Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
5,467 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.
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Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10In a corrupt Italian court, the vengeful Vendice wields a skull as he plots dark retribution against those who have wronged him, weaving a chilling tale of deceit, lust, and ruthle…
Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 09In a lively London setting, two young couples navigate the challenges of early marriage, revealing the humorous and heartfelt trials of choosing a good wife amid clashing temperame…
Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08Dive into the turbulent life of Thomas Nash, a witty and controversial playwright whose sharp satire sparked fierce literary battles and led to imprisonment.
Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 06Explore five rare Old English plays blending allegory, history, and moral lessons, where abstract virtues and real characters collide on stage, revealing the complex evolution of e…
Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05A haunting ghost and the relentless force of Revenge set the stage for a gripping tale of political intrigue, betrayal, and tragic fate in the Spanish court.
Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 02Dive into a lively moral drama where Youth, full of pride and defiance, clashes with Charity, who urges him to embrace virtue before his fleeting days fade.
Level C1ClassicsA Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 01Explore the origins of English drama through a rich, chronologically arranged collection of rare plays and interludes, revealing the evolution of theatrical storytelling from anony…
Level C1ClassicsA Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 3 (of 3)Amid whispered deceptions and strained relationships, Sir Thomas clings to his health and freedom while Eleanor wrestles with forgiveness and unspoken desires, all under the watchf…
Level C1ClassicsA Second HomeIn a dim, narrow Parisian street, two women—an aging mother and her diligent daughter—endure a life of quiet hardship, their humble home a refuge amid the city's damp shadows and f…
Level C1ClassicsA Second ComingWhen a disheveled man bursts into a stiff London dinner party proclaiming that Christ has come again, disbelief clashes with curiosity as he recounts a strange, unsettling encounte…
Level C1ClassicsA Sappho of Green SpringsIn a dusty editorial office, a mysterious lumberman seeks the true identity of "White Violet," a poet whose verses capture the wild spirit of the forest with haunting truth and del…
Level C1ClassicsA Russian Proprietor, and Other StoriesA young nobleman abandons university to embrace rural life and improve the harsh conditions of his peasants, facing doubts from family and the challenge of turning idealism into tr…
Level C1ClassicsA Russian GentlemanIn a vivid portrait of ancestral Russia, a proud and fiery patriarch wrestles with family disputes and the lure of untamed lands, revealing a world of honor, tradition, and raw hum…
Level C1ClassicsA Rose of YesterdaySylvia receives an enigmatic etching from her guardian, sparking a quiet contemplation of fate, honor, and unseen sorrows as she journeys home from Japan.
Level C1ClassicsA Rose in JuneIn the tranquil garden of Dinglefield Rectory, a gentle rector cherishes his refined pleasures while his daughter, the radiant Rose, embodies innocence and natural joy, untouched b…
Level C1ClassicsA Romany of the Snows, vol. 2: Being a Continuation of the Personal Histories of "Pierre and His People" and the Last Existing Records of Pretty PierreIn a tense frontier town, Malachi faces a grim trial for shooting the young sheriff, staying silent while others defend him fiercely.
Level C1ClassicsA Romance of Youth — CompleteIn the heart of Paris, a young poet balances the humdrum of government office with his passionate pursuit of art and verse, capturing the quiet struggles and humble lives that ofte…
Level C1ClassicsA Rogue's LifeA man of noble birth but modest means recounts his unconventional upbringing and rebellious youth, exposing the quirks and contradictions of society through his candid and lively c…
Level C1ClassicsA Rill from the Town PumpAt the bustling town corner, a lively pump serves as the community's life source, offering refreshment and a stage for vivid tales of history, hardship, and human nature.
Level C1ClassicsA Righted Wrong: A Novel. Volume 3 (of 3)Two unlikely companions sit in the sunlit gardens of a grand mansion, their conversations shadowed by memories of a lost woman and a past that haunts the present.
Level C1ClassicsA Righted Wrong: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)Amid tangled emotions and whispered hopes, a letter arrives that could change Margaret's future, challenging her past and stirring a delicate struggle between duty and desire.
Level C1ClassicsA Righted Wrong: A Novel. Volume 1 (of 3)A woman boards a ship alone, haunted by a past she cannot escape and a home that has rejected her.
Level C1ClassicsA Ride Across PalestineTraveling alone through the stark deserts and sacred sites of Palestine, a solitary rider faces the wild landscapes and the customs of Bedouin protection.
Level C1ClassicsA Rich Man's Relatives (Vol. 3 of 3)Amid the upheaval of Scotland's church Disruption, a young Free Church minister discovers a mysterious baby washed ashore, sparking scandal and suspicion in a tight-knit rural pari…
Level C1ClassicsA Rich Man's Relatives (Vol. 2 of 3)In a remote Scottish parish during the Disruption of 1843, a young Free Church minister faces scandal and suspicion after rescuing a mysterious baby from a shipwreck, navigating th…
Level C1ClassicsA Rich Man's Relatives (Vol. 1 of 3)In a remote Scottish parish during the turbulent Disruption of the church, young Free Church minister Roderick Brown faces scandal and suspicion after rescuing a mysterious baby fr…
Level C1ClassicsA Reversible Santa ClausOn a snowy Christmas Eve, a seasoned crook known as "The Hopper" embarks on a desperate journey with stolen fortune in hand, seeking a fresh start while evading capture and temptat…
Level C1ClassicsA Rent In A CloudTwo young Englishmen, disillusioned yet bound by newfound friendship, share candid reflections on soldiering and legal careers as they wander through Europe, grappling with duty, a…
Level C1ClassicsA Red WallflowerA retired army officer lives quietly with his small family in a Connecticut village, shrouded in mystery and grief after his wife's death.
Level C1ClassicsA Record of Study in Aboriginal American LanguagesExplore the intricate structures and unique characteristics of Native American languages, revealing their deep connections to human cognition and the origins of speech, through a c…
Level C1ClassicsA Reckless Character, and Other StoriesIn a rigid, tradition-bound Russian household, young Mísha Polteff grows up under the watchful eyes of his strict father and melancholic mother, embodying a reckless spirit clashin…
Level C1ClassicsA Rebellious HeroineA determined author insists that a novelist’s true mission is to reveal life’s raw truth, capturing characters as they truly are without invention.
Level C1ClassicsA ReapingAt a dinner table, contrasting views on health reveal the divide between obsessive wellness seekers and those embracing life's pleasures despite illness.
Level C1ClassicsA Psychological Counter-Current in Recent FictionAmid the fading tide of romanticism, a brilliant yet troubled lawyer grapples with his own flaws and destiny against the vivid backdrop of Canadian life, exploring the clash betwee…
Level C1ClassicsA Protegee of Jack Hamlin's, and Other StoriesA young woman aboard the steamer Silveropolis teeters on the edge of despair, haunted by a reckless companion who has abandoned her.
Level C1ClassicsA Prose English Translation of HarivamshaExplore the cosmic origins and heroic tales of gods, kings, and demons in this prose translation of the Harivamsha, unfolding ancient myths from primeval creation to Krishna’s divi…
Level C1ClassicsA Princess of ThuleOn a bleak Scottish island, a lone man watches a steamer fade into the mist, bidding farewell to a beloved Sheila.
Level C1ClassicsA Prince of SinnersA young political agent dives into the gritty world of electioneering, navigating alliances and ambitions behind the scenes.
Level C1ClassicsA Prince of BohemiaIn the vibrant world of Parisian Bohemia, a young count navigates a life of wit, misfortune, and passionate love, embodying the restless spirit of an entire generation caught betwe…
Level C1ClassicsA Primer of Mayan HieroglyphicsExplore the enigmatic world of Mayan hieroglyphs through detailed analysis of their symbols, manuscripts, and inscriptions found across Central America.
Level C1ClassicsA Prairie CourtshipA young woman embarks on a daunting journey from sheltered life to the harsh prairies of western Canada, determined to carve out a new future despite poverty, isolation, and the re…
Level C1ClassicsA Practical NovelistAn unsuccessful writer vows to revolutionize storytelling by orchestrating a real-life novel, recruiting an unwitting millionaire he and his companions unexpectedly "kidnap" to sta…
Level C1ClassicsA Poor Man's HouseImmerse yourself in the daily struggles and simple joys of a poor fishing community, as one man abandons middle-class life to live among them, revealing unexpected nobility, hardsh…
Level C1ClassicsA Poor GentlemanTwo Penton families live mere miles apart yet worlds away in fortune and spirit—one steeped in grand, somber tradition, the other bustling with youthful energy amid decay and hards…
Level C1ClassicsA Political RomanceIn a quaint village, a seemingly trivial dispute over an old watch-coat spirals into a tangled web of parish politics, personal favors, and secret motives, revealing the complex hu…
Level C1ClassicsA Phyllis of the SierrasA young traveler in the Sierra foothills stumbles upon a rugged sawmill and a mysterious man named Bradley, setting him on a path through wild forests and hidden trails to deliver…
Level C1ClassicsA Phantom LoverAn artist becomes captivated by the enigmatic and hauntingly graceful Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsA Pessimist in Theory and PracticeTwo old friends reunite in the secluded woods, where one has abandoned society’s race for a simpler, more contemplative life.