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 C1HistoricalHumphrey Bold: A Story of the Times of BenbowAn orphaned boy, frail yet determined, faces torment and mystery as he is adopted by a stern yeoman and begins school amid family grudges and schoolyard bullies in early 18th-centu…
Level C1ClassicsHumours of Irish LifeDive into the lively world of Irish humor and folklore, where witty political satire, rollicking tales, and enchanting fairy legends bring to life the rich spirit and colorful char…
Level C1ClassicsHumour, Wit, & Satire of the Seventeenth CenturyDive into the lively spirit of seventeenth-century England, where sharp wit, biting satire, and merry jests reveal a vibrant social world filled with humor both timeless and boldly…
Level C1ClassicsHumour of the NorthDive into a lively collection of witty and heartfelt Canadian humor, featuring poems, toasts, and tales that celebrate the quirks and spirit of the North.
Level C1PoetryHumorous Readings and Recitations, in Prose and VerseStep into a world of wit and whimsy with a curated collection of humorous readings and recitations that range from time-honored favorites to fresh delights, perfect for enlivening…
Level B2ClassicsHumorous Masterpieces from American LiteratureOld friends reunite and reminisce about a quirky 1845 summer society filled with eccentric characters, idealistic philosophies, and humorous adventures.
Level C1ClassicsHumorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience: A Collection of Short Selections, Stories and Sketches for All OccasionsMaster the art of captivating any audience with a collection of engaging stories, sketches, and practical tips drawn from years of public speaking experience.
Level C1ClassicsHumorous Ghost StoriesDiscover a world where ghosts have shed their solemn gloom for playful mischief, blending humor and haunting in stories that turn fear into laughter and reveal the spirited antics…
Level C1ClassicsHumbugIn a family where appearances mask harsh truths, Lily navigates the cruel favoritism and misunderstood love between herself and her mentally challenged sister, challenging the rigi…
Level C1ClassicsHumanly SpeakingWhen logic declares something impossible, facts often prove otherwise—especially in the tangled realities of empires and republics.
Level C1ClassicsHuman Follies (La Bêtise Humaine.)A young man inherits a fortune and embarks on a journey to Paris, the ultimate stage for observing human nature.
Level C1RomanceHugo: A Fantasia on Modern ThemesIn a magnificent London dome, a vibrant bachelor on the cusp of midlife grapples with newfound love and whimsical desires—including a lady’s hat—while navigating the curious rhythm…
Level C1ClassicsHugh: Memoirs of a BrotherA brother reflects on the vivid personality and varied life of Hugh, a man whose charm and zeal enlivened every circle he entered—from family to faith—offering an intimate glimpse…
Level C1HistoricalHugh Wynne, Free Quaker: Sometime Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on the Staff of his Excellency General WashingtonAmid the turmoil of the American Revolution, a complex man wrestles with his Quaker upbringing and the harsh realities of war, revealing how faith and conflict shape character in a…
Level C1ClassicsHugh WorthingtonAmid the wild Kentucky winter, Hugh Worthington returns to Spring Bank, a decaying estate where rugged independence clashes with the echoes of refinement and the haunting legacy of…
Level C1ClassicsHugh Walpole: An AppreciationExplore the vivid worlds of Hugh Walpole through a passionate exploration of his novels, where inner turmoil and outer realities intertwine with haunting atmospheres—from decaying…
Level C1RomanceHugh Crichton's RomanceIn sunlit Civita Bella, a young Italian girl named Violante prepares for a performance that masks her pale sadness, while the arrival of the enigmatic Englishman Hugh Crichton hint…
Level C2PoetryHudibras, in Three Parts, Written in the Time of the Late WarsDive into a sharp and witty poetic journey set amid the turmoil of civil wars, where natural genius and learned insight collide to craft a timeless satire on human folly and confli…
Level C1ClassicsHubert's Wife: A Story for YouIn the wake of Ellice Lisle’s funeral, tensions simmer on the Kennons plantation as servants whisper of a mysterious woman’s sudden return, stirring fears of rivalry and secrets th…
Level A2HistoricalHubbell Trading Post National Historic Site: Junior Ranger WorkbookStep back in time at Hubbell Trading Post, where young explorers become Junior Rangers by uncovering Navajo trading customs, historic rug designs, and life at a vibrant cultural cr…
Level C1AdventureHoward Pyle's Book of Pirates: Fiction, Fact & Fancy Concerning the Buccaneers & Marooners of the Spanish MainDive into the perilous world of pirates and buccaneers along the Spanish Main, where daring captains seek treasure, defy law, and live lives of relentless adventure and unbridled p…
Level B2ClassicsHow to write photoplaysUnlock the secrets of crafting compelling silent film scripts with clear, practical guidance on plot development, character action, and cinematic techniques essential for successfu…
Level B2PoetryHow to tell the Birds from the Flowers, and other Wood-cuts: A Revised Manual of Flornithology for BeginnersDelight in whimsical verses that playfully unravel the confusions between birds and flowers, blending nature’s wonders with humor and keen observation.
Level C1ClassicsHow to study "The best short stories"Unlock the secrets of crafting compelling short stories through insightful analysis and advice from successful authors.
Level B2ClassicsHow to become an actorDiscover practical guidance on acting, stage management, and creating theatrical effects at home, including how to rig a stage, make scenery, and produce sound and lighting effects…
Level C1ClassicsHow to Write a Play: Letters from Augier, Banville, Dennery, Dumas, Gondinet, Labiche, Legouvé, Pailleron, Sardou and ZolaDiscover the elusive art of playwriting through candid letters from renowned dramatists who confess the mysteries and challenges behind crafting compelling drama, revealing that no…
Level C1ClassicsHow to Write a Novel: A Practical Guide to the Art of FictionDiscover the art behind crafting compelling fiction through clear, practical lessons that explore everything from local color to plotting and love scenes, challenging the notion th…
Level B2PoetryHow to Tell the Birds from the Flowers: A Manual of Flornithology for BeginnersPlayful verses and witty observations guide you through distinguishing birds from flowers, revealing nature’s charming quirks and surprising connections in a whimsical manual for c…
Level C1ClassicsHow to Tell a Story, and Other EssaysDiscover the art of telling a humorous story, where the teller's subtle delivery and rambling charm create laughter that bubbles gently and unexpectedly, revealing the unique Ameri…
Level B2ClassicsHow to Solve Conundrums: Containing All the Leading Conundrums of the Day, Amusing Riddles, Curious Catches, and Witty SayingsDive into a collection of witty riddles, amusing conundrums, and clever wordplays that challenge your mind and entertain with puns and playful twists on language.
Level C1RomanceHow to Settle Accounts with your Laundress: An Original Farce, in One ActIn a tailor’s showroom, a hopeful gentleman prepares for a secret supper with a captivating ballet dancer, but unexpected complications and comedic misunderstandings threaten his r…
Level C1HistoricalHow to See a PlayDiscover how to become a discerning theater-goer who appreciates the artistic and intellectual values of plays, learning to choose wisely and demand quality drama that enriches bot…
Level C1ClassicsHow to Master the Spoken Word: Designed as a Self-Instructor for all who would Excel in the Art of Public SpeakingUnlock the power of effective public speaking with step-by-step guidance on breathing, voice control, speech construction, and audience engagement to confidently express ideas and…
Level C1ClassicsHow to Fail in Literature: A LectureExplore the trials of aspiring writers who wrestle with ambition, talent, and rejection in their quest to succeed in literature.
Level B2ClassicsHow to Cook HusbandsDiscover witty domestic advice disguised as recipes for managing husbands and family life, blending humor and heartfelt reflection on marriage’s challenges and charms.
Level C1ClassicsHow to Become a Public Speaker: Showing the best manner of arranging thought so as to gain: conciseness, ease and fluency in speechExplore the art of public speaking through practical methods that turn ordinary individuals into confident, eloquent speakers by combining theory with hands-on training.
Level C1ClassicsHow they loved him, Vol. 2 (of 3)A young, lonely woman with a heart too large for her own good falls deeply for a charming but morally weak man whose love is as self-serving as it is genuine.
Level C1ClassicsHow they loved him, Vol. 1 (of 3)In a tranquil convent garden, a graceful young girl named Fenella cares for a fallen fledgling, her quiet sorrow hinting at a deeper loneliness and a life shaped by faith, duty, an…
Level B2Children'sHow the Fairy Violet Lost and Won Her WingsA fairy loses her wings and embarks on a perilous journey to the fiery kingdom to reclaim them, only to discover that new wings may bring unintended harm to the world she loves.
Level C1Children'sHow little Bessie kept the wolf from the doorIn a once-grand London mansion now home to struggling families, Matthew Reardon fights to support his loved ones by copying legal papers, while young Bessie faces the looming threa…
Level C1HistoricalHow he won herAmidst the turmoil of Civil War, Erminie devotes herself to comforting the wounded and mourning mothers while grappling with loss and unspoken questions about love and loyalty.
Level C1Children'sHow a Farthing Made a Fortune; or "Honesty is the best policy"In a grim London slum, young Dick Nason, the ragman's son, clings to hope and honesty amidst poverty and hardship.
Level C1ClassicsHow Women Love (Soul Analysis)In a small Hungarian village, the strikingly beautiful wife of an unattractive cartwright fiercely repels the advances of charming military officers, revealing the fierce, untamed…
Level B2HistoricalHow The Redoubt Was Taken: 1896A young soldier faces his first battle at the ominous redoubt of Cheverino, where superstition and deadly fire test his courage and resolve amid the chaos of war.
Level B2ClassicsHow The Raven Died: 1902, From "Wolfville Nights"In a rugged frontier town, tales unfold of Native American visitors, enigmatic scouts, and the elusive Old Jeffords, whose eerie hymns and mysterious past blur the line between wil…
Level C1ClassicsHow Spring Came in New EnglandIn a land where winter’s icy grip battles the warm southern winds, New England teeters between frost and thaw.
PoetryHow She Felt in Her First Corset, and Other PoemsExperience tender moments and heartfelt reflections through poems exploring love, growth, and life's simple truths, from a young woman's first corset to the bonds of family and the…
Level C1ClassicsHow Shakspere Came to Write the TempestAmidst tales of shipwreck and survival on a mysterious island, the origins of a timeless play unfold, blending history, rumor, and imagination.
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.