Volume IIn a tranquil New England town, the arrival of a mysterious stranger stirs curiosity and quiet anticipation, setting the stage for intertwined lives and untold stories beneath the…
Level B2Science FictionSay "Hello" for MeStranded alone on Mars for twenty years, Professor Pettibone awaits rescue while adapting mysteriously to the alien world.
Level C1ClassicsSaxe Holm's Stories: First SeriesIn a struggling village, Reuben Miller’s life is marked by misfortune and quiet sacrifice, while the birth of his daughter with an unusual name stirs curiosity and hope among skept…
Level C1ClassicsSawtooth RanchAmid the rugged challenges of Quirt Creek, two determined men struggle to keep a modest cattle ranch alive against the odds of harsh wilderness, strained family ties, and the encro…
Level C1RomanceSawn Off: A Tale of a Family TreeA determined doctor clashes with nobility over a coveted estate, while his daughter faces the challenges of love and loyalty between English tradition and South American roots.
Level C1ClassicsSavva and the Life of Man: Two plays by Leonid AndreyevIn a Russia roiling with revolution and despair, two plays probe the human spirit’s struggle against social upheaval and the cosmic mysteries of life and death.
Level B2AdventureSaved from the Sea; Or, The Loss of the Viper, and her Crew's Saharan AdventuresAfter surviving a shipwreck off the African coast, a young linguist embarks on a perilous journey through the Sahara, guided by his passion for languages and the unexpected friends…
Level C1MysterySaved from herselfA neglected daughter escapes her cold, scheming mother’s shadow to explore the vibrant streets of London, risking exposure and scandal as she seeks freedom and her own place in a w…
Level B2AdventureSaved by the LifeboatAmid a fierce November storm, a newly arrived lifeboat faces its ultimate test as a brig is stranded on treacherous sands, prompting brave sailors and townsfolk to confront nature’…
Level B2Children'sSaved by loveIn the shadowed streets of London, two young girls—one an orphaned dreamer, the other a street-smart survivor—forge an unlikely friendship as they navigate loss, hardship, and the…
Level B2AdventureSaved at seaBorn during a fierce storm on a remote island lighthouse, young Alick Fergusson grows up amidst the wild sea and rugged isolation, dreaming of one day taking over his grandfather’s…
Level C1ClassicsSaunteringsEmbark on a reflective journey across the vast, untamed Atlantic, exploring the myths and realities of discovery, the legacy of Columbus, and the enduring challenge of the ocean’s…
Level C2ClassicsSatiro-Mastix; or, the Vntrussing of the Humorous PoetA fiery literary feud erupts between playwrights in the vibrant world of Elizabethan theater, exposing rivalries, sharp wit, and the battles behind the scenes of the Renaissance st…
Level C2PoetrySatires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries, with Miscellaneous PiecesDive into a haunting journey through memory and loss, where spectral faces from the past emerge amid misty landscapes, and the clash of war disturbs both the living and the dead.
Level C1PhilosophySatires and ProfanitiesDive into a collection of sharp, biting satire that challenges religion and society with wit and irony, exposing the follies of superstition and injustice through powerful, provoca…
Level C1HistoricalSatire in the Victorian novelExplore the complex world of Victorian satire as it unfolds through the English novel, revealing a society caught between earnest reform and rigid convention, where humor and criti…
Level C1HistoricalSatanstoe; Or, the Littlepage Manuscripts. A Tale of the ColonyIn a rapidly changing colonial New York, personal passions and societal upheavals intertwine as the Littlepage family navigates the complex tensions of anti-rentism and emerging Am…
Level C1AdventureSatan: A Romance of the BahamasOn a starry tropical night, two men aboard a sleek yacht anchor off a tiny, desolate island steeped in pirate lore and mystery.
Level C1ClassicsSatan's DiarySatan, disguised as a wealthy American, embarks on a European tour seeking amusement but encounters humanity’s hypocrisies, cruelty, and deception.
Level C1FantasySatan and the ComradesIn a bold scheme to modernize Hell and outwit the heavens, Nick—once a college boy on Earth—revamps the underworld’s ancient roads and devilish amusements, setting the stage for a…
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.