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 B2Children'sClarice Egerton's life storyIn the grand halls of Egerton Highfield, family tensions rise as tragedy strikes young Clarice, shaking the Egerton household to its core.
Level B2Children'sClaribelA mysterious new girl named Claribel arrives at school, walking with a crutch and dressed in deep mourning.
Level C1HistoricalClarenceIn a San Francisco charged with secessionist tensions, Clarence Brant navigates a lonely marriage overshadowed by his wife’s fierce Southern loyalties and mounting political divide…
Level C1HistoricalClare Avery: A Story of the Spanish ArmadaIn a bitter March of 16th-century England, young Clare Avery’s world unfolds amid political unrest and looming threats from the Spanish Armada, where superstition, shifting allianc…
Level C1MysteryClara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)Passion and deception intertwine when a man, consumed by love, assumes his brother’s identity to win the heart of his beloved Lily, igniting a tale of intense emotion, dark secrets…
Level C1MysteryClara Vaughan, Volume 2 (of 3)Haunted by her father’s murder, a determined woman joins a daring night stakeout to confront the elusive killer.
Level C1MysteryClara Vaughan, Volume 1 (of 3)A young girl with a mysterious childhood faces strange health episodes that worry her loving parents and lead to a pivotal meeting with a wise old physician.
Level B2Children'sClara Maynard; Or, The True and the False: A Tale of the TimesA young heiress and her retired naval officer father sail along England’s southern coast, navigating family tensions and suitors as they prepare for a life-changing journey.
Level C1ClassicsClara HopgoodIn the quiet town of Fenmarket, sisters Clara and Madge Hopgood navigate societal expectations and personal desires against a backdrop of monotonous landscapes and stifling provinc…
Level C1ClassicsClair de Lune: A Play in Two Acts and Six ScenesIn a stately court where political intrigue simmers beneath elegant façades, a restless queen seeks her elusive prince amid whispers of secret passions and shadowy plots.
Level C1PoetryCivil service jingles and other thingsDive into a witty, satirical collection of poems that reveal the comic struggles and sly intrigues of civil servants, blending humor and sharp observation in entertaining jingles t…
Level C1MysteryCity Crimes; Or, Life in New York and BostonA wealthy young gentleman in New York resolves to abandon shallow friendships and dedicate his fortune to aiding the city's poorest and most desperate.
Level C1PoetryCity BalladsTwo outsiders—a young student and an old farmer—experience the bustling city for the first time, capturing its dramas, characters, and contrasts through poignant poems and reflecti…
Level C1HistoricalCitt and Bumpkin (1680)In a tense 1680 England gripped by fear of a Catholic conspiracy, political factions clash over the future of the monarchy and Parliament’s power.
Level C1HistoricalCitation and Examination of William Shakspeare, Euseby Treen, Joseph Carnaby, and Silas Gough, ClerkStep into the turbulent world of 16th-century England, where a young William Shakespeare faces accusations of deer-stealing before Sir Thomas Lucy, revealing the ambitions and stru…
Level C1ClassicsCircular SawsWitty and whimsical tales twist reality with kings who splash boldly, an ostrich in Parliament, a princess craving a frog’s freedom, and a beauty who defies convention—each story b…
Level C1Science FictionCircle of FlightTwo leaders of a shattered resistance face impossible choices: one plans to escape into the infinite vastness of hyperspace to fight back, while the other seeks to unlock the secre…
Level C1ClassicsCirce's DaughterIn a London flat buzzing with anticipation, a seasoned butler and an old family friend reflect on the rise of a young barrister poised to become remarkable.
Level C1HistoricalCinq-MarsIn a turbulent era marked by political intrigue, a young nobleman navigates the dangerous conspiracies surrounding Louis XIII’s reign, challenging the formidable Cardinal Richelieu…
Level B2Children'sCinderella; Or, The Little Glass Slipper, and Other StoriesA kind-hearted girl, mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, dreams of attending the royal ball.
Level C1ClassicsCinderella, and Other StoriesIn a bustling New York hotel, the staff unites to host an extraordinary annual ball, inviting a celebrated singer to perform for their exclusive celebration.
Level B1Children'sCinderella's princeIn a quiet village, young Ella Russell, nicknamed Cinderella, faces hardship and hope after her family’s fortune is lost.
Level C1Children'sCinderella in the South: Twenty-Five South African TalesExplore South African folklore through vivid tales that blend ancient ruins, local legends, and the clash of cultures, revealing secrets hidden beneath the veld and the mysteries o…
Level C1ClassicsCinderella JaneIn a season of lavish society spectacles, aspiring artist Jerry Paxton seizes a daring chance to direct a grand biblical pageant, navigating high society’s demands and his own ambi…
Level B1Children'sCinderellaA mistreated girl endures her cruel stepmother and stepsisters until her fairy godmother transforms a pumpkin and mice into a magical coach and servants, sending her to a royal bal…
Level B2Children'sCinderellaA kind-hearted girl endures cruel treatment from her stepmother and stepsisters, yet her gentle spirit shines through as she dreams of attending the prince’s grand ball, despite be…
Level C1HistoricalCicero: Letters to Atticus, Vol. 3 of 3Amid Caesar’s rise and Rome’s turmoil, a statesman retreats into grief, friendship, and prolific writing, revealing the fragile hopes and fears of a fading Republic.
Level C1HistoricalCicero: Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3Amid the collapse of the Roman Republic, a statesman navigates the turbulent power struggle between Pompey and Caesar, revealing political intrigue, shifting alliances, and the per…
Level C1HistoricalCicero: Letters to Atticus, Vol. 1 of 3Delve into the intimate correspondence revealing the political intrigues and personal struggles of a Roman statesman navigating power, exile, and the brewing conflict between Caesa…
Level C1PhilosophyCicero's Tusculan Disputations: Also, Treatises On The Nature Of The Gods, And On The CommonwealthIn the wake of personal tragedy, a Roman statesman retreats to his villa to engage in profound dialogues on death, pain, virtue, and happiness, exploring how philosophy can guide a…
Level C1HistoricalCicero's Brutus or History of Famous Orators; also His Orator, or Accomplished Speaker.Explore a masterful dialogue tracing the lives and speeches of Greece and Rome’s greatest orators, set against the backdrop of Roman history and eloquence.
Level C1HistoricalCiceroStep into the turbulent world of late Republican Rome, where Marcus Tullius Cicero rises from humble roots to shape politics, oratory, and philosophy.
Level B2Children'sCicely and Other StoriesIn a bustling dressmaking shop under winter's gray sky, young seamstress Cicely struggles with cold solitude and endless work, until a chance encounter with a kind-hearted visitor…
Level C1ClassicsCicelyIn the sun-drenched south of France, young Geneviève navigates the quiet struggles of family duty, social expectations, and longing for a more vibrant life beyond her modest world.
Level A2AdventureChunky, the Happy Hippo: His Many AdventuresDive into the muddy African river with Chunky, a joyful young hippo who navigates family life and river adventures, hiding from dangers while savoring the lush riverbed grass and d…
Level B2AdventureChums of the Camp FireFour adventurous boys bond over springtime frog hunting near their hometown, dreaming of bigger catches and hidden treasures.
Level B2AdventureChums in Dixie; or, The Strange Cruise of a MotorboatTwo young adventurers set out on a daring motorboat cruise through mysterious Florida swamps, where they encounter fierce locals and chase after a wild boy from a feared river trib…
Level B2HistoricalChronicles of the Schonberg-Cotta FamilyAmidst the stirring backdrop of the Reformation, a young girl chronicles her family's intimate ties to Martin Luther, revealing the struggles and nobility found not in castles or c…
Level C1ClassicsChronicles of the Canongate, 1st SeriesAmid financial ruin and revealed identity, a once-anonymous author turns to storytelling with candid reflections and vivid tales drawn from Scottish life, blending humor, tragedy,…
Level B2MysteryChronicles of Martin HewittA determined detective probes the mysterious murder of an artist found dead in his smoking-room, amid vandalism and stolen valuables.
Level C1RomanceChronicles of Dustypore: A Tale of Modern Anglo-Indian SocietyIn the harsh, unforgiving Sandy Tracts of British India, new colonial order clashes with fierce extremes of nature and culture, setting the stage for a gripping tale of power, soci…
Level B2Children'sChronicles of AvonleaIn a quiet village, Anne Shirley observes the slow, fifteen-year courtship of Ludovic Speed and Theodora Dix, blending gentle humor with heartfelt reflections on love, friendship,…
Level C1RomanceChronicle of the CidAn epic tale of Ruy Diaz, the legendary Cid Campeador, whose valor and cunning unite Christian knights and Moorish kings in medieval Spain’s fierce battles and chivalric honor.
Level B2MysteryChristopher Quarles: College Professor and Master DetectiveIn a serene London square, a seemingly peaceful death in a scholar’s study masks a puzzling mystery: a dead man surrounded by delicate ivory boxes and a rare sapphire.
Level C1HistoricalChristopher Crayon's Recollections: The Life and Times of the late James Ewing Ritchie as told by himselfStep back to 1837 East Anglia, where political corruption, fierce elections, and colorful characters define a turbulent era.
Level B2FantasyChristmas-Tree LandTwo children journey to a mysterious white castle nestled among endless fir trees in a high valley, where ancient roots and magical forests hint at secrets and adventures in a land…
Level B2Children'sChristmas-TideDiscover thoughtful guidance on choosing simple, durable toys that nurture creativity and self-activity in young children, with practical suggestions tailored to each stage from in…
Level B2Children'sChristmas, A Happy Time: A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young PersonsTwo sisters eagerly await their brothers’ return just before Christmas, navigating cold winds and dashed hopes with hopeful hearts and family warmth at Beech Grove.
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.