Mai Read
A source-first reading library
Free books online, with the source in view.
Find a classic, open its edition, and start reading in your browser. Mai Read brings together more than 700 public-domain book records and a small, handpicked shelf of archival editions.
A few good places to start
Browse by subject, or begin with a familiar title. Every book page gives you an edition record to inspect.
Why are these books free?
Many titles in the catalog are older works whose underlying text is in the public domain in the United States. Mai Read’s Gutenberg importer selects English-language records marked out of copyright by Project Gutenberg’s catalog service and requires readable text plus useful edition metadata. Other featured editions link to Internet Archive records.
Mai Read organizes the listings and provides a browser-based way to open them. The original source record remains visible on each title page, so you can check which edition you are reading and where it comes from.
From search to reading
- Search by title, author, or subject in the library, or browse the catalog.
- Open a title page to see its author, publication details, source name, and link to the original edition record.
- Choose “Read in Mai Read” to open the selected work in the reader. The page also keeps a link to the provider record.
Common questions
Are all the books free in every country?
No. The Gutenberg records used for this catalog are marked public domain in the United States. Copyright terms vary by country, so check the source record and local law.
Does Mai Read make modern bestsellers free?
No. The free catalog focuses on public-domain and selected archival editions. Mai Read does not remove paywalls or make copyrighted books free.