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 B2AdventureNo stop-oversIn the rugged Alaskan gold rush, engineer Sam Tebbetts and his fireman friend Plapp take on the perilous challenge of keeping a short-handed railroad running through harsh tundra,…
Level B2Children'sNo royal roadIn a charming old cottage hidden away from the world, young Lilla grows up under her grandmother’s care, learning valuable lessons about ambition, diligence, and becoming a kind, c…
Level C1ClassicsNo enemyIn the aftermath of war, a poet-turned-economist named Gringoire seeks to rebuild life through simple pleasures like cooking and gardening, revealing how grace and poetry can thriv…
Level B2Children'sNo and Other Stories Compiled by Uncle HumphreyYoung readers are guided through valuable life lessons about obedience, kindness, and making wise choices, all centered on the powerful impact of the simple word "No.
Level C1MysteryNo ThoroughfareOn a foggy London night, a veiled woman pleads with a kind nurse at the Foundling Hospital, seeking answers about her abandoned baby.
Level C1AdventureNo Surrender! A Tale of the Rising in La VendeeAmid the tranquil English coast, the Stansfield family navigates the tides of life with fearless spirit and close kinship.
Level C1ClassicsNo SurrenderAmid sunlit lakes and picturesque villas, a young man returns from a tranquil visit only to face the harsh rule of Baron von Raven, where loyalty and opposition clash, and old frie…
Level B2Science FictionNo Sons Left to Die!In a rigid, star-faring society where boys are prized for telepathic battle skills and rules are deadly, Susan risks everything to find Darth Brady, a young man lost to the mysteri…
PoetryNo Sect in HeavenExplore a poetic journey that challenges the boundaries of belief and unity, questioning divisions even in the realm of heaven.
Level C1HistoricalNo Quarter!Amidst the fierce power struggles of 17th-century England, a determined queen urges her hesitant king to crush Parliament and assert absolute rule, setting the stage for a brutal c…
Level C1ClassicsNo NameIn a somber country house, servants awaken to a cold March morning shadowed by a recent family event, setting the stage for a gripping tale of a woman's struggle between good and e…
Level B2Science FictionNo Moving PartsWhen an emergency light flashes for the first time in centuries, Hansen contacts the elusive Captain Fromer, who reveals a bizarre crisis: their ship's door won’t open, grounding t…
Level B2AdventureNo Moss; Or, The Career of a Rolling StoneA spirited crew of boys aboard the Storm King yacht embrace naval discipline, camaraderie, and adventure as they drill, race through the rigging, and prepare to prove themselves in…
Level C1HistoricalNo More Parades: A novelAmid the chaos and unrelenting worry of a massive World War I base camp in France, a skeptical English Tory navigates the emotional and political turmoil behind the front lines, re…
Level C1HistoricalNo Man's LandAmid the looming shadows of World War I, a group of soldiers and officers confront the brutal reality behind the headlines, revealing the untold personal struggles and sacrifices o…
Level B2MysteryNo Man's IslandThree eighteen-year-old friends navigate a wild, overgrown river island steeped in painful family memories, setting the stage for a mysterious adventure where past grudges and unta…
Level C1MysteryNo HeroA letter from an old acquaintance draws a weary man back into a world of unresolved tensions and mysterious requests, stirring memories and promising unexpected intrigue as he step…
Level C1ClassicsNo Defense, Volume 3.Amidst the lush plantations and complex social tensions of Jamaica, Dyck Calhoun wrestles with his past as a disgraced man seeking purpose after imprisonment and naval mutiny, navi…
Level B2HistoricalNo Defense, Volume 2.A man emerges from prison, stripped of youth and fortune but not spirit, determined to reclaim his family's honor amid shadows of past crimes and betrayals.
Level C1HistoricalNo Defense, Volume 1.In turbulent Ireland, Dyck Calhoun, a charming and reckless young gentleman, navigates a life of debts, rebellion, and conflicting loyalties amidst political unrest and rural beaut…
Level C1HistoricalNo Defense, CompleteA charming and reckless young Irishman navigates the turbulent political landscape of Ireland, caught between loyalty, rebellion, and the hardships of rural life.
Level C2PoetryNo Abolition of Slavery: Or the Universal Empire of Love, A poemIn a provocative poetic address to West-India planters, the poem defends the slave trade as a necessary step toward civilization and happiness, challenging abolitionists with sharp…
Level C1PoetryNirvana DaysStep into a world where ancient Druids, fierce warriors, and doomed maidens collide on the mist-shrouded isle of Mona, as a queen’s deadly command sets a tragic ritual into motion…
Level C1ClassicsNiobe, All Smiles: A Farcical Comedy in Three ActsIn a London drawing room, a sharp-witted family prepares for a night at the theatre, where propriety clashes with playful banter and social expectations spark comedic chaos.
Level C1ClassicsNinth AvenueIn the gritty heart of New York’s Ninth Avenue, Blanche Palmer navigates a harsh world of cramped apartments and sharp family dynamics, balancing youthful allure with a restless se…
Level C1HistoricalNinety-ThreeIn the brutal forests of revolutionary France, a decimated Parisian battalion cautiously hunts hidden enemies amid the shadows of La Saudraie Woods, where every step may lead to de…
Level C1HistoricalNineteenth Century QuestionsExplore the delicate balance between personal emotion and objective storytelling as profound questions of art and literature unfold, revealing how genius often emerges in contrasti…
Level B2ClassicsNineteen hundred? A forecast and a storyAs two young men return from exile, their reunion with the warm-hearted Miss Wentworth sparks hope for a future shaped by faith and youthful promise.
Level B2FantasyNine Unlikely TalesA young girl dreads a visit to her stern great-aunt but finds herself on an unexpected, enchanting journey when a mistaken omnibus ride leads her far from the dull routine she know…
Level C1ClassicsNine Short EssaysExplore the twilight mysteries of the Tuileries Garden in 1868 Paris, where vibrant daytime life gives way to haunting silence and the echo of imperial power.
Level C1Children'sNine Little GoslingsA young girl recovering from illness faces a difficult transformation, feeling out of place and longing for adventure beyond her quiet home.
Level B2RomanceNina's perilA beautiful young woman, haunted by unbearable heartache, takes a desperate step on a cold, lonely night, setting in motion a tragic story of sorrow and hope.
Level C1RomanceNina BalatkaIn 19th-century Prague, Nina Balatka, a Christian maiden, defies societal norms by loving Anton Trendellsohn, a successful Jewish businessman, challenging the era's prejudices and…
Level B2MysteryNimble Ike, the Trick Ventriloquist: A Rousing Tale of Fun and FrolicA gifted young ventriloquist, Nimble Ike, faces betrayal and mystery when his mentor leaves him penniless but armed with extraordinary talents and a mysterious box that may hold hi…
Level C1HistoricalNil Darpan; or, The Indigo Planting Mirror, A Drama.In a vivid drama of colonial Bengal, a peasant’s peaceful life is shattered by the brutal Indigo Planting System, exposing the ruthless oppression and moral decay inflicted by gree…
Level C1ClassicsNights With Uncle Remus: Myths and Legends of the Old PlantationStep into the rich oral traditions of the Southern plantations, where age-old myths and legends come alive through the storytelling of Uncle Remus.
Level C1FantasyNightmare TalesOn a dark, chilly night in a small German town, a bedridden narrator witnesses a mysterious vision of an ancient scribe whose glowing quill brings eerie tales to life, promising to…
Level C1GothicNightmare AbbeyIn a gloomy mansion by the sea, the melancholic Mr.
Level C1ClassicsNightfallIn the shadowed halls of Wanhope manor, Laura tends to her distant, war-wounded husband as they navigate the quiet tensions of their restrained lives and the unspoken pasts that li…![Cover of Night watches [complete] by W. Jacobs](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da6jo42pmtvc73csno20.webp)
Level B2ClassicsNight watches [complete]After a minor railway accident leaves Mr.
Level C1ClassicsNight and Morning, CompleteAmid the shadows of prejudice and fear, a daring exploration of the blurred lines between truth and falsehood reveals the hidden poetry of modern life, challenging society's harsh…
Level C1RomanceNight and DayIn a refined Sunday tea gathering, Katharine Hilbery navigates the uneasy arrival of a nervous young visitor, sparking quiet reflections on duty, societal expectations, and the sta…
Level B2PoetryNight Fall in the Ti-TreeStep into a tranquil world where night descends softly upon the ti-tree, captured through delicate woodcuts and poetic whispers that invite reflection and wonder under the fading l…
Level B2RomanceNigel BrowningReturning home after a year of global travel, Nigel Browning navigates familiar streets and unexpected encounters in the foggy town of Newton Bury, where old ties and new challenge…
Level C1ClassicsNiels LyhneA young dreamer wrestles with doubt, ideals, and the harsh truths of life, striving to become a true poet while confronting the limits of dreams and the demands of reality in a wor…
Level C1PoetryNiels Ebbesen, and Germand Gladenswayne: Two BalladsAmidst the clash of banners and fierce rivalries, Niels Ebbesen navigates treacherous allegiances and deadly threats in medieval Denmark, where honor, loyalty, and survival hang by…
Level B2Children'sNiece CatherineA spirited young woman named Catherine navigates new responsibilities as a companion while uncovering family secrets tied to a long-standing feud between two uncles and the tragic…
Level B2Children'sNid and NodIn a quaint little shop, Kewpie Proudtree indulges in sweet treats while grappling with the pressures of sports, friendship, and self-discipline.
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.