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 B2HistoricalThe seed she sowedIn a struggling dockside community, young Winny Chaplin brings warmth and hope to her family amid harsh poverty and illness.
Level B2MysteryThe secret of the old millTwo brothers, amateur detectives and sons of a famed sleuth, find themselves drawn into mystery when a stranger’s urgent request and a missing father set the wheels turning in thei…
Level C1Science FictionThe secret of the islandStranded on a mysterious island for years, a group of castaways faces an unexpected arrival that could change their fate.
Level B1MysteryThe secret of the cavesAmid the lazy waters of Barmet Bay, two brothers follow in their detective father’s footsteps, ready to swap boredom for adventure as mysterious events begin to stir.
Level B2AdventureThe secret of the Australian desertIn the scorching heart of Australia’s desert, a daring expedition sets out to unravel the mysterious fate of explorer Ludwig Leichhardt and uncover ancient secrets hidden beneath t…
Level B2Children'sThe secret of OaklandsWhen a devastating financial crash threatens to strip the Woodford family of their cherished home, young Margaret faces uncertainty and hardship, uncovering hidden trials and secre…
Level C1MysteryThe secret of Father BrownAn ex-criminal turned family man hosts his old friend, a sharp-witted priest, at his Spanish estate, where mysterious visitors and intriguing neighbors stir secrets beneath the ser…
Level B2MysteryThe secret in the hillAfter his mother's death, a young boy accompanies his father on a legal circuit, where courtroom tales and a mysterious feud between twin booksellers set the stage for a hidden sec…
Level C1HistoricalThe second person singular, and other essaysExplore a profound meditation on Shakespeare’s vision of royalty, where kings embody both majestic dignity and tragic mortality, revealing the enduring tension between power, pride…
Level C1AdventureThe sea-hawkA disgraced Cornish gentleman turns from seclusion to the high seas, becoming a renegade and Barbary corsair with a chance to rise to power—if his turbulent past and dangerous intr…
Level C1ClassicsThe sea-gullOn a country estate, a young playwright stages an amateur theatrical, stirring passions and tensions among family and friends drawn together by art, love, and the struggles of rura…
Level C1ClassicsThe schoolmistress, and other storiesA weary schoolmistress endures the endless routine of a remote village and the hardships of her isolated life, haunted by memories and the slow encroachment of spring.
Level C1Children'sThe schoolmaster's trunk, containing papers on home-life in TweenitIn a quaint country village, a schoolmaster uncovers the daily struggles and joys of home life, where the relentless baking of pies shapes family routines and tests the strength of…
Level B2Children'sThe school-girls' treasuryLonely and disappointed when her friend cancels a visit, Anna faces a week of solitude and must decide whether to brood or embrace resilience with the help of wise Caroline's gentl…
Level C1MysteryThe scarab murder caseWhen a philanthropist is found murdered in an Egyptologist's private museum with a rare blue scarab beside him, a sharp detective must unravel the psychological clues hidden in thi…
Level B2Children'sThe sailor's homeA wounded sailor returns home to find comfort and purpose in teaching and family life, navigating challenges on land with the same courage he showed at sea.
Level B2AdventureThe sailor heroAs war with France erupts, a spirited young midshipman aboard the flagship Victory faces rivalry and suspicion over his mysterious origins, while forging unlikely alliances and pro…
Level B2AdventureThe sailor boyA young sailor’s heart burns with patriotic fire as news of a naval victory ignites his dreams of joining the fight, but his mother wrestles with the cost of war on her family and…
Level C1HistoricalThe sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald the Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)In a turbulent era of power struggles and loyalty, a hidden mother flees with her newborn son, the heir of a fallen king, seeking refuge while enemies close in.
Level B1AdventureThe saddle boys on the plainsTwo adventurous boys set out from their Arizona ranch to investigate mysterious troubles at the distant Cherry Blossom Mine, riding across vast plains toward hidden dangers and unt…
Level B2Children'sThe royal bannerIn a Scottish Highland mansion, three orphans discover the true treasures beyond gold and rubies as they grow under the loving care of their aunt and uncle.
Level C1HistoricalThe roving criticDive into a thoughtful exploration of literature that transcends traditional critique, asking not just if a work is good, true, or beautiful, but if it is truly alive—vivid and vit…
Level B2RomanceThe rose of old St. LouisA young man recovering from river fever embarks on a tense mission to St.
Level C1MysteryThe room in the tower, and other storiesStrange dreams intersect with eerie reality in a mysterious tower room, where unseen forces stir unsettling encounters.
Level C1ClassicsThe romance of my childhood and youthExplore the vivid reflections of a writer’s early life and the shifting literary culture that shaped her art, revealing the interplay between personal experience and creative expre…
Level B2ClassicsThe romance of Captain DuffyA rugged sea captain stranded on a remote island where no one ever comes, he recounts a daring escape from a hijacked pig boat and survival against the odds, revealing a tale of ad…
Level B2AdventureThe rogue elephantTwo boys join a daring African expedition to hunt wild elephants, living off the land with no luxury or support.
Level C1Children'sThe rocky island, and other similitudesOn a bleak island threatened by a fiery mountain, children play obliviously until a gentle man warns them of peril and offers small boats emblazoned with a red cross to carry them…
Level B2AdventureThe robbers' caveSet in wild Calabria, a proud young Englishman and his delicate mother endure a weary journey to a remote inn, where tensions rise amid rugged landscapes and clashing wills, hintin…
Level B2MysteryThe river of starsAn expedition ventures into the perilous Alebi wilderness to uncover the mysterious River of Stars and its rumored diamond mines, but hostile tribes and uncharted dangers threaten…
Level B2AdventureThe rival bicyclistsTwo rival boys race their bicycles under a full moon, unaware that a removed bridge ahead threatens a deadly plunge into a raging river below.
Level B2RomanceThe rise of a starAfter years of struggling in small-town theaters, Frances West finally lands a star role that could change her life—and reunite her with the daughter she sent away for a better fut…
Level C1PoetryThe rise and fall of the mustache, and other "Hawk-eyetems"Explore a whimsical journey through the evolution of the mustache, blending humor and reflection on life's early wonders and woes, as humanity's first troubles unfold in a world bo…
Level C2PoetryThe ride to the lady, and other poemsA wounded knight races through a fiery twilight toward a lady’s abode, only to confront fate’s relentless shadow.
Level C1ClassicsThe riddle of the rocks: 1895In the remote Great Smoky Mountains, Roger Purdee guards two mysterious sandstone blocks he believes are the shattered stone tables of the Law, revealing a world where faith, super…
Level B2AdventureThe riddle of Three-Way CreekIn a harsh Canadian wilderness blanketed by an impending snowstorm, a determined mounted policeman escorts a defiant prisoner through treacherous terrain, where survival depends on…
Level C1PoetryThe rhyme and reason of country lifeImmerse yourself in the rich tapestry of country life through a curated collection of poetry and prose, exploring nature’s beauty from ancient to modern voices across multiple lang…
Level B2ClassicsThe revenge of Florida JackIn a tense Western showdown, the volatile herder Florida Jack faces the wrath of ranch boss Jim Kitchin after mistreating a prized sheepdog, sparking a fierce conflict in Woolville…
Level C1HistoricalThe retreat of the ten thousandA stranded Greek army of ten thousand must navigate hostile lands and relentless foes to return home, led by the unexpected commander Xenophon.
Level C1PhilosophyThe republic of CiceroExplore the ideals of a just republic where public happiness depends on individual virtue, as revealed through Cicero's profound reflections on governance, virtue, and the defense…
Level C1HistoricalThe religion of PlutarchExplore the rich philosophical and religious landscape of the early Christian era through Plutarch’s “Ethics,” where ancient faith meets moral inquiry and the complexities of Greco…
Level C1ClassicsThe rejected wifeIn a burgeoning New England village, a family rushes to prepare their long-unfinished home for a Thanksgiving reunion, where the return of their only son and unexpected guests prom…
Level B2RomanceThe reigning belleIn the dazzling world of New York society, a mysterious shop-girl, a society belle, and a shadowed artist are entwined in a thrilling tale of hidden pasts and complex relationships…
Level B2Children'sThe reign of King OberonIn a kingdom where fairies rule the seasons and nature itself, a quarrel between King Oberon and Queen Titania threatens to unravel the world’s harmony.
Level C1HistoricalThe regent's daughterIn 1719 France, the regent confronts his daughter, an abbess whose convent hides scandalous indulgences beneath its austere facade, sparking political intrigue and moral conflict w…
Level C1MysteryThe red-hot dollar, and other stories from the Black CatA hatless man races against time and fate to catch a departing train, only to stumble and lose his chance—yet the pursuit reveals a tense encounter with a desperate young woman and…
Level C1AdventureThe red wizard, or, the cave captiveIn the rugged frontier, a compassionate scout defies deadly prejudice by sparing a wounded Sioux squaw, sparking tension and mystery among a wary emigrant party.
Level B2Children'sThe red plantA young girl envies the beautiful garden of her wealthy neighbors and impulsively takes a rare red plant, sparking a journey of guilt, honesty, and self-discovery.
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.