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 C1HistoricalOld Saint Paul's: A Tale of the Plague and the FireAmidst the deadly plague of 1665 London, a devout grocer and his family seal themselves within their home, praying for protection while the city falls into chaos and sin.
Level B2AdventureOld Ruff, the Trapper; or, The Young Fur-HuntersIn the unforgiving Oregon wilderness, young Harry Northend searches desperately for Little Rifle, his promised bride, whose sudden disappearance sparks a tense journey through host…
Level B2Children'sOld Rough the miserIn a peaceful woodland farm, a fierce feud ignites between a crow and a water-rat over a coveted cornfield, with wise Judge Owl called to settle the dispute.
Level B2RomanceOld Rose and SilverA woman on the brink of forty reflects on a life of comfort and beauty yet unfulfilled by love, yearning for a deeper passion as she navigates the quiet complexities of her shelter…
Level C1HistoricalOld Portraits and Modern Sketches: Part 1 from Volume VI of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierDive into the spiritual journey of a man wrestling with despair and faith, inspired by the timeless allegory of Pilgrim's Progress, as he navigates trials, temptations, and the que…
Level C1ClassicsOld People and the Things That PassIn a quiet household filled with complex family ties and unspoken tensions, a young man faces the uncertainty of marriage while navigating the delicate bonds with his mother and st…
Level C1HistoricalOld Ninety-Nine's CaveIn the scenic Rondout Valley, a family confronts the clash between progress and tradition when a mysterious stranger seeks to buy their mining claim for a sanitarium, stirring susp…
Level C1HistoricalOld News: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")Step back into colonial New England through the yellowed pages of long-forgotten newspapers, unveiling the daily lives, politics, and peculiar characters of a rugged frontier socie…
Level C1ClassicsOld Mr. TredgoldTwo sisters, Katherine and Stella, navigate the contrasts of youth and society beneath the commanding cliffs of the Isle of Wight, where family legacy and personal shadows stir ben…
PoetryOld Mother Hubbard and Her DogFollow the whimsical adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and her loyal dog through charming verses filled with surprises and delight at every turn.
Level C1HistoricalOld Mortality, Volume 2.Amidst the chaos of a shepherd's hut turned council chamber, fierce theological debates and divided loyalties unravel the fragile alliance of Presbyterian rebels on the eve of batt…
Level C1HistoricalOld Mortality, Volume 1.Amid the turbulent Covenanter wars in 17th-century Scotland, a mysterious figure known as Old Mortality travels the land, preserving the memories of fallen martyrs and unraveling s…
Level C1HistoricalOld Mortality, CompleteAmidst the turbulent clashes of 17th-century Scotland, a devoted pilgrim, Old Mortality, travels to preserve the memory of fallen Covenanters, weaving a tale of loyalty, honor, and…
Level C1ClassicsOld Mole: Being the Surprising Adventures in England of Herbert Jocelyn Beenham, M.A., Sometime Sixth-Form Master at Thrigsby Grammar School in the County of LancasterA dedicated grammar school master known as "Old Mole" fiercely guards his classroom in a dull English town, shaping a talented but wayward pupil whose journey through literature an…
Level C1ClassicsOld Man Savarin, and Other StoriesAn aging fisherwoman recalls the ruthless Old Man Savarin, who seizes control of fishing rights and extorts her village, igniting fierce resistance over ancestral waters along the…
Level B2ClassicsOld Man Savarin Stories: Tales of Canada and CanadiansJourney into the heart of Canada through vivid tales of honor, hardship, and community, where old debts, family loyalty, and rugged landscapes shape the lives of unforgettable char…
Level C1ClassicsOld Man Curry: Race Track StoriesEnter the world of Old Man Curry, where the thrilling, rugged life of horse racing unfolds through tales of colorful characters and vanished traditions, revealing a bygone era of g…
Level C1RomanceOld Love Stories RetoldA brilliant, mocking genius falls for a simple, devoted woman whose quiet goodness defies intellectual understanding.
Level C1ClassicsOld Lady Number 31An aging couple faces the harsh realities of poverty, selling their cherished possessions to secure a future in neighboring old folks’ homes.
Level C1ClassicsOld Lady Mary: A Story of the Seen and the UnseenAn elderly woman reflects on a life filled with beauty, love, loss, and triumphs as she faces the quiet challenge of accepting death.
Level C1ClassicsOld KensingtonIn a tranquil Old Kensington suburb untouched by progress, children like Dolly Vanborough find magic in the echoes of church bells, ivy-clad walls, and timeless memories.
Level C1HistoricalOld KaskaskiaIn the early 1800s Illinois Territory, young Jean Lozier yearns for a life within the flourishing town of Kaskaskia, torn between rustic hardship and the allure of its vibrant stre…
Level C1ClassicsOld Judge PriestIn a worn courthouse warmed by a flickering fire, Judge Priest wrestles with legal papers and the quirks of his old steam heating system, revealing the rhythms of small-town justic…
Level C1AdventureOld JackAmid the raucous chaos of Donnybrook Fair, a young boy named Jack grapples with loss and hardship as his troubled father leads him through a world of wild revelry and harsh realiti…
Level C1ClassicsOld Jabe's Marital Experiments: 1908In the post-Civil War South, Old Jabe, a sly and persistent freedman, navigates freedom on his own terms—trading on his past, juggling numerous wives, and outlasting overseers with…
Level B2AdventureOld Indian DaysA young Sioux warrior named Antelope embarks on a dangerous scouting mission to protect his tribe, relying on courage, cunning, and a deep spiritual quest for guidance in hostile t…
Level B2Children'sOld Greek StoriesJourney into ancient Greece where mighty beings like Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto rule the skies, seas, and underworld, weaving tales of power, beauty, and mystery that have enchant…
Level B2Children'sOld Greek Folk Stories Told AnewStep into a world where gods and mortals mingle, and nature itself whispers ancient secrets.
Level B2ClassicsOld Gorgon Graham: More Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His SonA self-made pork packing magnate writes candid letters to his son, blending tough business lessons with fatherly advice, revealing the challenges of legacy, leadership, and family…
Level B2AdventureOld Gold: The Cruise of the "Jason" BrigUnder the scorching sun of Johnstown, Guiana, a seasoned captain and two determined men confront danger and intrigue aboard the sugar-laden brig Jason.
Level C1RomanceOld Fritz and the New EraDive into a vivid blend of history and imagination where great deeds and hidden motives unfold, revealing the heart behind monumental events and stirring the passions of a transfor…
Level C1ClassicsOld Friends: Essays in Epistolary ParodyDive into a witty collection of imagined letters where beloved literary characters from different worlds and eras engage in humorous and unexpected exchanges, revealing the playful…
Level B2ClassicsOld Friends and NewIn a quiet village, Miss Horatia Dane lives a life shadowed by a lost love and solitude until her young cousin Nelly arrives, bringing fresh energy and unexpected warmth to the old…
Level C1FantasyOld French Romances, Done into EnglishStep into a world where medieval tales intertwine with legend and history, revealing the enchanting origins of heroes and cities like Constantinople.
Level B2Children'sOld French Fairy TalesIn a kingdom ruled by the kind King Benin, his beloved daughter Blondine faces the jealousy and cruelty of her wicked stepmother and stepsister, while navigating palace intrigues a…
Level C1ClassicsOld Fires and Profitable Ghosts: A Book of StoriesHaunted by grief and the mysterious death of his brother, a man confronts the fragile boundary between life and the beyond, where spirits revisit old emotions and forgotten scenes.
Level C1ClassicsOld Familiar FacesStep inside the vibrant world of a literary circle where friendships with celebrated poets and thinkers illuminate a life devoted to art, conversation, and timeless camaraderie.
Level B2ClassicsOld EbenezerIn the slow Southern town of Old Ebenezer, Sam Lyman, a once energetic Northerner turned weary schoolteacher, navigates the clash between ambition and complacency as he seeks purpo…
Level C1Children'sOld Deccan Days; or, Hindoo Fairy Legends Current in Southern IndiaJourney into the enchanting world of Southern India’s oral traditions, where fairy legends reveal ancient gods, local heroes, and mystical customs untouched by orthodox beliefs.
Level C1ClassicsOld CrowIn postwar Boston, a weary uncle grapples with the harsh realities of life and seeks to pass his burdens onto his idealistic nephew, while a spirited young woman brings unexpected…
Level C1HistoricalOld Creole Days: A Story of Creole LifeStep into the faded grandeur of old New Orleans, where the mysterious Madame Delphine, a retired quadroon woman, inhabits a weathered house steeped in Creole history and secrets, r…
Level C1Children'sOld Christmas: from the Sketch Book of Washington IrvingStep back into a winter world where the glow of the fireside and the warmth of family transform the bleakest season into a celebration of love, laughter, and timeless Christmas tra…
Level C1ClassicsOld ChristmasStep back into a time when Christmas was a grand celebration of family, faith, and festive cheer, blending sacred tradition with the warmth of rustic English holiday customs and he…
Level B2AdventureOld Caravan DaysAs the Padgett family leaves their Ohio farm in 1857 for the untamed Western prairie, young Robert Day and Aunt Corinne embark on a hopeful journey filled with memories and new beg…
Level B2MysteryOld Broadbrim Into the Heart of Australia: or, A Strange Bargain and Its ConsequencesA wealthy man hires a famed Quaker detective to protect him from a shadowy enemy bent on his death, plunging the detective into a year-long battle against unseen foes and a hauntin…
Level C1RomanceOld Bear-Paw, the trapper king; or, The love of a Blackfoot queenIn the untamed Black Hills, a seasoned scout strikes a daring pact with a wounded Blackfoot chief to rescue the chief’s kidnapped daughter from a rival tribe, setting off a perilou…
Level C2PoetryOld BalladsStep into a world of heartfelt melodies and timeless tales where lasses and lads dance by the Maypole, lovers confess their secret yearnings, and the sweet strains of ballads echo…
Level C1AdventureOlaf the Glorious: A Story of the Viking AgeA young slave boy’s daring knife-throwing skills catch the eye of Viking warriors in a bustling Esthonian port, setting the stage for a tale of adventure, battles, and the rise of…
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.