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
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Level B2ClassicsMixed GrillA young host enlists the help of the charming and mysterious Mr.
Level B2ClassicsMistress AnneIn a quiet riverside lodge, a young schoolteacher yearns for youthful companionship and vibrant life beyond her simple, isolated world.
Level B2ClassicsMissingAs war looms, two sisters navigate the fragile balance of duty and independence in a quiet Lakeland town, where love, loss, and the looming front test their bond and future.
Level B2ClassicsMiss Theodora: A West End StoryIn Boston’s old West End, Miss Theodora devotes herself to raising her orphaned nephew Ernest, determined to restore their family’s lost fortune and honor despite fading wealth and…
Level B2ClassicsMiss Mink's Soldier and Other StoriesIn a small town gripped by war, a fiercely independent woman resists the call to host a soldier for Sunday dinner—until a mysterious Russian soldier chooses her, challenging her fe…
Level B2ClassicsMiss McDonaldA young man’s sudden decision to marry a mysterious sixteen-year-old girl with only her beauty to recommend her sparks suspicion and unease among those who know him best, as prepar…
Level B2ClassicsMiss Gibbie GaultIn a small town where tradition reigns, Miss Gibbie Gault stands apart with her unconventional ways—ordering hats years in advance and managing a mysterious family graveyard no one…
Level B2ClassicsMiss Civilization: A Comedy in One ActIn a snowy Long Island mansion just after Christmas, Alice Gardner faces a tense midnight burglary while desperately calling for help to protect her ill mother and their home from…
Level B2ClassicsMiss BillyOrphaned and isolated at eighteen, Billy Neilson clings to a fragile hope as she reaches out to the mysterious William Henshaw—her father's old friend and her only link to family—s…
Level B2ClassicsMiser Farebrother: A Novel (vol. 3 of 3)A desperate man faces ruin after losing a fortune betting on horse races under a false name, while a shrewd captain offers a risky chance to reclaim his losses—if only he can summo…
Level B2ClassicsMiser Farebrother: A Novel (vol. 2 of 3)At a lively tea gathering, young Jeremiah Pamflett arrives determined to assert his influence over the shrewd Miser Farebrother, plotting bold moves and hidden schemes that promise…
Level B2ClassicsMillbank;As the old squire lies in state, his sudden death casts a shadow over Millbank, where his grandson Frank faces a future tied to the grand estate—and the complex family tensions tha…
Level B2ClassicsMike Flannery On Duty and OffA dedicated express company worker faces the challenge of delivering a delicate cargo—a deceased Angora cat—while navigating the quirks of his slow assistant and a particular custo…
Level B2ClassicsMightier than the SwordA down-on-his-luck journalist races against time to catch the last train home, navigating London's bustling streets and the shifting world of journalism.
Level B2ClassicsMidnight WebsA seasoned commissionnaire with a missing sleeve recounts his overlooked wartime experiences alongside Her Majesty’s 156th Light Infantry, revealing grit, humor, and unexpected cam…
Level B2ClassicsMichael O'HalloranIn the bustling city streets, young newsboy Mickey O'Halloran stands up against bullies and hardship with fierce loyalty and surprising courage, catching the attention of a compass…
Level B2ClassicsMichael McGrath, PostmasterIn the rugged Fraser Valley, a weary traveler encounters "Ould Michael," a proud ex-soldier turned postmaster whose orderly cabin and fierce loyalty hide stories of battle and surv…
Level B2ClassicsMessalina of the suburbsIn a strict suburban household, Elsie Palmer navigates her mother's sharp reprimands and the thrill of secret outings with charming guests, revealing the simmering tensions beneath…
Level B2ClassicsMercadet: A Comedy in Three ActsIn a Parisian household teetering on the edge of ruin, servants play the part of actors as creditors close in and secrets swirl.
Level B2ClassicsMendel: A Story of YouthA Jewish family arrives in bustling London, displaced and hopeful, struggling to find their footing in a strange city where kindness and hardship collide.
Level B2ClassicsMemories and AnecdotesA vivid collection of personal memories unveils a lively childhood amidst distinguished company, colorful characters, and academic life in 19th-century New England.![Cover of Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin; Written by Himself. [Vol. 2 of 2]: With his Most Interesting Essays, Letters, and Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, and Philosophical, Selected with Care from All His Published Productions, and Comprising Whatever Is Most Entertaining and Valuable to the General Reader by Benjamin Franklin](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dagoqii5dk3s73eg9a8g.webp)
Level B2ClassicsMemoirs of Benjamin Franklin; Written by Himself. [Vol. 2 of 2]: With his Most Interesting Essays, Letters, and Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, and Philosophical, Selected with Care from All His Published Productions, and Comprising Whatever Is Most Entertaining and Valuable to the General ReaderDiscover practical wisdom and timeless advice on industry, thrift, and self-improvement through engaging essays and letters that blend humor with philosophy, urging readers to seiz…
Level B2ClassicsMeadow BrookA spirited young girl navigates the joys and trials of childhood in a picturesque New England farmhouse, dreaming of a name that will make her mother proud amid the everyday strugg…
Level B2ClassicsMe: A Book of RemembranceA spirited seventeen-year-old leaves her troubled home with just ten dollars, chasing dreams of adventure and literary success in the distant West Indies.
Level B2ClassicsMcTeague: A Story of San FranciscoA towering but slow-witted dentist in San Francisco clings to simple pleasures—food, drink, and music—while dreaming of success beyond his modest dental parlor, all shadowed by mem…
Level B2ClassicsMayne Reid: A Memoir of his LifeBorn into a strict Irish family, a young man rejects a planned clerical path to embrace a life of adventure and survival in the untamed American frontier, confronting wild landscap…
Level B2ClassicsMayflower (Flor de mayo): A Tale of the Valencian SeashoreOn the Valencian seashore, a fishing fleet battles a sudden, fierce storm that threatens lives and livelihoods, while shorebound families grapple with fear and hope amid the raging…
Level B2ClassicsMaximinaIn a quiet coastal village, Miguel returns eagerly to his beloved Maximina on the eve of their wedding, navigating bashfulness and village gossip amid the soft glow of twilight and…
Level B2ClassicsMattie:—A Stray (Vol 2 of 3)Mattie faces suspicion and loss in a shop shadowed by distrust and past secrets.
Level B2ClassicsMaterfamiliasA young woman faces heartbreak and estrangement when her father marries her governess, forcing her to leave home and marry secretly.
Level B2ClassicsMaster of MenA hardworking mechanic escapes the grime of the industrial town to find solace in his secluded hilltop cottage, where nature’s beauty and a haunting memory of a mysterious woman st…
Level B2ClassicsMashi, and Other StoriesIn a quiet household shadowed by illness, a young woman wrestles with duty and desire, torn between caring for her ailing husband and longing to visit her family.
Level B2ClassicsMary Jane Married: Tales of a Village InnA former servant turned landlady pours heart and humor into running a charming village inn, revealing the trials and triumphs behind the cozy facade.
Level B2ClassicsMary Broome: A Comedy, in Four ActsIn a lively suburban household preparing for a wedding, tensions and playful rivalries surface among family and friends, especially surrounding the enigmatic Leonard, whose charm a…
Level B2ClassicsMarshal of SundownIn the dusty frontier town of Sundown, newcomer Jim Torrance arrives with sharp eyes and a quiet purpose, crossing paths with the enigmatic Sally Dawn Cannon and stirring the ambit…
Level B2ClassicsMark Twain: A Biography. Volume III, Part 2: 1907-1910Follow the final years of a legendary writer as he revisits old friends and cherished places, while receiving unexpected honors and reflecting on a life woven with adventure, humor…
Level B2ClassicsMark Twain: A Biography. Volume II, Part 1: 1886-1900At forty, Mark Twain stands at the peak of his fame, besieged by admirers, petitioners, and eccentric correspondents eager to claim a piece of his legendary wit and influence.
Level B2ClassicsMark Twain's Letters — Volume 3 (1876-1885)Dive into the lively world of Hartford’s literary elite, where Mark Twain’s sharp wit and vivid storytelling spark spirited debates and reveal the moral complexities of everyday li…
Level B2ClassicsMark Twain's Letters — Volume 2 (1867-1875)Journey through the restless years of a bold traveler and humorist as he navigates lectures, voyages, and literary beginnings, capturing the trials and triumphs behind his celebrat…
Level B2ClassicsMark Twain's Burlesque AutobiographyDive into a wildly humorous and unconventional family history that satirizes noble lineages, featuring sharp wit, outrageous ancestors, and playful tales spanning centuries of misa…
Level B2ClassicsMarion: The Story of an Artist's ModelA young girl from a large immigrant family discovers her own beauty and dreams of fame while navigating the challenges of childhood and her father's artistic world.
Level B2ClassicsMarianelaA determined traveler loses his way in the mysterious, silent hills near the famed mines of Socartes, where eerie solitude and tangled paths test his resolve.
Level B2ClassicsMargery DawAfter a devastating train collision near Chesterham, a mysterious woman lies lifeless while a young child, her striking double, is found alone amidst the wreckage—sparking question…
Level B2ClassicsMarching MenIn the grim mining town of Coal Creek, a fiery red-haired boy named Beaut McGregor is marked by intense hatred for his fellow men and dreams of discipline and purpose in a disorgan…
Level B2ClassicsMany inventionsAmid the eerie fog of the English Channel, a lighthouse keeper and a visitor share tales of sea voyages, shipwrecks, and the vital role of lighthouses guiding vessels through treac…
Level B2ClassicsMany happy returns of the day!Celebrate the quirks and reflections of birthdays through the eyes of a man who finds humor and meaning in marking another year alive, amidst a world where millions share the same…
Level B2ClassicsMany cargoesA quirky skipper’s obsession with medical diagnoses turns a slow voyage aboard the John Elliott into a humorous tale of feigned illnesses and shipboard antics, as crew members adop…
Level B2ClassicsMan to ManA restless man returns to his ancestral mountain ranch after years at sea, only to encounter a mysterious young woman in peril by a lake.