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 B2AdventureAir Service Boys Over the Rhine; Or, Fighting Above the CloudsAmid the perilous skies over wartime France, young aviators Tom and Jack await the return of their squadron after a daring night raid on German lines, facing the chilling reality o…
Level B2AdventureAir Service Boys Over the Enemy's Lines; Or, The German Spy's SecretTwo young American aviators stationed in war-torn France confront the shadowy threat of a cunning German spy lurking near their aviation camp, as they navigate the dangers and unce…
Level B2AdventureAir Service Boys Flying for Victory; Or, Bombing the Last German StrongholdTwo daring young American pilots take to the skies over the Argonne Forest in 1918, facing relentless German forces and deadly battles to turn the tide in the final push of World W…
Level B2AdventureAir MonsterIn a tense, secret mission, Lieutenant Serge Larko is tasked with piloting the cutting-edge XO5 on a non-stop flight to the United States to sabotage the powerful new American airs…
Level C1HistoricalAilsa Paige: A NovelA young man with a notorious past boldly confronts Colonel Arran in a tense drawing-room showdown, unraveling a story woven with scandal, defiance, and the shadows of war.
Level C1ClassicsAikensideIn a quarrelsome Devonshire village, Dr.
Level C1HistoricalAids to Reflection; and, The Confessions of an Inquiring SpiritExplore deep reflections on faith, morality, and reason as a Christian thinker challenges prevailing doubts and misconceptions, guiding readers toward a more thoughtful understandi…
Level C1AdventureAhead of the Show; Or, The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance AgentWhen a theater company’s advance agent fails, a determined young man from Boomville seizes the chance to prove himself and save the show—can he outwit the rival troupe and win his…
Level B2AdventureAhead of the ArmyAs distant cannon fire signals the outbreak of war along the Rio Grande, a young lieutenant and his fellow officers brace for the challenges ahead in a conflict that will shape the…
Level C1HistoricalAgnes of SorrentoIn sunlit Sorrento, a young woman’s story unfolds against the backdrop of ancient Italian landscapes and spiritual struggles, weaving dreams and history into a vivid portrait of fa…
Level C1HistoricalAgnes Sorel: A NovelStep back into fifteenth-century Paris, where ancient customs and fierce passions shape the lives of kings and commoners alike.
Level C1ClassicsAgnes GreyBorn into a modest parsonage with loving but limited means, a young woman navigates the challenges of family sacrifices and uncertain fortunes while yearning to glimpse the wider w…
Level C1HistoricalAgincourt: A Romance: The Works of G. P. R. James, Volume XXUnder a moonless sky, a lone rider navigates shadowed Hampshire roads, seeking shelter and companionship in a land where loyalty and deception entwine.
Level C1HistoricalAgesilausA young Spartan king faces a Persian threat by boldly taking the fight to Asia, commanding a small but determined force to defend Greek independence and challenge the mighty empire…
Level C1RomanceAgatha's Husband: A NovelAgatha Bowen, spirited and strong-willed, navigates the pressures of society and marriage proposals with laughter and defiance.
Level C1RomanceAgatha's AuntIn a shabby yet spirited boarding house, a vivid red-haired girl faces the disappointment of a lost tenant who finds their humble home less charming than promised.
Level B2MysteryAgatha WebbAt a lavish dance in Sutherlandtown, a sudden cry of "Murder!
Level C1ClassicsAgainst the TideIn a grand Ohio mansion, a wedding unites two ambitious souls intertwined with a powerful business empire on the brink of transformation.
Level C1ClassicsAgainst the GrainA solitary heir to a once-mighty lineage, Jean Des Esseintes wrestles with a fading family legacy and his own restless intellect amid the decaying grandeur of the Château de Lourps…
Level C2PoetryAgainst This AgeIn a surreal exploration of death and memory, a man discovers that his imagination reshapes reality itself, transforming familiar surroundings into a fluid world where desire and r…
Level B2Science FictionAgainst TetrarchTrapped on the brutal planet Tetrarch IV, where humans die young and endure slave labor in toxic mines, Rod Harrow confronts a haunting past and a mysterious ally, Mona Darlanan, w…
Level C1MysteryAgainst Odds: A Detective StoryA secret service agent arrives at the dazzling World's Fair, tasked with gaining access to its inner workings.
Level C2PoetryAfterwhilesJourney through tender reflections and serene landscapes where memories and longing intertwine, guiding you from bustling city streets to tranquil country retreats and beyond, into…
Level C1ClassicsAfterwards, and Other StoriesA brilliant man on a sunlit Riviera holiday receives a telegram that shatters his escape, forcing him to confront the sacrifices and quiet devotion of his overlooked wife back home…
Level B2ClassicsAfterwardsTrapped in a remote hut at dawn, two captives face a grim fate after a terrifying ordeal inside an ancient temple.
Level C2PoetryAfternoonMaturity deepens love amid the fading garden’s summer glow, as two souls find joy and repose in the quiet intensity of shared moments.
Level C1RomanceAftermath: Part second of "A Kentucky Cardinal"Amid tender exchanges over butterbeans and secret notes slipped through a goldfinch’s nest, a young couple navigates the sweet, delicate growth of their romance in the quiet charm…
Level C2PoetryAfterglowExplore a collection of reflective and evocative poems delving into themes of time, love, faith, and the soul’s journey, each piece offering a glimpse into moments of quiet contemp…
Level C1RomanceAfter the StormAs a fierce storm batters the Hudson Highlands, a young couple faces nature’s wrath and the tempest within their hearts, testing love and courage amid thunder and lightning’s wild…
Level C1RomanceAfter the PardonA woman’s quiet evening in Rome turns tense as love and longing stir beneath the moonlit piazza.
Level C1RomanceAfter the Divorce: A RomanceIn a dim room heavy with despair, Giovanna weeps over her husband's looming thirty-year sentence, fearing their family’s future will shatter forever.
Level C1ClassicsAfter a shadow, and other storiesA young boy chases his own shadow, sparking a reflection on life's pursuit of elusive goals and missed moments.
PoetryAfter Two Nights of the Ear-acheA haunting exploration of pain and reflection unfolds after two nights of relentless earache, capturing the raw intensity of suffering through evocative, lyrical poetry.
Level B2HistoricalAfter TapsIn a Baltimore apartment during the Civil War, a spirited young woman dreams of joining the Union troops, while a patriotic standard bearer returns home bearing hopes and challenge…
Level B2Children'sAfter Long Years and Other StoriesWhen a broken carriage strands a duchess and her children, a chance encounter with a determined stable-boy sets Alfred on a mission to help him fulfill his dream of becoming a whee…
Level B2Science FictionAfter London; Or, Wild EnglandAfter a mysterious event leaves London abandoned, nature reclaims the land, transforming fields into vast forests and swamps.
Level C1MysteryAfter DarkA traveling portrait-painter faces the devastating threat of losing his sight, forcing him into six months of enforced rest that risks poverty and hardship.
Level B2AdventureAfloat; or, Adventures on Watery TrailsA spirited Boy Scout troop, led by the resourceful Elmer, plans a thrilling late-summer adventure to reclaim their beloved outdoor freedom after a rainy, malaria-stricken season.
Level B2AdventureAfloat on the FloodAs relentless rains swell the Evergreen River, the small town of Carson braces for a devastating flood, forcing a group of adventurous boys to navigate rising waters, looming disas…
Level C1AdventureAfloat in the Forest; Or, A Voyage among the Tree-TopsTwo brothers, stripped of their ancestral estate by a cunning lawyer, vow to rebuild their fortunes from scratch.
Level C1AdventureAfloat at Last: A Sailor Boy's Log of His Life at SeaA young man faces the choice of profession amidst his father’s thoughtful counsel, ultimately drawn not to law, medicine, or clergy, but to the call of the sea.
Level C1AdventureAfloat and Ashore: A Sea TaleSet against the transformative early 19th-century American landscape, this sea tale weaves social change and nautical adventure, exploring the clash of old and new worlds through v…
Level C1PhilosophyAffirmationsExplore the enduring questions and moral complexities of life through thoughtful reflections that challenge accepted truths and invite you to discover your own personal affirmation…
Level C1AdventureAffair in ArabyIn the heart of Arabia, alliances shift like desert sands as a daring American joins a secret mission to crown Feisul, a noble claimant to the Arab throne, amidst political intrigu…
Level B2AdventureAfar in the ForestIn a wild, untamed forest on the edge of civilization, a determined family braves harsh wilderness and the threat of hostile forces to carve out a new home.
Level C1PhilosophyAesthetical and philosophical essaysExplore the profound philosophy of art, where beauty is the mind’s creation, transcending nature and revealing deeper truths.
Level C1PhilosophyAesthetical Essays of Friedrich SchillerExplore the philosophy of art as it elevates beauty beyond nature, revealing how art reflects the mind’s deepest truths and expresses humanity’s highest ideals.
Level C1PoetryAesthetic PoetryExplore a realm where poetry transcends time, blending medieval mysticism and romantic passion into an ethereal "earthly paradise.
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.