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 C1PoetryThe poetical works of Janet Little, the Scotch milkmaidExplore heartfelt reflections and vivid dialogues in verse, from hopeful musings to elegies and epistles, capturing the everyday and extraordinary moments of 18th-century Scottish…
Level C1PoetryThe poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of parables, ballads, and poems that explore nature, faith, and the human spirit through vivid imagery and heartfelt reflection.
Level C2PoetryThe poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 1Explore a soul’s yearning for divine connection through vivid, introspective poems that traverse faith, nature, and human experience.
Level C1PoetryThe poetic EddaDive into the ancient Norse world with vivid poems exploring gods, heroes, and cosmic creation, blending myth, wisdom, and drama from a timeless oral tradition preserved in stunnin…![Cover of The poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed. [selected] by Winthrop Mackworth Praed](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafecj5a8p2c739itrn0.webp)
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed. [selected]Witty and graceful verses capture the spirit and satire of high society, reflecting the humor and manners of a bygone era with sharp wordplay and clever insight.
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Thomas Gordon HakeExplore a rich tapestry of meditative stanzas that blend deep composure with the ecstasy of dreams, revealing enduring poetic passion shaped by decades of careful intention and pro…
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Mary HowittDelve into heartfelt poems that blend gentle sympathy with vivid imagination, inspired by nature, faith, and quiet domestic life.
Level B2PoetryThe poems of LeopardiA brilliant young poet haunted by melancholy and physical frailty wrestles with the suffocating monotony of his provincial life and the bitter realities of unfulfilled genius, seek…
Level C1PoetryThe poems of Heine; CompleteExplore the vivid world of Heinrich Heine through over 20,000 verses that preserve his original rhythms and reveal both his charming and challenging poetic voice, from intimate min…
Level C1FantasyThe poems of Edgar Allan PoeDive into haunting verses that echo a life shadowed by loss, ambition, and misunderstood genius, where melancholy meets a poignant sweetness that stirs the soul and reveals the dar…
Level C1ClassicsThe pocket George BorrowJourney through vivid landscapes and diverse cultures as you explore the intriguing customs, tales, and travels of Gypsies, Welsh hills, and Spanish adventures, all distilled into…
Level B2Children'sThe play that wonTwo schoolboy baseball players face friendship and financial trouble when Hal needs urgent help to avoid harsh school punishment.
Level C1ClassicsThe plant-lore & garden-craft of ShakespeareDiscover the rich botanical world woven through Shakespeare’s works, revealing his deep passion for plants and gardening alongside his literary genius.
Level C1ClassicsThe place called DagonWhen the town’s reclusive Westcott urgently summons Doctor Dreeme at midnight, he ventures into a shadowed world of isolation and secrets that the wary farmers of Marlborough avoid…
Level C1ClassicsThe pitAmid the bustling Chicago wheat pit, ambition and intrigue collide as Laura Dearborn and her companions navigate a world where fortunes hinge on high-stakes speculation and the dra…
Level B2AdventureThe pirate's goldA seasoned adventurer retraces a perilous mountain path in the Scottish Highlands by night, guided only by the sound of stones tossed ahead, as a mysterious treasure discovered off…
Level B2MysteryThe pirate sharkA determined young mechanic is swept into an unexpected Pacific voyage aboard a millionaire’s yacht, where mystery and adventure await on the enigmatic island of Tringanu.
Level B2ClassicsThe pioneerA seasoned colonel rides through California’s rugged foothills, witnessing the fading echoes of the Gold Rush and the relentless struggles of mule drivers on dusty mountain roads,…
Level B1Children'sThe picnic partyDuring a summer visit to the countryside, city children Josephine and Edward discover the joys and challenges of outdoor adventures, where Josephine’s tiring habit tests her new fr…
Level C1ClassicsThe photodramaExplore the birth and evolution of the motion picture as a powerful art form, revealing the techniques and philosophy behind silent drama and its rise from simple pantomime to a gl…
Level C1ClassicsThe phantoms of the foot-bridge: 1895A wary traveler crosses a fragile foot-bridge haunted by restless spirits near a graveyard, where local tales of ghosts and eerie encounters stir unease.
Level C1AdventureThe phantom tracker; or, The prisoner of the hill caveIn a scorching wilderness where silence reigns, a lone Mexican tracker rides with deadly precision and a mysterious past.
Level C1ClassicsThe phantom of Bogue Holauba: 1911A man navigating the mysterious Mississippi delta encounters a haunting, luminous figure on the riverbank—an apparition that stirs fear in his guide and unease in himself as he app…
Level B2MysteryThe phantom hunter; or, love after deathIn a Kentucky frontier settlement, a young man is condemned for the arson and murder of his uncle, despite his honorable reputation.
Level B2FantasyThe perverse ErseIn a quiet Irish pub, an anthropology professor reveals a haunting encounter with a leprechaun, challenging centuries of folklore with a chilling firsthand account that blurs the l…
Level C1MysteryThe perfume of the lady in blackIn the shadow of a somber church, the quiet wedding of Robert Darzac and Mathilde Stangerson stirs uneasy memories of a deadly mystery and a vanished enemy.
Level C1Science FictionThe people of the ruinsAwakening to an eerily silent flat and a day that feels strangely off, Jeremy Tuft faces the unsettling aftermath of a brewing English revolution.
Level B2Children'sThe pennantA summer on Grandfather Sprague’s farm offers a boy a world of adventure, from fishing on Six Town Pond to playful challenges with his lively grandfather.
Level C1ClassicsThe pelicansOrphaned sisters face an uncertain future after their mother’s untimely death, as a determined family friend steps in to provide care and stability amid whispers of lost heritage a…![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 4] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafhmnla8p2c739iuhu0.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 4]In a quiet village, the sudden death of Matthias Boryna sends shockwaves through his family and neighbors, revealing the harsh realities of rural life and the fragile bonds that ho…![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 3] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da93h2dnmvfc73bil250.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 3]As spring awakens a sleepy rural landscape, the lives of villagers stir with the season’s promise and hardship.![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 2] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da93gt5nmvfc73bil220.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 2]As winter tightens its icy grip, a rural village braces against howling winds and creeping darkness, revealing the harsh beauty and looming struggles of peasant life amid nature’s…![Cover of The peasants, [vol. 1] by Władysław Stanisław Reymont](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da938glnmvfc73biktag.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe peasants, [vol. 1]In a tranquil autumnal village, a determined woman faces the harsh realities of winter without work or shelter, while the land and its people carry on beneath the vast sky, reveali…
Level B2Children'sThe pearl of patienceA young boy learns the true meaning of patience as he struggles to untie a stubborn knot and master his lessons, discovering that perseverance leads to success and joy in everyday…
Level B2Children'sThe pearl of charityFrank Jocelyn, once proud and prosperous, now faces hardship after his father's death and financial ruin.
Level B2AdventureThe pearl divers and Crusoes of the Sargasso SeaIn the eerie, weed-entangled Sargasso Sea, bold English youths and mysterious castaways navigate a silent, treacherous ocean filled with lost ships, hidden secrets, and haunting ec…
Level C1ClassicsThe passionate yearA young Cambridge graduate begins a new life as a schoolmaster at Millstead, stepping into a world of old traditions and quiet mysteries.
Level C1PoetryThe parted family and other poemsPoignant poems explore grief, love, and loss, offering heartfelt tributes to departed friends and family while reflecting on sorrow and hope through deeply personal and emotional v…
Level C1PoetryThe palace of fantasyEnter a wondrous palace where Fantasy reigns, guiding visitors through nature’s marvels, art’s grandeur, literature’s wisdom, and science’s wonders.
Level C1ClassicsThe painted swanIn a stately English boudoir, a gathering of aristocrats and acquaintances reveals complex social dynamics where kindness, deception, and personal struggles intertwine.
Level B2Science FictionThe outlaw of TornIn 13th-century England, a bold challenge to King Henry III ignites a fierce power struggle, setting the stage for the mysterious visored horseman and a tale of revenge and lost ro…
Level B2ClassicsThe outcastOn the rugged island of Grimön, a devoted couple wrestle with harsh realities: a stubborn husband clings to farming barren land while his wife yearns for the sea’s promise of fortu…
Level C1AdventureThe other halfAn enigmatic elderly man hires a pilot for a swift air journey across the West, driven by a restless search tied to a mysterious half coin and a deep aversion to women.
Level C1Children'sThe other Miller girlIn a quaint New England village, Anna Miller navigates life in the shadow of her celebrated sister, known only as "the other Miller girl.
Level B2Children'sThe orphan niecesAmid schoolroom rivalries and tender friendships, two orphaned nieces navigate the challenges of duty, affection, and the longing for home during the tense days before an important…
Level C1Children'sThe oriental story bookIn a timeless kingdom where Queen Phantasie spreads joy among mortals, her daughter Märchen faces a chilling change: once welcomed, now shunned by those she loves.
Level B2Children'sThe optimistA young boy, left in the care of a strict and unfamiliar family, struggles to find comfort amid cold rooms, strange children, and awkward meals.
Level C1HistoricalThe open seaJourney through pivotal moments in history, from ancient Rome to the American Civil War, as powerful figures grapple with revolution, fate, and the weight of leadership, culminatin…
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.