Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
785 classics books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best classics classics to read in English as a learner?
The best classics classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Boy in the Bush, The Boy Grew Older and The Bostonians, Vol. II (of II). Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
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Level B2ClassicsThe Boy Grew OlderA new father wrestles with unexpected emotions and the realities of parenthood as he visits his newborn son and confronts his wife's resentment, revealing the complex ties that bin…
Level B2ClassicsThe Blue Peter: Sea comediesA weary captain and his crew face bitter cutbacks and faded ambitions aboard the steamship Nemesis as they prepare for a foggy voyage to distant ports, caught between loyalty, loss…
Level B2ClassicsThe Black PearlA theatrical manager arrives in a remote desert village chasing a mysterious performer known only as the Black Pearl.
Level B2ClassicsThe Black Creek Stopping-House, and Other StoriesIn a gritty Winnipeg setting, a reformed gambler seeks redemption through honest work and love, challenging the harsh judgments of his past.
Level B2ClassicsThe Bill-ToppersA young girl named Lily dazzles crowds across continents with her daring cycling acts and charming performances, supported by her determined father who dreams of stardom for the en…
Level B2ClassicsThe Big MogulIn the grand Townsend mansion, a grieving patriarch clings to a comfort in his stately library while mourning his late daughter.
Level B2ClassicsThe Bicyclers and Three Other FarcesThaddeus Perkins embarks on his comedic journey into bicycling, navigating quirky friends, eccentric gadgets, and unexpected mishaps in a lively drawing-room farce.
Level B2ClassicsThe Belovéd TraitorOn a stormy night in the quiet fishing village of Bernay-sur-Mer, tensions rise inside the aging tavern as locals grapple with memories of past tragedies and the harsh realities of…
Level B2ClassicsThe Belles of Canterbury: A Chaucer Tale Out of SchoolFour modern schoolgirls plan a Thanksgiving party while wrestling with Chaucer's characters and lines, blending medieval tales with their lively, contemporary banter and schoolroom…
Level B2ClassicsThe Bad Man: A NovelA determined young American stakes his claim in the harsh Arizona borderlands, facing relentless raids and government inaction while struggling to protect his ranch and find hope a…
Level B2ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Quack, and The Case of George DedlowConfined to a hospital bed with a mysterious illness, a clever and defiant man recounts his colorful life and dubious schemes, challenging the judgments of society while seeking pu…
Level B2ClassicsThe Ape, the Idiot & Other PeopleAn ape named Romulus escapes his circus cage and encounters the vast, bewildering freedom of the outside world, where curiosity and caution lead him to unexpected encounters beyond…
Level B2ClassicsThe AnnesA spirited young girl discovers her unique calling: to lift others up, just as she tenderly helps a struggling beetle back on its feet.
Level B2ClassicsThe Angel and the Author, and OthersA weary Recording Angel reviews the author's self-proclaimed good deeds during the Christmas season, blending humor and reflection on human generosity and virtue.
Level B2ClassicsThe AndersonsIn modest Brighton lodgings, determined Felix Anderson vows to rise from humble beginnings and provide a better life for his sister and friend, despite family estrangements and pas…
Level B2ClassicsThe Alchemist's SecretAn aging widower clings to hope as he makes his nightly trek to the post office, waiting for a letter from his long-lost daughter Sallie who vanished fifteen years ago.
Level B2ClassicsThe Affable StrangerA man finds liberation by pouring his worries into a book, freeing himself from life's burdens and embracing the carefree rhythms of nature during harvest time.
Level B2ClassicsThe Adventures of a SuburbaniteA couple escapes city flats for a country house, but Isobel struggles with the eerie silence of solitude and longs for the comforting presence of neighbors—real or imagined.
Level B2ClassicsThe Actress' Daughter: A NovelOn a stormy Christmas Eve, the stern and unyielding Miss Jerusha Skamp battles a lazy maid and a mischievous cat while maintaining strict order in her rigid New England household,…
Level B2ClassicsThe $30,000 Bequest, and Other StoriesIn a close-knit Western town, a humble bookkeeper and his wife receive news of a $30,000 inheritance—with strict conditions that test their resolve and dreams, sparking hope, secre…
Level B2ClassicsThe "Genius"In a bustling Midwestern town, Eugene Witla grows up under the watchful eye of his hardworking family, navigating the hopes and struggles of American life in the late 19th century.
Level B2ClassicsThat Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 2After months away, May returns home to find her grandmother's health fading and old friends tangled in new intrigues; amidst whispered rumors and unspoken feelings, she must naviga…
Level B2ClassicsThat Mother-in-Law of MineA newlywed man’s idyllic honeymoon is disrupted when his charming wife’s mother joins their summer trip—and threatens to haunt their married life forever.
Level B2ClassicsThat Awful Letter: A Comedy for GirlsWhen a city girl learns her father wants to invite a rustic cousin to visit, she panics—worried the country girl’s manners and clothes will ruin her chances with high society.
Level B2ClassicsThankful's InheritanceCaught in a fierce storm on a treacherous coastal road, a widow embarks on a daunting journey to claim her late uncle’s inheritance in the remote village of East Wellmouth, where t…
Level B2ClassicsTh' Barrel OrganAs autumn deepens over the wild Forest of Rossendale, a solitary wanderer climbs moorland paths to a remote quarryman’s cottage, where rustic tales and the serene beauty of nature…
Level B2ClassicsTensionAuntie Iris’s sudden success as a published author sparks excitement and chaos in a genteel household, revealing family tensions and social awkwardness beneath the surface.
Level B2ClassicsTen Nights in a Bar RoomIn a newly opened tavern, a hopeful landlord welcomes guests while his young son tends the bar, unaware of the temptations and tragic consequences brewing within.
Level B2ClassicsTea-Table TalkIn a lively salon of contrasting voices, a Woman of the World, a Minor Poet, a Girton Girl, and a Philosopher debate the nature of love and the art of love-letters, revealing the h…
Level B2ClassicsTaught by experienceIn a strict country household, rebellious housemaid Fanny clashes with her mistress over Sabbath rules, challenging the boundaries of duty and freedom, while her timid friend Kate…
Level B2ClassicsTartarin of TarasconIn a sun-soaked town obsessed with hunting, Tartarin emerges as an unlikely hero whose exotic garden and vast arsenal hint at grand adventures.
Level B2ClassicsTarnished SilverIn a grand coastal estate, young Julius chafes under his father's ambition to seize every inch of land, especially the stubborn fisherman's cottage that mars their view.
Level B2ClassicsTarA storyteller wrestles with the elusive nature of truth as he attempts to recount his Midwestern childhood, blending memory and imagination to reveal the bittersweet innocence of y…
Level B2ClassicsTales of the RoadStep into the demanding world of traveling salesmen, where quick wit, patience, and persuasion fuel the engine of commerce.
Level B2ClassicsTales of Two CountriesDeep within the eternal mountains, workers brave the treacherous tunnels of the Simplon, confronting nature’s fierce resistance and their own fears.
Level B2ClassicsTales from the VeldIn the rugged Cape Colony, Uncle Abe spins extraordinary tales of frontier life, superstition, and a mysterious bark with deadly powers—blurring the line between fact and folklore…
Level B2ClassicsTales and Sketches: Part 3 from Volume V of The Works of John Greenleaf WhittierA middle-aged man wrestles with his conscience and commerce in a series of vivid dreams sparked by a curious iron soldier figurine, exploring the clash between business interests a…
Level B2ClassicsTable d'HôteA domestic power struggle unfolds when Mr.
Level B2ClassicsSworn to silenceAline Rodney faces isolation and secrets when forbidden from joining her family's picnic, locked away and left to confront the mysteries that bind her.
Level B2ClassicsSweet Cicely — or Josiah Allen as a PoliticianA devoted family eagerly prepares for the visit of sweet Cicely, a beloved niece whose purity and charm captivate all.
Level B2ClassicsSusan Clegg and a Man in the HouseSusan Clegg navigates life alone after her father's death, skeptical about men despite multiple proposals and unexpected suitors returning once wealth is discovered.
Level B2ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. LathropTwo neighbors and close friends, Susan Clegg and Mrs.
Level B2ClassicsSunshine Sketches of a Little TownStep into the quirky rhythms of small-town life where a sharp-witted observer chronicles the joys, struggles, and eccentricities of its residents with warmth and humor.
Level B2ClassicsSundry AccountsIn a small town where a man’s haunted past keeps his home ablaze with light through the night, secrets and eerie legends intertwine with the lives of unforgettable local characters…
Level B2ClassicsSuffered in vainDive into a collection of gripping love stories filled with wholesome passion and thrilling action, where every tale promises heartfelt drama and captivating twists far from the or…
Level B2ClassicsStrangers and WayfarersIn a wintry New England journey, a timid mail carrier armed with caution and an elderly passenger wrapped in shawls face the biting cold and quiet roads, weaving tales of old peril…
Level B2ClassicsStrange watersWhen the government commandeers the freighter Aurora for ocean service, little Tim Donahue faces a wrenching change from his life as a humble fireman, caught between loyalty to his…
Level B2ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 2 (of 2)A young trader’s son is swept away by a typhoon to a strange land where beauty dictates power, and the people fear his unusual appearance.