diff --git a/web/src/layouts/Base.astro b/web/src/layouts/Base.astro
index 8732691f..cfd484b9 100644
--- a/web/src/layouts/Base.astro
+++ b/web/src/layouts/Base.astro
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ import '@fontsource/noto-naskh-arabic/700.css';
 import '@fontsource/noto-nastaliq-urdu/400.css';
 import '@fontsource/noto-nastaliq-urdu/700.css';
 import '../styles/global.css';
-interface Props { title?: string; description?: string; q?: string }
-const { title, description = 'اردو کا کلاسیکی ادب', q = '' } = Astro.props;
+interface Props { title?: string; description?: string; q?: string; author?: string; jsonld?: object }
+// author and jsonld describe a work for search engines and the browser's own reader view
+const { title, description = 'اردو کا کلاسیکی ادب', q = '', author, jsonld } = Astro.props;
 const fullTitle = title ? `${title} · دیوان` : 'دیوان · اردو کا کلاسیکی ادب';
 import Icon from '../components/Icon.astro';
 import logo from '../../public/logo/turanj.svg?raw'; // inline, so the page can turn its rays
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ import logo from '../../public/logo/turanj.svg?raw'; // inline, so the page can
     <meta property="og:image:height" content="630" />
     <meta property="og:image:alt" content="دیوان: اردو کا کلاسیکی ادب" />
     <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
+    {author && <meta name="author" content={author} />}
+    {jsonld && <script type="application/ld+json" set:html={JSON.stringify(jsonld).replace(/</g, '\\u003c')} />}
     <script is:inline>
       // font, palette and light/dark applied before paint (Naskh, sepia and the system's light/dark by default)
       try {
@@ -48,6 +51,7 @@ import logo from '../../public/logo/turanj.svg?raw'; // inline, so the page can
         const pal = localStorage.getItem('divan-palette'); // sepia when unset
         if (pal) document.documentElement.dataset.palette = pal;
         if (document.cookie.includes('divan-digits=latn')) document.documentElement.dataset.digits = 'latn'; // Western numerals
+        if (localStorage.getItem('divan-reading')) document.documentElement.dataset.reading = ''; // reading mode, kept across pages
       } catch (e) {}
     </script>
   </head>
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ import logo from '../../public/logo/turanj.svg?raw'; // inline, so the page can
             <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" aria-hidden="true"><circle cx="10.5" cy="10.5" r="6.5"/><path d="m15.5 15.5 5 5"/></svg>
           </button>
         </form>
+        <button type="button" class="icon-btn reading-exit" data-reading-toggle title="مطالعے کے انداز سے باہر" aria-label="مطالعے کے انداز سے باہر"><Icon name="close" /></button>
         <nav class="toggles" aria-label="سائٹ">
           {Astro.locals.user?.role === 'admin' && <a class="icon-btn" href="/admin" title="ایڈمن" aria-label="ایڈمن"><Icon name="admin" /></a>}
           {['mod-l2', 'mod-l1', 'admin'].includes(Astro.locals.user?.role ?? '') && <a class="icon-btn" href="/mod" title="موڈریشن" aria-label="موڈریشن"><Icon name="edit" /></a>}
@@ -505,6 +510,16 @@ import logo from '../../public/logo/turanj.svg?raw'; // inline, so the page can
       </form>
     </dialog>
     <div class="toasts" aria-live="polite"></div>
+    <script is:inline>
+      // reading mode: only the text, the breadcrumbs and the logo; remembered across pages until switched off
+      document.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+        if (!e.target.closest('[data-reading-toggle]')) return;
+        const root = document.documentElement, on = !('reading' in root.dataset);
+        const flip = () => { on ? (root.dataset.reading = '') : delete root.dataset.reading; };
+        document.startViewTransition ? document.startViewTransition(flip) : flip();
+        try { on ? localStorage.setItem('divan-reading', '1') : localStorage.removeItem('divan-reading'); } catch (err) {}
+      });
+    </script>
     <script is:inline>
       (() => {
         const dlg = document.getElementById('ask'), ok = dlg.querySelector('[value=ok]');
diff --git a/web/src/pages/[...path].astro b/web/src/pages/[...path].astro
index 73843039..6cd69522 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/[...path].astro
+++ b/web/src/pages/[...path].astro
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ const bookmark = (c: number) => JSON.stringify({ kind: 'couplet', poemId, couple
 const title = page.type === 'poem' ? page.poem.title : page.type === 'poet' ? page.poet.nickname : page.category.title;
 import Icon from '../components/Icon.astro';
 ---
-<Base title={page.type === 'poem' ? `${page.poem.title} · ${page.poet.nickname}` : title} description={page.type === 'poet' ? page.poet.description?.slice(0, 160) : undefined}>
+<Base author={page.poet?.nickname} jsonld={page.type === 'poem' ? { '@context': 'https://schema.org', '@type': 'CreativeWork', name: page.poem.title, inLanguage: 'ur', author: { '@type': 'Person', name: page.poet.nickname }, isPartOf: crumbs.at(-1)?.title, url: Astro.url.href.split('?')[0] } : undefined} title={page.type === 'poem' ? `${page.poem.title} · ${page.poet.nickname}` : title} description={page.type === 'poet' ? page.poet.description?.slice(0, 160) : undefined}>
   {page.type !== 'poet' && (
     <nav class="crumbs">
       {crumbs.map((c: any, i: number) => (
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ import Icon from '../components/Icon.astro';
 
   {page.type === 'poet' && (
     <>
-      <h1>{page.poet.name}</h1>
-      <div class="center"><button type="button" class="save" data-save={JSON.stringify({ kind: 'poet', poetId })} aria-pressed={String(!!saved.poet)} title="یہ شاعر محفوظ کریں">{label(saved.poet)}</button>{arrange && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/order/${page.category.id}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="arrange" size={17} /> ترتیب دیں</button></form>
+      <h1 data-readable>{page.poet.name}</h1>
+      <div class="center"><button type="button" class="save" data-save={JSON.stringify({ kind: 'poet', poetId })} aria-pressed={String(!!saved.poet)} title="یہ شاعر محفوظ کریں">{label(saved.poet)}</button><button type="button" class="icon-btn small" data-reading-toggle title="مطالعے کا انداز: صرف متن" aria-label="مطالعے کا انداز"><Icon name="dict" size={17} /></button>{arrange && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/order/${page.category.id}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="arrange" size={17} /> ترتیب دیں</button></form>
         <a class="icon-btn small" href={`/mod/order/${page.category.id}`} title="ترتیب کا تاریخچہ" aria-label="ترتیب کا تاریخچہ"><Icon name="history" size={17} /></a></>}{tagCan && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/tags/${tagTarget}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="tag" size={17} /> ٹیگ</button></form></>}</div>
       <p class="muted">{years(page.poet)}</p>
       <Tags tags={pageTags} />
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ import Icon from '../components/Icon.astro';
   )}
   {page.type === 'category' && (
     <>
-      <h1>{page.category.title}</h1>
+      <h1 data-readable>{page.category.title}</h1>
       <Tags tags={pageTags} />
-      <div class="center"><button type="button" class="save" data-save={JSON.stringify({ kind: 'category', categoryId: page.category.id })} aria-pressed={String(!!saved.category)} title="یہ کتاب یا باب محفوظ کریں">{label(saved.category)}</button>{arrange && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/order/${page.category.id}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="arrange" size={17} /> ترتیب دیں</button></form>
+      <div class="center"><button type="button" class="save" data-save={JSON.stringify({ kind: 'category', categoryId: page.category.id })} aria-pressed={String(!!saved.category)} title="یہ کتاب یا باب محفوظ کریں">{label(saved.category)}</button><button type="button" class="icon-btn small" data-reading-toggle title="مطالعے کا انداز: صرف متن" aria-label="مطالعے کا انداز"><Icon name="dict" size={17} /></button>{arrange && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/order/${page.category.id}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="arrange" size={17} /> ترتیب دیں</button></form>
         <a class="icon-btn small" href={`/mod/order/${page.category.id}`} title="ترتیب کا تاریخچہ" aria-label="ترتیب کا تاریخچہ"><Icon name="history" size={17} /></a></>}{tagCan && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/tags/${tagTarget}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="tag" size={17} /> ٹیگ</button></form></>}</div>
     </>
   )}
@@ -135,18 +135,20 @@ import Icon from '../components/Icon.astro';
 
   {page.type === 'poem' && (
     <>
+      <article class="work" data-readable>
       <h1><Seg s={show(page.poem.title)} /></h1>
+      <p class="byline">{page.poet.nickname}</p>
       {re && (
         <p class="hl-note muted">
           «{hlq}» نمایاں · <a href={`/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(hlq)}`}>تلاش کے نتائج</a> · <a href={url}>نشان ہٹائیں</a>
         </p>
       )}
-      <div class="center"><button type="button" class="save" data-save={JSON.stringify({ kind: 'poem', poemId })} aria-pressed={String(!!saved.poem)} title="یہ کلام محفوظ کریں">{label(saved.poem)}</button>
+      <div class="center"><button type="button" class="save" data-save={JSON.stringify({ kind: 'poem', poemId })} aria-pressed={String(!!saved.poem)} title="یہ کلام محفوظ کریں">{label(saved.poem)}</button><button type="button" class="icon-btn small" data-reading-toggle title="مطالعے کا انداز: صرف متن" aria-label="مطالعے کا انداز"><Icon name="dict" size={17} /></button>
         {modCan.edit && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/work/${poemId}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="edit" size={17} /> ترمیم کریں</button></form>
           <a class="icon-btn small" href={`/mod/work/${poemId}`} title="تاریخچہ" aria-label="تاریخچہ"><Icon name="history" size={17} /></a></>}{tagCan && <> <form method="post" action={`/mod/tags/${tagTarget}`} class="inline-form"><button class="mod-edit-btn"><Icon name="tag" size={17} /> ٹیگ</button></form></>}</div>
       <Tags tags={pageTags} />
       {page.poem.radif != null && <p class="muted radif">{page.poem.radif ? `ردیف: ${page.poem.radif}` : 'غیر مردف'}</p>}
-      <article class="poem" data-cite={`${page.poet.nickname}، ${page.poem.title}`} data-poem={poemId}>
+      <div class="poem" data-cite={`${page.poet.nickname}، ${page.poem.title}`} data-poem={poemId}>
         {blocks.map((b) => {
           const cn = noteOf(b.c), any = cn || notes.some((n) => n.couplet === b.c);
           // the bookmark, and beside it the note glyph (shown when this couplet or a phrase in it has a note)
@@ -161,6 +163,7 @@ import Icon from '../components/Icon.astro';
             : b.kind === 'para' ? <p class="para" id={`c${b.c}`} data-c={b.c}>{bm}<Seg s={show(b.lines[0], lm[0])} /></p>
             : <p class="single" id={`c${b.c}`} data-c={b.c}>{bm}<Seg s={show(b.lines[0], lm[0])} /></p>;
         })}
+      </div>
       </article>
       <p class="muted hint">کسی لفظ کو منتخب کریں تو اس کے معنی اور تلفظ ساتھ نظر آئیں گے؛ کسی عبارت پر نوٹ بھی لکھ سکتے ہیں۔</p>
       <dialog class="ask note-box" id="note-box" aria-labelledby="note-for">
diff --git a/web/src/styles/global.css b/web/src/styles/global.css
index 34a78594..35e7e6ba 100644
--- a/web/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/web/src/styles/global.css
@@ -805,3 +805,27 @@ p, li { text-wrap: pretty; }
 .note-edit textarea { width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; resize: vertical; line-height: 1.9; background: var(--surface-page); }
 .note-actions { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 8px; margin-top: 6px; }
 .note-delete { position: absolute; top: 10px; left: 12px; margin: 0; }
+
+/* ── reading mode: the text, the breadcrumbs and the logo; nothing else. On readable pages only (poems, books, poets),
+   kept across pages until switched off from the ✕ in the header ── */
+.byline, .reading-exit { display: none; }
+:root[data-reading]:has([data-readable]) {
+  .site-header .search-form, .site-header .toggles, .site-header .kb, .site-footer, .center:has(> .save), .c-tools, .tag-chips,
+  .hint, .hl-note, .divan-edit, .source, .dict { display: none !important; }
+  .reading-exit { display: inline-flex; margin-inline-start: auto; }
+  .site-header .wrap { flex-wrap: nowrap; padding-top: 10px; }
+  .wordmark .logo { width: 44px; }
+  main { max-width: 760px; padding-top: 4px; }
+  .crumbs { font-size: var(--fs-sm); }
+  .byline { display: block; text-align: center; margin: -4px 0 14px; color: var(--brand); font-family: 'Noto Nastaliq Urdu', serif; line-height: 2; }
+  .poem { background: none; border: 0; box-shadow: none; padding-inline: 0; }
+  .couplet, .poem .single { font-size: 1.28rem; }
+  .poem .para { font-size: 1.15rem; }
+  .couplet:hover { background: none; }
+  .intro { background: none; border: 0; padding-inline: 0; }
+}
+@media print { /* printing is reading too: the text and its source */
+  .site-header .search-form, .site-header .toggles, .site-footer, .center:has(> .save), .c-tools, .tag-chips, .hint, .poem-nav, .dict, .toasts { display: none !important; }
+  .byline { display: block; text-align: center; }
+  .poem { background: none; border: 0; }
+}