Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
1,241 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 Émile Zola, Novelist and Reformer: An Account of His Life & Work, Æschylos Tragedies and Fragments and Âmona; The Child; And The Beast; And Others: From "The Strange Adventure of James Shervinton, and Other Stories" - 1902. 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.
- 1,241
- books
Level B2ClassicsThe Cook's Wedding and Other StoriesIn a bustling household kitchen, a young boy observes the uneasy preparations for the cook Pelageya’s unexpected wedding to a sober cabman, stirring questions about love, duty, and…
Level B2ClassicsThe Conjure WomanIn the postwar South, a Northern man seeks to revive a neglected vineyard and escape harsh winters, discovering a land where history, superstition, and the struggles of a changing…
Level B2ClassicsThe Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner — Volume 4Experience the joys and challenges of boyhood on a lively farm, where driving oxen and teaching cows Latin reveal the humor, lessons, and unexpected rules of rural life through the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner — Volume 3A casual blackberry-picking trip in the Adirondacks turns into an unexpected adventure when a man encounters a bear doing the same.
Level B2ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 4: To California and ReturnEmbark on a chaotic and humorous voyage from New York to California aboard the overcrowded steamer Ariel, encountering eccentric passengers, rough seas, and dubious accommodations…
Level B2ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 2: WarAmid rising tensions in the South, a traveling showman faces arrest, confiscation, and chaos as he navigates the turbulent early days of war, witnessing fierce local passions and u…
Level B2ClassicsThe Competitive NephewIn a bustling cloak and suit business, two partners face betrayal as trusted employees break away to rival them, while a demanding customer with a mysterious influence stirs tensio…
Level B2ClassicsThe Common LotIn the shadow of a powerful industrialist's funeral, complex emotions and hidden desires stir among mourners, revealing the tangled lives connected to the late Powers Jackson.
Level B2ClassicsThe Commission in LunacyIn 1828 Paris, the ambitious Baron de Rastignac navigates high society’s glittering facade and its hidden debts, while his friend, the insightful doctor Bianchon, reveals the harsh…
Level B2ClassicsThe Comings of Cousin AnnIn the growing town of Ryeville, old veterans gather on the courthouse porch, swapping stories of past battles and daily life, while the arrival of Cousin Ann stirs new events in t…
Level B2ClassicsThe ComedienneIn a serene Polish village, a provincial theater troupe’s vibrant life unfolds against rustic landscapes, where Janina, a comedienne, faces the blurred lines between tragedy and co…
Level B2ClassicsThe Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 12: In MotleyDive into a quirky, humorous exploration of nature and human folly through the eyes of a child narrator, blending tall tales, animal lore, and playful observations in a delightfull…
Level B2ClassicsThe Cobbler In The Devil's Kitchen: From "Mackinac And Lake Stories", 1899An Irish cobbler makes his home in a rugged lakeside cavern known as the Devil’s Kitchen, finding solitude amidst the wild beauty and rough characters of Mackinac Island.
Level B2ClassicsThe Co-CitizensA reclusive widow leaves behind a vast estate and a mysterious absence of heirs, sparking intrigue and speculation in Jordantown.
Level B2ClassicsThe Clockmaker — or, the Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick, of SlickvilleMeet Samuel Slick, a witty clockmaker whose sharp tales and humorous observations unravel the quirks of Yankee and Nova Scotian life with biting satire and clever storytelling.
Level B2ClassicsThe Christmas ChildIn a rugged Welsh valley, a determined woman’s plans for her niece’s future are upended when a frail, orphaned child arrives unexpectedly, bringing warmth and challenge to their is…
Level B2ClassicsThe Chorus Girl and Other StoriesIn a sweltering summer villa, a mysterious woman confronts a chorus girl with a desperate plea to save her embezzler husband from ruin, revealing tangled secrets, betrayal, and the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Chinese CoatA chance encounter with a dazzling Chinese coat sparks a young woman’s dreams of beauty and freedom, revealing the deep yearnings beneath her modest life.
Level B2ClassicsThe Cheerful SmugglersIn a charming household, the Fenelbys devise a clever "domestic tariff" system—an indirect tax on their daily purchases—to gently and effortlessly save for baby Bobberts’ college f…
Level B2ClassicsThe Celebrity at HomeA spirited child named Tempe reflects on the bittersweet challenges of growing up under the watchful eye of her literary father, determined to capture the unvarnished truth of her…
Level B2ClassicsThe Cause of it AllIn a humble peasant's hut, tensions rise as a family struggles with the burdens of hard work, drinking, and the unpredictability of men’s behavior.
Level B2ClassicsThe Canterville GhostAn American family buys a haunted English manor, dismissing centuries-old ghost stories with modern skepticism—until the supernatural begins to challenge their practical beliefs an…
Level B2ClassicsThe Buccaneer Farmer: Published in England under the Title "Askew's Victory"A proud country gentleman faces financial strain and family tensions as his son struggles with debts and expectations of high society, setting the stage for a gripping tale of hono…
Level B2ClassicsThe Boy in the BushA young Englishman arrives in the wild promise of colonial Australia, carrying only a letter, a saddle, and vague dreams of freedom.
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.