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 C1HistoricalNicolette: a tale of old ProvenceIn the fading grandeur of an old Provençal château, the last Ventadour heir faces the shadows of a once-noble lineage amid crumbling towers and wild woods.
Level C1HistoricalNicky-Nan, ReservistIn a coastal village on the brink of war, fishermen and reservists grapple with the looming conflict as they navigate daily life, local traditions, and the uncertain tides of 1914.
Level C1AdventureNick of the Woods; Or, Adventures of Prairie LifeOn the turbulent frontier, a haunted man wrestles with vengeance amid brutal clashes between settlers and Native tribes, exposing raw realities behind romanticized legends of the w…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 160, October 2, 1915: The Yellow Label; or, Nick Carter and the Society Looters.In the exclusive Marmawell Club, a mysterious cardroom waiter with a knack for secrets unlocks a private rendezvous that hints at a deeper conspiracy among high society’s elite.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 159, September 25, 1915: Driven from cover; or, Nick Carter's double ruse.A cryptic, chilling phone call from a wealthy Riverside Drive residence draws detective Nick Carter into a web of mystery and potential danger.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 158, September 18, 1915: The blue veil; or, Nick Carter's torn trail.A master of disguise and deception, a cunning crook exploits a secret passage and a shocking resemblance to evade capture—until a brilliant detective unravels the impossible tricke…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 157, September 11, 1915: A human counterfeit; or, Nick Carter and the crook's double.A respected hotel manager is mysteriously abducted by well-dressed men in disguise, who threaten his life to keep their motives secret.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 156, September 4, 1915: Blood Will Tell; or, Nick Carter's Play in PoliticsA prominent political candidate is arrested for the murder of a notorious socialite just days before a crucial election, thrusting a sharp detective into a high-stakes investigatio…
Level C1MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 155, August 28, 1915: The Gordon Elopement; or, Nick Carter's Three of a Kind.A distraught young woman begs a detective to uncover the truth behind her fiancé’s sudden disappearance and scandalous letter.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 154, August 21, 1915: The mask of death; or, Nick Carter's curious case.When priceless art and a legendary Stradivarius violin vanish from a reclusive collector's New York mansion, a determined detective steps in to unravel the tangled mystery and reco…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 152, August 7, 1915: The Forced Crime; or, Nick Carter's Brazen Clew.A renowned detective investigates mysterious midnight intrusions into a professor’s locked bedroom, where the intruder never steals but seems to wield a hypnotic power.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 151, July 31, 1915: The Mystery of the Crossed Needles; or Nick Carter and the Yellow TongA millionaire Oriental scholar is found dead with crossed needles plunged into his heart, a chilling sign of murder.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 150, July 24, 1915: The House of Fear; or, Nick Carter's Counterstroke.A disguised detective finds himself trapped and threatened by a relentless enemy who blames him for a ruined life and promises deadly revenge.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 149, July 17, 1915: A Network of Crime; or, Nick Carter's Tangled Skein.When a double murder shocks a quiet Manhattanville neighborhood, a top detective and his assistant race against time to unravel a sinister web of crime tied to a rented house and m…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 148, July 10, 1915; The Mark of Cain; or, Nick Carter's Air-line CaseA striking switchboard operator collapses after overhearing a mysterious call, drawing detective Nick Carter into a web of intrigue and danger.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 147, July 3, 1915: On Death's Trail; or, Nick Carter's Strangest CaseAt three a.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 146, June 26, 1915: Paying the Price; or, Nick Carter's Perilous VentureWhen a revered priest is found murdered in his Washington rectory, a sharp detective is summoned to unravel secrets lurking in the shadows of a newly built church and a city rife w…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 145, June 19, 1915: An Unsolved Mystery; Or, Nick Carter's Goverment CaseIn Washington, a secret summons from the president draws famed detective Nick Carter into a shadowy government case, where a covert meeting at Union Station hints at a mystery that…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 143, June 5, 1915: The sultan's pearls; or, Nick Carter's Porto Rico trailA daring detective and his assistants infiltrate a tramp steamer in Puerto Rico to recover stolen jewels, but when a dangerous prisoner mysteriously disappears overboard, suspicion…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 141, May 22, 1915: The duplicate nightAt a lavish masked ball in a millionaire's mansion, a detective spots two identical women dressed as "Night," sparking a mystery that threatens to unravel amid dazzling guests and…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 140, May 15, 1915: The Melting-PotA relentless detective confronts a cunning crook who escaped justice and now threatens a vengeful reckoning.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 139, May 8, 1915: The Pressing PerilWhen a distressed English gentleman seeks out New York’s sharpest detective, Nick Carter plunges into a tangled mystery of vanished women and shadowy threats, where danger lurks be…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 138 May 1, 1915; The Traitors of the Tropics; or, Nick Carter's Royal FlushIn the shadow of an assassination attempt, a wounded prince insists on traveling against medical advice to save his Caribbean kingdom, while a sharp detective races to uncover dead…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 137, April 24, 1915: The Seal of Gijon; Or, Nick Carter's Ice-House FightA daring detective navigates a fierce river chase, confronting ruthless gangsters determined to silence two mysterious prisoners.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 136, April 17, 1915: The Man They Held BackA clever detective dons a Mexican disguise to infiltrate a masked ball, hunting a cunning gang of counterfeiters.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 135. April 10, 1915; Straight to the Goal; Or, Nick Carter's Queer ChallengeA daring detective and his companions receive a chilling message: a spear bearing a captive’s necktie and an invitation to a mysterious city ruled by a cunning high priest.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 134, April 3, 1915; The Secret of Shangore; Or, Nick Carter Among the SpearmenA determined millionaire and a world-renowned detective venture into the treacherous Himalayas to capture a notorious crook and unravel the secrets of a mysterious race worshipping…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 133, March 27, 1915: Won by Magic; or, Nick Carter's Mysterious Ear.A cryptic telegram summons detective Nick Carter to Nepal, sparking a tense search for a missing man linked to a powerful shipping magnate.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 131, March 13, 1915: A fatal message; or, Nick Carter's slender clewNick Carter eavesdrops on a cryptic telegram and a mysterious visitor, sparking a tense investigation into a secret message that could unravel a deadly conspiracy.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 124, January 23, 1915: The girl kidnaper; or, Nick Carter's up-to-date clew.A wealthy woman vanishes from her locked hotel room on a cliffside, leaving behind only a trail of mystery and missing jewelry.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 123, January 16, 1915: Half a million ransom; or, Nick Carter and the needy nine.When a woman suddenly faints in Central Park, detective Nick Carter suspects more than a simple medical episode—especially as a child under the nurse’s care mysteriously disappears…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 122, January 9, 1915: The suicide; or, Nick Carter and the lost headA devoted wife seeks help when her husband's strange behavior and sudden despair hint at a hidden crisis.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 121, January 2, 1915: The call of death; or, Nick Carter's clever assistantA brilliant detective and his clever assistant race to unravel the mystery behind a daring bank vault burglary, tracking a notorious criminal mastermind lurking in the shadows.
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 120, December 26, 1914: An uncanny revenge; or, Nick Carter and the mind murderer.When a renowned actress collapses mid-performance, haunted by a face in the audience, a famous detective and his team dive into a baffling mystery of hidden grudges and eerie mind…
Level B2MysteryNick Carter Stories No. 11, November 23, 1912: Nick Carter Strikes Oil; or, Uncovering More Than a MurderIn a rugged Colorado valley, a desperate man accuses a clergyman of swindling over a land deal tied to a mysterious private school scheme.
Level C1MysteryNick Baba's Last Drink and Other SketchesOn a snowy Christmas Eve, a struggling shoemaker's lonely workshop is visited by a mysterious goblin who offers a chance for redemption, challenging him to confront his vices and r…
Level C1ClassicsNicholas NicklebyIn the harsh winter of Yorkshire, a concerned outsider investigates the grim realities of unregulated private schools, exposing the brutal neglect and ignorance that deform young m…
Level C1HistoricalNicanor - Teller of Tales : A Story of Roman BritainIn Roman Britain, young Nicanor inherits his ancestor's gift for storytelling, caught between the worlds of gods and men as he awakens to his destined path amid family hopes and wa…
Level B2AdventureNic Revel: A White Slave's Adventures in Alligator LandEighteen-year-old Nic Revel navigates the clash between his scholarly pursuits and his sea captain father's rugged world, set against the wild backdrop of salmon-rich rivers and lo…
Level B2ClassicsNibsy's ChristmasOn a bitter Christmas Eve in the East Side tenements, two boys stare longingly at the warm glow and sweet treats inside a delicatessen, while a scrappy older boy quietly buys honey…
Level B1Children'sNibble Rabbit Makes More FriendsWhen Nibble Rabbit meets Tommy Peele, the little boy with red mittens, the curious bunny discovers the strange and risky world of humans.
Level C1PoetryNiagara, and Other PoemsExplore a vivid collection of poems capturing moments of history, personal reflection, and public celebration, from presidential tributes to intimate glimpses of life and legacy.
Level C1RomanceNeæra: A Tale of Ancient RomeAmid the mysterious island retreat of Emperor Tiberius, a young Roman soldier ventures into a world of imperial power, dark secrets, and political intrigue, where the fate of an em…
Level B2HistoricalNext yearA determined group of British colonists, led by an ambitious Church of England parson, embark on a challenging journey to settle the Canadian wilderness in the early 1900s, facing…
Level B2Science FictionNext Door, Next WorldA daring pilot prepares for his first interstellar mission aboard the sleek new Cosmos XII, yearning to explore distant stars and unknown worlds, while Earth-bound desires and myst…
Level C1ClassicsNext Door Neighbours: A Comedy; In Three ActsIn a grand household preparing for a lavish ball, tensions simmer between extravagance and frugality as Sir George’s costly entertainments clash with concerns over mounting debts a…
Level C1AdventureNewton ForsterA seasoned sailor navigates the perilous world of the Merchant Service, confronting danger, criticism, and moral challenges on the high seas.
Level C1ClassicsNews from the DuchyOn a lazy summer afternoon, a holiday train journey through the English countryside reveals an uncanny vision of naked gods playing music and navvies dancing beneath ancient oaks—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.