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 C1Children'sThe wondrous sickle, and other storiesIn a village divided by faith, a Christian patwari faces isolation and inner turmoil as he strives to live justly and maintain his spiritual strength amid loneliness and cultural p…
Level B1FantasyThe wonderful fanOn the hottest day ever, Tina discovers a magical fan that reveals a hidden world where a mysterious prince, transformed from an imp, must journey through sunlit realms and crowded…
Level B2Children'sThe wonderful Christmas in Pumpkin Delight LaneA young boy faces a choice between finishing his endless farm chores or joining the circus parade passing by his home.
Level C1HistoricalThe women novelistsExplore the evolution of female novelists from early imitators of men to pioneers who forged a distinct literary voice, tracing key periods and groundbreaking works that shaped wom…
Level C1RomanceThe woman's wayIn a stark London boarding house known as The Jail, Celia navigates modest means and a determined spirit, finding small joys amid harsh surroundings and unexpected visitors who sti…
Level C1RomanceThe woman with a stone heartAmidst the turmoil of the Filipino insurrection, Marie Sampalit and her fiancé Rolando face postponed dreams and dangerous duties, testing their love and resolve against a backdrop…
Level B2MysteryThe woman of mysteryA devastating explosion at General de Trémont’s secret laboratory sparks a tense investigation into sabotage and military intrigue, as a determined colonel and his detective race t…
Level C1MysteryThe wolves and the lambA young man entrusts a vast fortune to a London firm, sparking ambition and intrigue within its calculating partners.
Level C1ClassicsThe wolf trailIn a lively London tavern, Bill Fright, a rugged young man with sea-worn strength, navigates the gritty world of 19th-century England, where sharp wit and hard living collide amids…
Level B2ClassicsThe wolf packAmid the wild, echoing hills and melting snows of the Canadian north, a devoted nurse guides a spirited toddler on a journey away from city life toward the freedom of the wildernes…
Level B2AdventureThe wolf huntersIn the frozen Canadian wilderness, a wounded bull moose races against a relentless wolf pack, while a young hunter named Wabi struggles through the bitter cold, driven by survival…
Level B2AdventureThe wizard's caveTwo brothers, orphaned and confined to a schoolhouse for the holidays, receive an unexpected letter promising an escape to the wild caves and broad sands of Cornwall.
Level C1MysteryThe wisdom of Father BrownIn a seaside study lined with books and scientific instruments, a genial yet unassuming priest seeks the help of a renowned criminologist to resolve a seemingly simple but urgent m…
Level C1ClassicsThe windfallA young manager and his partner struggle to launch a street fair in the remote and rugged Great Smoky Mountains, confronting isolation, natural grandeur, and the challenge of drawi…
Level B2FantasyThe windfairies, and other talesA lonely miller’s daughter, Lucilla, discovers enchanting windfairies who teach her to dance with magical lightness—on the condition she keeps their secret forever.
Level C1ClassicsThe willow weaver, and seven other talesA young man faces a dire ultimatum from a powerful superior, forced to vanish within twenty-four hours to protect his family's honor.
Level B2ClassicsThe wild fawnA proud mother anxiously awaits news from her successful son, William, recently returned from Japan, only to be stunned by a mysterious letter hinting at a secret that could upend…
Level C1ClassicsThe wild duckIn a richly furnished study, old alliances and hidden pasts unravel as guests gather to celebrate a son's homecoming, revealing a tangled web of former glories and present struggle…
Level C2PoetryThe whoreExplore a bold, provocative poem that confronts society's harshest judgments of women, written by a self-proclaimed priestess devoted to the goddess of pleasure and defiance.
Level C1HistoricalThe white doeAmid the fierce ambitions of English colonization, a determined explorer risks fortune and favor to establish a new world on Virginia’s coast.
Level C1MysteryThe white countessWhen Gerard Angmering faces accusations of forging cheques against a trusted client, he and his wife Audrey must unravel a web of suspicion and betrayal that threatens to shatter t…
Level C1MysteryThe white cipherA master thief, recently released from a high-security prison, steps into a world of intrigue and mystery as he navigates freedom under the watchful eye of Scotland Yard.
Level B2Children'sThe whistleA young boy learns a valuable lesson about the true worth of things through a simple whistle, inspiring reflections on ambition, vanity, and the choices people make that cost them…
Level C1ClassicsThe well of lonelinessIn the English countryside, Stephen Gordon is born into a world of expectation and love, yet her true identity challenges the rigid confines of society.
Level C1RomanceThe well in the desertIn a lonely desert town, a desperate, dying man confronts a cold lawyer from his past, seeking one last favor to return to the land he loves.
Level C1RomanceThe weight of the nameA young count, bound by duty and a prestigious name, harbors a secret, unspoken love for a married woman.![Cover of The weaker vessel [Night watches, Part 4.] by W. Jacobs](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da6jn62pmtvc73csnnng.webp)
Level B2ClassicsThe weaker vessel [Night watches, Part 4.]When Mrs.
Level C1MysteryThe ways of the hourIn a rapidly changing Manhattan, the flaws of the criminal justice system unravel through a gripping tale of jury bias and social injustice, exposing how prejudice and political sc…
Level C1ClassicsThe way of the spiritCaught between rigid vows and the stirring call of the East, Rupert Ullershaw confronts a profound moral dilemma that tests faith, renunciation, and the power of conscience amid th…
Level C1ClassicsThe way of all earthAs the workday ends, men and women hurriedly escape the office, blending into the bustling city streets filled with vibrant market stalls and ferry traffic.
Level B2Children'sThe warning clockTwo sisters, Diligence and Indolence, face a life-changing journey back to their father’s house after years of banishment.
Level C1Science FictionThe warlord of MarsBeneath Mars' twin moons, a warrior stalks the shadows to save the princess imprisoned deep within the Temple of the Sun, while political upheaval and savage battles shape the fate…
Level C1AdventureThe ward of TecumsehIn 1812 Alabama, young Jack Telfair faces heartbreak and the looming threat of war, but an unexpected encounter with a Shawnee chief named Necana pulls him into a world of frontier…
Level C1Science FictionThe war of the worldsAs Earth unknowingly thrives, distant Martian intellects face a dying world and plot a desperate invasion, viewing humanity as mere animals in a cosmic struggle for survival.
Level C1HistoricalThe war of the CarolinasTwo restless friends, disillusioned with wealth and politics, yearn for a daring adventure beyond the ordinary.
Level C1AdventureThe war chiefIn a rugged frontier where savage instincts clash with the encroaching forces of civilization, two bloodlines—one Apache, one pioneer—converge in a tale of survival, heritage, and…
Level C1AdventureThe wanderings and fortunes of some German emigrantsA diverse group of German emigrants bound for America unite under shared laws and hopes, ready to brave the unknown and cultivate a new life in the primeval forests of the New Worl…
Level C1AdventureThe wanderer in AfricaStranded in the harsh African wilderness, a young English servant battles thirst, betrayal, and wild dangers while reflecting on the choices that led him to this desperate journey.
Level C1ClassicsThe waltz of the dogsIn a stark, unfinished apartment, Carl Tile wrestles with dark secrets and desperate schemes as he contemplates betrayal and crime against his unsuspecting brother Henry, whose new…
Level C1ClassicsThe voyage of the Norman D.A young writer’s vivid letter reveals her thrilling voyage aboard the Norman D.
Level C1MysteryThe voice in the fogA cunning chief engineer lures his daughter's suitor aboard a massive oil tanker with a deadly secret in the engine room.
Level B2RomanceThe voice at JohnnywaterA weary actor, still painted as a Native American warrior, receives a mysterious phone call promising a surprise that could change everything—especially when a bold woman calls him…
Level C2PoetryThe vision of hell.: By Dante Alighieri.: and illustrated with the seventy-five designs of Gustave Doré.Lost in a dark forest, a weary traveler encounters three terrifying beasts that block his path and despair sets in—until a ghostly bard offers to guide him through a harrowing jour…
Level C1AdventureThe virgin of the sunA desperate band of Spanish conquistadors, stranded and starving on a desolate island, wrestles with hunger and hope as they prepare to embark on a perilous journey to conquer the…
Level C1ClassicsThe virgin of the sunIn a wild, impenetrable land shadowed by the Temple of the Sun, a solitary young man wrestles with loneliness and forbidden passion, while a devoted uncle seeks to guide him toward…
Level C1ClassicsThe virgin and the gipsyIn a rigid vicarage shadowed by scandal, two young sisters navigate a world where their mother’s betrayal is whispered but never named, and family loyalty clashes with hidden resen…![Cover of The vigil [Night watches, Part 8.] by W. Jacobs](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da6jnm2pmtvc73csnntg.webp)
Level B2ClassicsThe vigil [Night watches, Part 8.]A determined suitor faces fierce opposition from a soldier father who prizes courage above all.
Level C1HistoricalThe victorySet on a sprawling Virginia plantation in 1860, this story unfolds amid festive Christmas celebrations at Harrowby Manor, where centuries of family history and the complex lives 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.