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 C1AdventureThe Winds of ChanceIn a rugged frontier town, a crafty gambler spins tales and shells, drawing a colorful crowd and daring newcomers to test their luck amid whispers of a gold rush and the promise of…
Level B2RomanceThe Window-GazerCaught in a mysterious coastal fog, Professor Spence encounters an enigmatic woman and a strange, ageless boy at a secluded wharf, setting the stage for an uncanny romance amid shi…
Level C1RomanceThe Winding StairA young man returns to England seeking answers about his estranged father's mysterious past, challenging a seasoned lawyer who once handled the elder Ravenel’s affairs.
Level B2AdventureThe Wind-JammersA young boy working in a shipyard during wartime becomes entangled in the mysterious presence of a solemn, enigmatic man whose influence stirs conflict and intrigue among workers a…
Level B2MysteryThe Wind in the Rose-Bush, and Other Stories of the SupernaturalIn a quiet village accessible only by ferry, Rebecca returns to reclaim her niece from a mysterious second wife, stirring unease and whispered secrets among the townsfolk.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wind BlowethA boy’s fourteenth birthday leads him on a solitary adventure through a lush Irish glen, where ancient ruins and quiet graves whisper stories of a fading world.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wind Before the DawnUnder the relentless Kansas sun, a determined fourteen-year-old girl tends to her cattle while facing the prospect of her family’s land being sold and a life-changing move.
Level C1PoetryThe Wind Among the ReedsJourney into the mystical world of the Sidhe, ancient Irish faeries who ride the winds and blur the line between madness and wisdom, as folklore and enchantment weave through tales…
Level C1FantasyThe WillowsA canoe journey plunges into the eerie Danube marshes, a shifting world of willows and water where the wind whispers of ancient magic and untold secrets.
Level B2AdventureThe Willoughby CaptainsAt Willoughby School, the festive air buzzes with anticipation as boys prepare for the big sports events, while young Cusack proudly parades his naval father.
Level C1ClassicsThe Willing Horse: A NovelAmid post-war tensions, a determined Scottish landlord and radical, Tom Birnie, navigates local traditions, social upheaval, and personal convictions in a community resistant to ch…
Level B2Children'sThe William Henry LettersA chance encounter with a kind-hearted vegetable cart driver leads to a journey into the warm, simple life of the countryside, where stories unfold through letters capturing the ch…
Level B2MysteryThe Wiles of the WickedA young man, battling a mysterious eye disease and haunted by a shadowy past, plunges into a shadowy world of secrets and intrigue.
Level C1AdventureThe Wilderness TrailIn the turbulent Kentucky wilderness of 1810, a fiery old settler clashes with a mysterious, arrogant horseman, sparking a tense confrontation that draws a young frontiersman into…
Level C1AdventureThe Wilderness FugitivesIn the tense aftermath of the Wyoming massacre, Jo Minturn, his sister Rosa, and Ned Clinton rely on the elusive Mohawk guide Lena-Wingo to navigate hidden dangers in the wildernes…
Level B2AdventureThe Wilderness CastawaysTwo adventurous sportsmen charter a steamer for a summer expedition to Hudson Bay, anticipating thrilling hunts and fishing.
Level C1PoetryThe Wild Swans at CooleAmidst the echoes of loss and the rhythms of nature, a shepherd’s song mourns a fallen youth whose gentle presence once graced the hills.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wild Olive: A NovelA young fugitive races through the vast Adirondack wilderness, fleeing masked pursuers and the weight of a contested innocence.
Level B2AdventureThe Wild Man of the West: A Tale of the Rocky MountainsIn the rugged Rocky Mountains, sixteen-year-old March Marston lives wildly, risking life and limb with reckless courage and fierce loyalty.
Level C2PoetryThe Wild Knight and Other PoemsDive into a vivid collection where dreams, faith, and the human spirit collide in poems that explore creation, defiance, and the eternal dance between light and shadow.
Level C1RomanceThe Wild Irish Girl: A National TaleA disgraced son battles the consequences of youthful excess and a father’s stern hopes, as exile to an Irish estate offers a chance for redemption and unexpected romance amid clash…
Level C1RomanceThe Wild Huntress: Love in the WildernessIn the heart of a vast Tennessean forest, a solitary squatter carves out a rugged life surrounded by nature’s wild beauty and lurking dangers.
Level C1AdventureThe Wild GeeseAmid the lawless hills of early 18th-century Ireland, a mysterious colonel aboard a smuggler’s sloop defies the violent codes of the land, pursuing a higher duty that challenges th…
Level B2Children'sThe Wig and the Shoulder of Mutton; or, The Folly of Juvenile FearsFour curious children face their fears when a mysterious white figure appears in their home, revealing how imagination can transform the dark into something frightening.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wife, and Other StoriesA landowner receives a desperate letter about famine and disease devastating nearby peasants, forcing him to confront the harsh reality of rural suffering and his own impotence ami…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wife of his Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, and Selected EssaysIn a society divided by color and class, a light-skinned African American man grapples with identity and belonging as he navigates the exclusive Blue Vein Society, confronting the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wife of Sir Isaac HarmanA young woman arrives to view a charming country house, stepping into a world of genteel domestic life and subtle tensions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd: A Drama in Three ActsIn a gritty mining community, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow's Vow: A Farce, in Two ActsA widow retreats to a lonely castle, vowing to shun all men after a tragic love, but her resolve is tested by the arrival of a spirited new maid and the persistent attentions of he…
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow's DogNestled in a tranquil Hampshire village, a picturesque cottage by the Great Pond hides stories woven into its lush gardens and ancient woods.![Cover of The Widow [To Say Nothing of the Man] by Helen Rowland](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daes33oe1ofc73dh8krg.webp)
Level B2RomanceThe Widow [To Say Nothing of the Man]A witty debate unfolds between a bachelor and a widow as they compare women to automobiles, exploring the complexities of marriage and the elusive ideal wife.
Level B2Children'sThe Widow O'Callaghan's BoysAfter the death of their father, a determined widow and her seven boys face poverty and a daunting move to town, where survival depends on their courage and unbreakable family bond…
Level C1Children'sThe Widow Davis and the young millinersWidowed Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow Barnaby. Vol. 3 (of 3)A heartbroken widow plots to confront her deceitful lover in London, seeking justice and revenge with the help of a loyal friend and a clever attorney brother.
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow Barnaby. Vol. 2 (of 3)A young woman grapples with the pressures of society and mourning attire as her aunt arranges for her debut at fashionable balls, navigating the delicate balance between appearance…
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow Barnaby. Vol. 1 (of 3)In a quaint Devonshire town, Miss Betsy Compton, a resilient and independent woman with a deformity, defies family expectations and carves out her own life and legacy amid social t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wide, Wide WorldA young girl named Ellen faces the quiet trials of a gloomy day and her mother's mysterious distress, learning to find strength and grace in a world full of uncertainty and tender…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wicker Work Woman: A Chronicle of Our Own TimesIn a cramped study shadowed by dismal light, a literature professor wrestles with his unfulfilled dreams and bitter domestic life while preparing to teach ancient battles and heroi…
Level C1HistoricalThe Whites and the BluesAmid the turbulent days of the French Revolution, a young boy arrives in Strasbourg bearing a mysterious package, navigating the sharp tensions and shifting loyalties of the era.
Level B2FantasyThe White Wolf and Other Fireside TalesIn 1358 Greenland, a Norwegian merchant encounters a ghostly, icebound ship frozen in time, harboring mysterious frozen bodies and untold secrets.
Level C1AdventureThe White WaterfallIn the sweltering stillness of a South Pacific island, a restless traveler encounters ancient stone ruins, secret rituals, and the haunting legacy of island warriors tested by dead…
Level C2PoetryThe White WampumSongs woven like sacred wampum belts carry messages of peace, tradition, and fellowship, reflecting the spirit of a poet honoring heritage and the natural world through stirring ve…
Level B2ClassicsThe White VirginIn a world of old mines and family tensions, a young man navigates love, loyalty, and a potentially fortune-making venture while contending with jealous rivals and protective elder…
Level C1HistoricalThe White Terror and The Red: A Novel of Revolutionary RussiaIn the shadow of Czar Alexander II’s summer retreat, the lives of nobility and revolutionaries intertwine, revealing a world of power, intrigue, and the fragile humanity beneath im…
Level C1ClassicsThe White StoneA group of French friends explores the ancient ruins of Rome’s Forum, uncovering forgotten monuments and imagining the vibrant daily life that once filled these historic streets.
Level B2AdventureThe White SquawIn the shadowy Florida wilderness, a young hunter stumbles upon a deadly struggle between Seminole warriors, setting off a tense adventure where survival and loyalty collide under…
Level C1AdventureThe White Squall: A Story of the Sargasso SeaIn the lush West Indies, a young boy awaits word from England while the vibrant life of his father's coffee and cocoa plantation unfolds around him—setting the stage for an adventu…
Level C1ClassicsThe White SisterAn American portrait painter captures more than a likeness when he paints a young Italian noblewoman whose serene exterior conceals a deeper, almost religious intensity—challenging…
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.