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 C1HistoricalThe history of a tame robinA young robin narrates his early life, revealing a world where birds cautiously observe their human benefactors and experience unexpected kindness.
Level C1Children'sThe history of Tabby, a favourite catA devoted mother cat named Tabby reflects on her playful youth and prepares to share the story of how she came to be cherished by her family, imparting wisdom and love to her curio…
Level C1RomanceThe history and adventures of the renowned Don QuixoteA deluded nobleman, inspired by chivalric tales, sets out on a quest with his loyal squire to revive knighthood and seek adventure, blurring the line between reality and imaginatio…
Level C1ClassicsThe hindered handIn the segregated South, a mysterious note passed between a white woman and a Black porter aboard a midnight train sparks a tense, forbidden connection.
Level B2Children'sThe high school rivalsAt Baxter High, new student James Bronson faces teasing and rivalry as he joins the prestigious Second Form, while the arrival of star athlete Bart Montgomery sparks competition an…
Level B2HistoricalThe hidden treasureIn 1527 Bridgewater, a kind-hearted baker supports a struggling family caught between old religious traditions and new beliefs, while his children face uncertain futures shaped by…
Level C1ClassicsThe hermit's ChristmasOn a remote mountain cave, a solitary hermit welcomes a weary Crusader and a ragtag band of strangers on Christmas Day, sharing a humble feast that challenges notions of hospitalit…
Level B2PoetryThe hermit thrushAmid blue hills and whispering pines, a solitary thrush sings in the twilight, evoking the serene beauty and gentle arrival of spring through vivid, lyrical imagery.
Level C1Children'sThe hermit of the forestIn the wild forest of Englewood, a solitary hermit named Honestus, broken by loss and exile, discovers two abandoned infants and must protect and nurture them amidst the wilderness…
Level B2ClassicsThe hermit of Turkey HollowIn a remote shanty, a hermit and a tramp debate life, death, and the unseen worlds beyond, where ghosts and souls take wing like moths and butterflies.
Level B2AdventureThe hermit hunter of the wildsIn a quiet farmhouse, young Tommy Talisker drifts into a world where firewood speaks of ancient trees and seasons past, hinting at adventures waiting beyond his modest life.
Level C1ClassicsThe heritage of unrestIn a merciless desert, a worn cavalryman faces death and sacrifice amid a desperate mission to track the elusive chief Cochise.
Level B2Children'sThe heiress of McGregorMarion McGregor returns to her ancestral home, burdened by family hardships and a legacy tied to leased lands and old traditions.
Level C1RomanceThe heiress of GreenhurstA fiery young gypsy woman from Granada navigates a harsh world, her wild beauty and untamed spirit set against the backdrop of the Alhambra’s ancient woods.
Level B2ClassicsThe heel of AchillesA sharp-witted twelve-year-old girl, Lydia, navigates life as an orphan whose family values her more as a symbol of loss than for who she truly is, challenging the expectations pla…
Level B2Children'sThe heart of an orphanAn orphan girl writes heartfelt letters to her unknown mother, sharing her struggles and hopes from a crowded Christian asylum where love is scarce and the pain of separation linge…
Level B2ClassicsThe heart of Happy HollowIn a bustling Negro quarter, Robinson Asbury rises from bootblack to barber and lawyer, becoming a powerful community leader who defies expectations by staying true to his roots.
Level C1ClassicsThe haunts of menAmid the quiet farmland, a sudden flood of soldiers descends, transforming peaceful fields into a battleground on the brink of war.
Level B2MysteryThe haunter of the ringA man haunted by the dark legacy of his ancestor faces terrifying attempts on his life by his seemingly gentle wife, plunging him into a chilling mystery of past crimes and superna…
Level C1FantasyThe haunter of the darkAn artist and writer obsessed with the occult moves into a historic Providence home, where mysterious legends surround a dark, windowless church steeple.
Level C1MysteryThe haunted houseIn the quiet English county of Sussex stands Rackham, a centuries-old squire’s house steeped in history and inhabited by the scholarly widower Henry Maple and his son.
Level C2PoetryThe harp-weaver, and other poemsExplore a vivid tapestry of emotions and nature’s cycles through poems that weave hunger, grief, beauty, and the passage of seasons into haunting, heartfelt verses inviting reflect…
Level C1Children'sThe happy villagers: Embellished with an engravingA retired tradesman discovers a peaceful valley where cottages thrive in harmony, and an elderly villager finds joy in family and simple rural life despite age and toil.
Level B2AdventureThe happy sixSix spirited children forge a new club, The Happy Six, as they face the exciting possibility of a sea voyage from sunny California to Europe, blending adventure with friendship and…
Level B2Children'sThe happiness of HazelbrookIn the humble village of Hazelbrook, a widowed mother and her children face daily struggles with courage and faith, as young Katie learns the true meaning of duty, patience, and th…
Level C1RomanceThe happiest time of their livesA young woman clings to the thrilling anticipation of a secret meeting with a man whose silence speaks volumes, as the delicate dance of budding romance unfolds within the elegant…
Level B2RomanceThe handsome BrandonsAmidst the fading glory of Castle Brandon and the shadow of the fierce De Lacys of Angry, a struggling family clings to their ancestral lands and secrets.
Level B2MysteryThe hand of powerAmid the haunting desolation of Dartmoor, a tense journey through storm and shadows introduces Betty Carew to mysterious figures and dark secrets lurking beyond Princetown.
Level C1ClassicsThe guests of HerculesA novice bids farewell to the convent garden that has shaped her entire youth, wrestling with fear and nostalgia as she steps into an uncertain future.
Level C1ClassicsThe green overcoatA shy, absent-minded psychologist attends a bustling party only to discover his cherished green overcoat has vanished, setting him on a curious journey through social awkwardness a…
Level C1Science FictionThe great white way;: a record of an unusual voyage of discovery, and some romantic love affairs amid strange surroundingsA young dreamer with a seafaring legacy sets out on a daring expedition to the South Pole, convinced of a hidden, fertile land beyond the icy barrier.
Level C1HistoricalThe great masters of Russian literature in the nineteenth centuryDive into the vivid world of 19th-century Russian literature, where a rebellious young writer breaks free from imitation to craft haunting tales inspired by folklore and legend, ca…
Level C1HistoricalThe great inquiryIn a parliamentary inquiry marked by sharp wit and fierce debates, industrialists and farmers clash over Britain's economic future, exposing the tensions beneath political politene…
Level C1RomanceThe great amuletA secret wedding in a quiet Swiss town binds two souls on the brink of a journey to far-off India, where love faces the trials of distance, culture, and duty.
Level B1MysteryThe great airport mysteryTwo brothers visit a new airport near their hometown, only to witness a daring and dangerously erratic airplane landing that hints at a thrilling mystery unfolding from the skies a…
Level C1MysteryThe great Skene mysteryIn the fog-shrouded streets of Clapham, a faded former dancer known as Mother Carey schemes to ensnare a young man, setting the stage for a tangled mystery of greed, secrets, and d…
Level B2AdventureThe great Pike's Peak rushAs thousands swarm toward the Pike's Peak gold fields in 1859, young Terry Richards faces a tempting choice between the hard life of the family ranch and the wild promise of striki…
Level C1ClassicsThe great Galeoto; Folly or saintliness: two plays done from the verse of José Echegaray into English prose by Hannah LynchA mathematician-turned-dramatist explores timeless human conflicts through powerful Spanish plays that challenge audiences to confront life's pressing moral dilemmas with intensity…
Level C1ClassicsThe gray wolf's daughterA young, unorthodox doctor is summoned to the enigmatic Cranstoun Chase estate to diagnose a mysterious patient, stepping into a world of old family secrets, eerie legends, and hig…
Level B2AdventureThe gray godBroke and stranded in the tropical Fiji Islands, Bob Stanton faces desperation and danger amid vibrant island life.
Level B2MysteryThe gray brotherhoodChester Fay, an underworld prince, is thrust into a deadly mystery when a high-profile diplomat is found murdered under strange circumstances.
Level C1ClassicsThe gospel of freedomAn artist defies critics with his daring portrayal of a woman immersed in water, capturing the essence of light and life in a Paris studio.
Level C1ClassicsThe golden windmill, and other storiesStep into a collection where timeless human emotions unfold in modern settings—from fried-fish shops to public houses—each story crafted with the precision of a master artisan, pro…
Level C1PoetryThe golden whales of California, and other rhymes in the American languageDive into a vivid celebration of California's landscapes and culture through spirited rhymes that capture the state's youthful energy, artistic promise, and the pioneering spirit o…
Level C1HistoricalThe golden verses of PythagorasExplore the timeless wisdom of ancient Pythagorean teachings through poetic translations that reveal profound insights into destiny, providence, and the human soul’s journey.
Level B2AdventureThe golden story bookIn the tense days before Waterloo, young Jean le Grand must race against time to warn the English General of a deadly trap, facing danger, betrayal, and impossible odds on a desper…
Level C1Children'sThe golden spears, and other fairy talesTwo children living near a mountain called the "Golden Spear" cherish their home and its wild birds, playing in meadows and climbing heather-clad slopes while awaiting the return o…
Level B1Children'sThe golden ruleIn a charming rural setting, young Charley Monson exemplifies kindness and politeness, showing how simple acts of goodness brighten lives and inspire others.
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.