Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
1,170 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.
- 1,170
- books
Level B2ClassicsThe light: An educational pageantA city struggles to balance its budget, reluctantly planning cuts to education, when a mysterious figure named Education appears, carrying a symbolic lamp that promises guidance th…
Level B2ClassicsThe last crashA seasoned pilot haunted by fate shares a chilling tale of a crash that defies explanation, where every detail seems predestined and death wears a mysterious, almost serene smile.
Level B2ClassicsThe land of mistIn post-war London, a grieving but fiery Professor Challenger and his strong-willed daughter Enid join forces with journalist Edward Malone to investigate mysterious spiritual phen…
Level B2ClassicsThe hermit of Turkey HollowIn a remote shanty, a hermit and a tramp debate life, death, and the unseen worlds beyond, where ghosts and souls take wing like moths and butterflies.
Level B2ClassicsThe heel of AchillesA sharp-witted twelve-year-old girl, Lydia, navigates life as an orphan whose family values her more as a symbol of loss than for who she truly is, challenging the expectations pla…
Level B2ClassicsThe heart of Happy HollowIn a bustling Negro quarter, Robinson Asbury rises from bootblack to barber and lawyer, becoming a powerful community leader who defies expectations by staying true to his roots.
Level B2ClassicsThe girl with the green eyesIn a world of lavish weddings and hidden secrets, a young couple’s secret marriage and the burdens they carry threaten to unravel their lives.
Level B2ClassicsThe girl at Silver ThistleIn the remote desert station of Silver Thistle, Nevada Buckley’s quiet life revolves around the comings and goings of trains, especially the mysterious "Special" that might hold un…
Level B2ClassicsThe field of amber goldCaught in a fierce Dakota blizzard, John Grahame battles brutal cold and swirling snow to reach safety, only to discover a stranded stranger whose survival depends on a desperate g…
Level B2ClassicsThe day's journeyIn a tranquil English countryside, Rose Summers visits her cousin Cecily, now living quietly at the Priory with her husband Robert Kingslake, a struggling writer.
Level B2ClassicsThe convolvulus: a comedy in three actsIn a stylish New York parlor, family secrets and unexpected proposals unfold over afternoon tea, as Jack grapples with his absent father's mysterious disappearance and the eccentri…
Level B2ClassicsThe coast guardsmanAubrey Sears, a dedicated coast guardsman, faces suspicion and rivalry as he prepares to inherit the Number One surfman post amidst Cape Cod’s fierce smuggling battles.
Level B2ClassicsThe closed doorA stormy shipwreck reveals a tangled web of love and secrets between Captain Harry Owen, his unsuspecting wife, and the enigmatic Kitty Melrose.
Level B2ClassicsThe children of DickensStep into Dickens’s London, a bustling maze of narrow alleys, crowded streets, and lively riverfronts filled with colorful characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways, rev…
Level B2ClassicsThe black spaniel, and other storiesIn the vibrant setting of Rome’s Grand Hotel, two very different men—an ailing London doctor and a cultured traveler—are introduced, sparking a tense clash of beliefs about humanit…
Level B2ClassicsThe black cat, vol. I, no. 6, March 1896A wealthy and enigmatic heiress known for her eccentric charm and mysterious rejections leaves behind a will that stirs society into a frenzy, promising unexpected fortunes to her…
Level B2ClassicsThe black cat, vol. I, no. 5, February 1896A New Yorker’s Parisian adventure takes a mysterious turn when a beautiful stranger slips him a cryptic French card, leading to unexpected evictions and a puzzling warning that thr…
Level B2ClassicsThe black cat, vol. I, no. 4, January 1896Beneath ancient Jerusalem lies a vast labyrinth of man-made caverns, holding secrets carved from Solomon’s time.
Level B2ClassicsThe black cat, vol. I, no. 1, October 1895In the lawless early days of a wild state, Bill Bowen recalls a deadly rivalry sparked by love, gambling, and gold, where honor, passion, and violence collide under the relentless…
Level B2ClassicsThe big townA man and his wife, newly wealthy from an unexpected inheritance, move from a small Midwestern town to bustling New York City with hopes of finding a husband for his sister-in-law.
Level B2ClassicsThe best stories of Sarah Orne Jewett, Volume 2 (of 2)In a twilight forest, a solitary girl navigates the shadows with her elusive cow, encountering a mysterious hunter who disrupts her peaceful world.
Level B2ClassicsThe beating heartA lively honeymoon party journeys through a moonlit wilderness, oblivious to the lurking dangers and quiet observer Miss Smith, whose poised demeanor hides a deep, unfulfilled year…
Level B2ClassicsThe bar actWhen rodeo star Len Carter combines auto parts with his daring trick riding, the competition is stunned and on edge.
Level B2ClassicsThe Youth of Parnassus, and Other StoriesAn American student arrives at Oxford from the burgeoning town of Parnassus City, Indiana, bringing fresh perspectives and cultural clashes to the ancient halls.
Level B2ClassicsThe Young Mountaineers: Short StoriesIn a rugged mountain ravine known as Old Daddy’s Window, eerie figures appear on sheer cliffs, stirring fear and mystery among the local families.
Level B2ClassicsThe Yellow Pearl: A Story of the East and the WestCaught between two worlds, a young woman of mixed American and Chinese heritage navigates cultural clashes and family tensions as she leaves the East behind for a new life in Ameri…
Level B2ClassicsThe World's Greatest Books — Volume 03 — FictionIn a small French town where hunting is a grand yet capricious pastime, Tartarin, a boastful yet good-hearted hunter, dreams of glory amid his collection of exotic weapons and tall…
Level B2ClassicsThe Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 2A devoted father navigates the stifling tensions of a household where love is shadowed by constant reproach and simmering conflicts between servants and wife.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wolves of God, and Other Fey StoriesA man returns to his remote Orkney island home after decades in the wild Canadian wilderness, haunted by memories of endless forests and seeking solace in familiar shores and famil…
Level B2ClassicsThe Witch's HeadErnest, a proud boy orphaned and disinherited, arrives at his uncle’s home where secrets, family grudges, and mysterious wards await.
Level B2ClassicsThe Witch HypnotizerA solitary woman with an uncanny power to influence minds uses her gift to heal and uplift a troubled neighborhood, confronting the dark grip of addiction and despair with compassi…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume X (of X)Dive into a lively collection of American wit, humor, and maxims, featuring colorful characters, sharp observations, and vivid sketches of life’s quirks and adventures across the c…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume VIII (of X)Step into a Southern plantation where tradition meets change, as a restless young woman named Miss Lady confronts the quiet tension brought by a mysterious railroad and unexpected…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume VII. (of X.)A young reporter dives into the mysterious comings and goings at a high-end apartment, encountering a baffling tale of mistaken identity and secretive tenants.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wit and Humor of America, Volume VI. (of X.)Journey through the serene French countryside from Paris to the porcelain village of Sèvres, exploring royal palaces, historical figures, and quaint local customs with a touch of h…
Level B2ClassicsThe WinepressA devoted pastor and his thoughtful wife settle into their new home beside a stately church, where faith, service, and the mysteries of life intertwine in a community striving for…
Level B2ClassicsThe Wind Before the DawnUnder the relentless Kansas sun, a determined fourteen-year-old girl tends to her cattle while facing the prospect of her family’s land being sold and a life-changing move.
Level B2ClassicsThe White VirginIn a world of old mines and family tensions, a young man navigates love, loyalty, and a potentially fortune-making venture while contending with jealous rivals and protective elder…
Level B2ClassicsThe White PeopleA lonely heiress in a remote Scottish castle recounts her strange, secret experiences and the mysterious legacy of her vanished parents.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wheels of TimeA devoted doctor balances his demanding medical practice with the tender life he shares in a sunlit rose-garden home, where love, family, and the mysteries of the human mind intert…
Level B2ClassicsThe Web of TimeA devoted wife waits anxiously for her husband, whose descent into addiction threatens to unravel their once-happy family life amid the turmoil of labor strikes and hardship.
Level B2ClassicsThe Way to PeaceA restless woman and her scholarly husband embark on a strenuous morning climb, seeking a view that promises something beyond the ordinary.
Level B2ClassicsThe Way of the WindA young woman leaves her peaceful Kentucky hometown, braving the fears of storms and the unknown, to follow her husband's dream of fortune in the restless, wind-swept West.
Level B2ClassicsThe Way OutIn the rugged Cumberland hills, a young man’s love of music clashes with his preacher father’s stern religious convictions, igniting a fierce family and spiritual conflict that cha…
Level B2ClassicsThe Water-FindersIn the drought-stricken village of Willowton, three unlikely companions gather by a dwindling stream, setting the stage for a gripping tale of survival, community struggles, and th…
Level B2ClassicsThe Water Goats, and Other TroublesIn a small town, Mayor Dugan and his crafty council plot to win public favor with a new park featuring two gondolas on the lake—though their true motives hint at political scheming…
Level B2ClassicsThe War-WorkersIn a bustling wartime depot, the tireless Miss Vivian leads a group of dedicated volunteers managing troop arrivals and vital supplies.
Level B2ClassicsThe Walking DelegateHigh above the city, steelworkers brave dizzying heights to build a towering hotel, while a tough contractor and his vigilant foreman navigate the tensions and dangers of a massive…