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 C1HistoricalA History of English LiteratureExplore the evolution of English literature through its social context, key authors, and timeless works, gaining insight into both the historical backdrop and the artistic expressi…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Elizabethan LiteratureExplore the vibrant world of Elizabethan literature through a meticulous, firsthand study of its authors and works, tracing its origins and evolution with rich critical insight and…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Chinese LiteratureExplore the rich tapestry of Chinese literature from mythical origins to the flourishing of early states, revealing a civilization where ancient cosmogony, feudal rivalry, and cult…
Level C1HistoricalA History of Bohemian LiteratureExplore the rich yet often overlooked evolution of Bohemian literature, deeply intertwined with the nation’s turbulent history and cultural revival, revealing the struggles and tri…
Level C1HistoricalA History of American Literature Since 1870Explore the transformative period in American literature following the Civil War, when writers forged a distinct national voice, breaking from imitation to create works deeply root…
Level C1PoetryA Hidden Life and Other PoemsA young farmer embraces the pride and promise of his ancestral land, discovering the profound beauty in simple toil and the cycles of life and death beneath the sunlit fields.
Level C1HistoricalA Heroine of France: The Story of Joan of ArcAmidst the despair of a France overshadowed by English conquest and a slumbering king, whispers of a mysterious young maiden claiming divine purpose stir hope.
Level C1ClassicsA Hero of the PenIn a thriving Mississippi town, a poised young woman and a determined suitor navigate the tensions of love, ambition, and impending separation as he prepares for a pivotal European…
Level C1AdventureA Hero of TiconderogaIn the quiet wilderness near Fort Ticonderoga, a solitary hunter named Job Carpenter encounters Seth Beeman and his family journeying through the snow, revealing ties of friendship…
Level B2AdventureA Hero of RomanceTrapped indoors on a gloomy half-holiday, young Bertie Bailey faces the tedious punishment of copying lines from Paradise Lost under the watchful eye of a stern usher.
Level C1HistoricalA Hero of Our TimeIn the rugged Caucasus Mountains, a mysterious officer with a shadowed past crosses paths with a new traveler, revealing a world of harsh landscapes, cultural clashes, and the enig…
Level B2AdventureA Hero of Liége: A Story of the Great WarAs Europe teeters on the brink of war, Kenneth Amory navigates the tense atmosphere of a family business divided by loyalty and suspicion.
Level C1ClassicsA Hero and Some Other FolksExplore evolving ideals of heroism through essays that challenge classical icons like Ulysses and Achilles, revealing the deeper human need to find nobility and strength in modern…
Level C1PoetryA Hermit of Carmel, and Other PoemsIn a rugged wilderness where faith battles doubt, a weary hermit and a young knight cross paths, each seeking solace and redemption amid spiritual trials and looming dangers.
Level C1RomanceA Heart-Song of To-day (Disturbed by Fire from the 'Unruly Member'): A NovelIn a world of charm and intrigue, a beautiful widow plots to ensnare a captivating captain torn between fleeting romances and a sincere offer of marriage, while a rival’s fiery pre…
Level C1ClassicsA Hazard of New Fortunes — CompleteAmid the bustling streets of 1889 New York, a young literary couple navigates the challenges of modest living and social change during a citywide street-car strike, revealing the h…
Level B2RomanceA Hardy NorsemanA young Englishwoman, restless and unsatisfied with her sheltered life, embarks on a voyage to Norway seeking renewal amid the majestic fjords.
Level B2ClassicsA Happy BoyIn a humble peasant home, young Oyvind’s laughter fills the air, but a chance encounter with a cunning little girl leads him to trade his beloved goat for a twisted bun—setting the…
Level C1PoetryA Handy Guide for Beggars: Especially Those of the Poetic Fraternity: Being Sundry Explorations, Made While Afoot and Penniless in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These Adventures Convey and Illustrate the Rules of Beggary for Poets and Some Others.Journey through the American South as a penniless poet, relying on wit, verse, and the kindness of strangers while living by a unique code of beggary.
Level C1AdventureA Gunner Aboard the "Yankee": From the Diary of Number Five of the After Port Gun (Russell Doubleday): The Yarn of the Cruise and Fights of the Naval Reserves in the Spanish-American WarExperience the gripping journey of the New York Naval Reserves aboard the auxiliary cruiser "Yankee" as they transition from civilians to sailors, facing the challenges and camarad…
Level B2ClassicsA Guest at the Ludlow, and Other StoriesStep inside the walls of Ludlow Street Jail, where security is absolute and every inmate retires at the same hour.
Level C1ClassicsA Group of Noble DamesIn a grand manor in Wessex, a young heiress faces a bitter family dispute over a proposed marriage to a man deemed unsuitable by her father.
Level C1ClassicsA Group of Eastern Romances and Stories from the Persian, Tamil and UrduDive into a rich tapestry of Eastern tales blending everyday life with magic, jinn, and enchanted palaces.
Level C1ClassicsA Greek-English Lexicon to the New TestamentExplore the rich linguistic heritage of the New Testament with a detailed Greek-English lexicon, illuminating the original meanings behind sacred texts and revealing the profound w…
Level B2ClassicsA Greek Primer: For Beginners in New Testament GreekMaster the essentials of New Testament Greek with a clear, step-by-step guide that covers the alphabet, accents, breathings, and declensions, designed especially for beginners seek…
Level C1ClassicsA Great SuccessA rising lecturer's sharp portraits of political figures ignite London’s intellectual circles, drawing acclaim, rivalry, and a whirlwind of invitations that test the balance betwee…
Level C1ClassicsA Great Man: A FrolicIn Victorian London, Henry Knight, a dedicated draper’s manager, pours his passion into letters fighting social injustices, but when urgent matters arise, he faces baffling obstacl…
Level B2Children'sA Great Emergency and Other TalesFour siblings, led by resourceful Rupert, turn a sleepy life lively with lessons on courage and quick thinking from an old leather-bound manual, preparing for any emergency—from fi…
Level C1RomanceA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IIIA man haunted by worldly doubts seeks a secret marriage to bind him and his beloved beyond any power that might separate them, challenging the true meaning of love and trust in a s…
Level C1RomanceA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IIAt Castle Innisfail, sharp wit and hidden passions collide as Lord Fotheringay debates Irish history with an austere historian, while secrets and confessions stir between Edmund Ai…
Level C1ClassicsA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume I, II and III: CompleteThree friends debate the nature of women and hope while sharing tales of rural Ireland, blending sharp wit with reflections on society, love, and the struggles of everyday life in…
Level C1ClassicsA Gray Eye or So. In Three Volumes—Volume IThree friends debate the nature of women amid the rugged Irish hills, weaving tales of loyalty, secrets, and hope.
Level C1Children'sA Grandmother's RecollectionsA spirited teenager braces for the arrival of her formidable grandmother, expecting strict discipline but finding herself caught in playful chaos and unexpected warmth.
Level C1ClassicsA Grammar of Colloquial Chinese, as Exhibited in the Shanghai DialectExplore the unique sounds and tones of the Shanghai dialect through a detailed study of its alphabet, pronunciation, and word groupings, revealing the rich linguistic character dis…
Level C1ClassicsA Good-For-Nothing: 1876A delicate yet determined youth defies parental expectations and societal norms as he navigates his unusual path toward greatness, torn between dreams of military glory, literary f…
Level B2ClassicsA Good SamaritanA young theological student with a charming, carefree spirit struggles to balance his promising career with the pull of friendship and unexpected challenges on the bustling streets…
Level C1PoetryA Golfing Idyll; Or, The Skipper's Round with the Deil On the Links of St. AndrewsOn the storied links of St Andrews, an old caddie known as the Skipper recounts a vivid, animated tale of an extraordinary encounter with the Devil himself, blending rugged Scottis…
Level B2ClassicsA Golden Venture: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 11.A humble family’s ordinary breakfast turns extraordinary when a mysterious letter reveals an unexpected inheritance, sparking a wave of excitement and suspicion in their close-knit…
Level C1RomanceA Golden Book of VeniceIn 16th-century Venice, beneath sunlit skies and amidst grand churches, a vibrant city of art, power, and mystery awakens, where noble families, artists, and clergy gather in a wor…
Level C1ClassicsA Girton GirlIn a sunlit Guernsey hotel garden, three friends—an artistic American, his English wife, and their rugged Scottish cousin—navigate the paradoxes of love, ambition, and societal exp…
Level B2ClassicsA Girl of the Plains CountryA spirited young girl embarks on a rugged journey across the vast plains with her new guardians, discovering the harsh beauty and unexpected challenges of frontier life.
Level C1Children'sA Girl of the PeopleIn the gritty streets of Liverpool, Bet, a spirited newspaper girl, wrestles with family strife and harsh realities, determined to prove her independence while clinging to the smal…
Level B2ClassicsA Girl of the North: A Story of London and CanadaA renowned naturalist embraces the wild beauty of Canada, building a life filled with love and nature’s fierce allure.
Level B2Children'sA Girl of the LimberlostElnora Comstock escapes a harsh home life and sets out on a determined journey to high school, facing judgment and hardship as she seeks knowledge and a better future beyond the Li…
Level C1AdventureA Girl of the KlondikeIn the frozen wilderness of Alaska, gold fever drives men to desperate cruelty and fierce competition.
Level C1HistoricalA Girl of the CommuneIn a respected English town, a prominent solicitor's family faces tensions as his eldest daughter returns from Girton College with radical ideas about women's roles, challenging th…
Level B2RomanceA Girl of VirginiaOn a crisp Virginia morning, a spirited young woman and a visiting student share a fleeting moment beneath the university’s historic Rotunda, where pride, place, and unspoken secre…
Level B2Children'sA Girl of To-dayTwo siblings reunite after months apart, stepping into the gentle rhythms of village life where friendship, family ties, and youthful adventures await.
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.