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 B2ClassicsThe light: An educational pageantA city struggles to balance its budget, reluctantly planning cuts to education, when a mysterious figure named Education appears, carrying a symbolic lamp that promises guidance th…
Level B2AdventureThe life story of a squirrelA young squirrel named Scud faces his first daring climbing lesson, only to find his family’s safety threatened by lurking human enemies.
Level C1AdventureThe life of a celebrated buccaneerA daring buccaneer rules a rugged island fortress, turning treacherous coves into bustling ports teeming with ships, plunder, and peril.
Level C1ClassicsThe life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentlemanA quirky and philosophical narrator reflects on how his parents' distracted minds before his birth shaped his unique character and fortunes, inviting readers into a whimsical explo…
Level C1AdventureThe life and adventures of a catExplore the curious nature of cats, whose mysterious blend of solemnity and mischief defies all other animals.
Level C1RomanceThe letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 2 (of 2) 1845-1846Two poets exchange intimate letters filled with wit, affection, and the trials of love, revealing a tender bond that blossoms through words despite distance and isolation.
Level C1ClassicsThe letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846Discover the intimate and heartfelt exchange between two poetic souls as they share admiration, critique, and the blossoming of a profound connection through letters that reveal th…
Level C1ClassicsThe letters of Richard Ford, 1797-1858Explore the vibrant world of 19th-century Spain through the rich letters of an art connoisseur and passionate traveler navigating political intrigue, cultural treasures, and person…
Level C1ClassicsThe letters of Madame de SévignéStep into the refined world of 17th-century France through intimate letters filled with wit, tender affection, and vivid portraits of society, revealing the delicate balance of fam…
Level B2Science FictionThe legacyIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the last man walks through the ruins of civilization, collecting remnants of humanity’s past to preserve a legacy for those who might come after.
Level B2MysteryThe leading ladyA young actress entangled in the scandal of her fiancé’s murder charges finds herself shadowed by mysterious followers.
Level C1MysteryThe lazy detectiveA famously lazy detective faces pressure to clean up his crime-ridden division or lose his job, all while a suave, untouchable crime lord pulls strings from the shadows.
Level B2AdventureThe last spike, and other railroad storiesA determined young man with no connections arrives to work on the mammoth task of building the first Pacific Railroad, proving his grit and skill amidst fierce challenges and stric…
Level B2ClassicsThe last crashA seasoned pilot haunted by fate shares a chilling tale of a crash that defies explanation, where every detail seems predestined and death wears a mysterious, almost serene smile.
Level C1AdventureThe last buccaneerIn 1708 Bristol, two friends encounter a mysterious seafarer with a curious treasure, drawing them into a world of intrigue and adventure where the line between merchant and pirate…
Level B2ClassicsThe land of mistIn post-war London, a grieving but fiery Professor Challenger and his strong-willed daughter Enid join forces with journalist Edward Malone to investigate mysterious spiritual phen…
Level B2AdventureThe land beyond the mistTrapped in relentless rain and mist, pioneer Tom Cameron leads a weary caravan through Oregon's treacherous wilderness, battling nature and rising tensions as hopes for a promised…
Level C1RomanceThe lady's mileAmidst the dazzling crowds and high-stepping horses of the Lady’s Mile, a sharp observer glimpses the restless ambitions and hidden struggles beneath London’s glittering facade.
Level C1ClassicsThe lady of the basement flatAfter her sister’s wedding, Evelyn Wastneys feels like a ghost of herself, trapped between past and present in an old Irish country home.
Level A2PoetryThe knife-grinder's budget of pictures & poetry, for boys and girlsDiscover a charming collection of pictures and poetry crafted to delight boys and girls, offering a colorful glimpse into the world of a knife-grinder and his budget of stories and…
Level B2HistoricalThe kings and queens of England, with other poemsExplore the turbulent reigns of England’s monarchs from William the Norman to Bloody Mary, blending history and verse to reveal power struggles, legendary figures, and the human st…
Level C1RomanceThe king's ringAmidst the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War, a young surgeon abandons his ecclesiastical studies to join the battlefield, navigating loyalty, love, and survival in a world torn by…
Level B2Children'sThe key to Betsy's heartAfter losing her family and home, young Betsy embarks on a daunting journey to live with distant relatives in a grand, unfamiliar house.
Level C1PoetryThe juvenile forget-me-notIn a society where work defines worth, a country lady’s fervent quest for gentility clashes with the realities of labor and social rank, revealing the fickle nature of fashion, sta…
Level C1ClassicsThe justice of GideonIn a small Northern California town, a dedicated judge balances his ambitions, a budding political career, and a complicated past as a young woman arrives with a secret tied to a s…
Level C1HistoricalThe just stewardIn the vibrant, multicultural hub of ancient Alexandria during the vintage season, diverse peoples and traders converge amid the scars of past sieges.
Level B1Children'sThe jumping kangaroo and the apple butter catKerchug, a proud leap frog, faces a daring challenge from Jumping Jehosophat, a boastful kangaroo known for his incredible jumps.
Level C1ClassicsThe jugglerIn a remote mountain cove, a mysterious stranger arrives to perform the first-ever juggling show, captivating a skeptical and curious community unused to such spectacle.
Level C1ClassicsThe isle of liesA daring scholar ventures to a remote Abyssinian island to uncover ancient manuscripts guarded by cloistered monks, only to find himself caught in a web of secrets, superstition, a…
Level B2Science FictionThe isle of dead shipsA mysterious floating island formed from countless shipwrecks drifts in the Atlantic, defying maps and tempting fate.
Level B2AdventureThe island pirate, a tale of the MississippiA traveler seeking adventure journeys through the Mississippi valley, encountering a notorious pirate imprisoned in a state penitentiary.
Level C1AdventureThe island of the stairsA sailor discovers the body of Sir Geoffrey, who has taken his own life under mysterious circumstances, and uncovers a letter addressed to Mistress Lucy.
Level C1Science FictionThe island of anarchy: A fragment of history in the 20th centuryIn a future England, a youthful government seizes control to restore order by enforcing harsh justice and reshaping society, confronting criminals and anarchists with ruthless seve…
Level C1Science FictionThe island of Doctor MoreauStranded after a shipwreck, a lone survivor drifts for days before uncovering a mysterious island where unnatural experiments blur the lines between man and beast.
Level C1AdventureThe islandStranded on a remote Pacific island, a man of society confronts the stark contrast between his bustling London life and the raw forces of nature, forcing him to question the very f…
Level C1Science FictionThe iron heelIn a world teetering between revolution and oppression, a fierce battle unfolds against the rise of a ruthless oligarchy known as the Iron Heel.
Level C1MysteryThe innocence of Father BrownA celebrated detective pursues the elusive master criminal Flambeau, whose audacious disguises and cunning crimes baffle Europe’s best.
Level C1Science FictionThe inner houseA groundbreaking discovery promises to reshape humanity’s future, stirring global anticipation and speculation—from artificial food to instantaneous travel or unprecedented power.
Level C1PoetryThe infant moralistExplore a vivid journey through human virtues and vices, where themes like courage, folly, and revenge unfold in striking poetic form, inviting readers to reflect on the moral fabr…
Level B2MysteryThe indiscretions of a lady's maidA sharp-witted lady’s maid with a keen eye for secrets navigates the intrigues and scandals hidden behind the elegant façades of English high society, where every household hides w…
Level C1PoetryThe inalienable heritage, and other poemsImmerse yourself in evocative Irish landscapes and heartfelt ballads where nature’s wild beauty and human courage intertwine.
Level C1ClassicsThe illustrious Dr. MathéusIn a quaint Alsatian town, the eccentric Dr.![Cover of The humour of Germany by Hans [Editor] Müller-Casenov](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafdn35a8p2c739itkkg.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe humour of GermanyExplore the intricate landscape of German humor through diverse regional dialects, historical influences, and cultural nuances that shape a nation's unique comedic spirit.
Level C1MysteryThe house without a keyIn the sun-drenched beauty of Hawaii, old family grudges simmer beneath the idyllic surface as Miss Minerva Winterslip navigates the clash between tradition and tropical temptation…
Level B1Children'sThe house with the silver doorTwo children named Silverboy and Silvergirl embark on a magical quest through forests and mountains to find a silver door for their parents, encountering a witty wizard squirrel an…
Level B2MysteryThe house on the marshAn eighteen-year-old governess arrives at a mysterious Norfolk estate to teach a young girl, only to find her employer and his household far stranger and more complex than expected…
Level B1MysteryThe house on the cliffFive adventurous high school boys set out to explore the eerie, abandoned house perched on a cliff where a mysterious murder occurred, uncovering strange lights and chilling tales…
Level C1HistoricalThe house of the wizardAmid the grandeur and hospitality of Mohun’s Ottery, a Devon fortress home to the noble Carew family during Henry VIII’s reign, tensions rise with political intrigue and personal t…
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.