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 Fluttered DovecoteAt eighteen, Laura Bozerne feels trapped in the stifling confines of Chester Square, her life marked by tears and turmoil as she begins to chronicle a year filled with emotional ch…
Level C1ClassicsA Florentine Tragedy; La Sainte CourtisaneIn a world where art defies censorship and scandal, a controversial play unfolds, exploring passion, power, and forbidden desires.
Level C1ClassicsA Fleet in Being: Notes of Two Trips With The Channel SquadronStep aboard a cutting-edge cruiser and join a youthful, daring crew as they navigate intricate naval maneuvers, balancing precision, speed, and camaraderie in the tense world of th…
Level C1ClassicsA First Family of TasajaraA remote general store in the struggling Sidon settlement faces relentless storms and stalled progress, as locals debate the future of their isolated community and the elusive prom…
Level C1ClassicsA Few Suggestions to McGraw-Hill Authors.: Details of manuscript preparation, typograpy, proof-reading and other matters in the production of manuscripts and books.Explore expert guidance on manuscript preparation, typography, and proofreading designed to help authors produce high-quality technical books with consistent style and editorial st…
Level C1ClassicsA Few Short SketchesAmid the glittering society of a grand reception, a mysterious young woman captivates with her perfumed gloves and elusive Russian violets, sparking a night of charm, intrigue, and…
Level C1ClassicsA Fearful Responsibility and Other StoriesA historian escapes the American Civil War’s turmoil to Venice, wrestling with guilt and purpose as he pursues his research amid a city under foreign rule and the shadow of impendi…
Level C1ClassicsA Far Country — CompleteA corporation lawyer reflects on his restless American youth, shaped by ambition, family expectations, and the clash between romantic dreams and stern Calvinist values.
Level C1ClassicsA Family Man : in three actsIn a quiet provincial town, John Builder balances family tensions and political ambitions as he contemplates reconciling with his estranged daughter while preparing to accept the m…
Level C1ClassicsA Fair PenitentA passionate French actress, known for her strength and fiery spirit, faces heartbreak when her lover rejects marriage, leading her to a profound spiritual awakening and a dramatic…
Level C1ClassicsA Fair JewessA dedicated but struggling doctor prepares to leave his impoverished Portsmouth practice for London, driven by ambition and compassion for those he must leave behind.
Level C1ClassicsA Face IlluminedA determined young artist, torn between ambition and inspiration, pours himself into a perfect painting as dusk falls, while his easygoing friend urges him to seize life's pleasure…
Level C1ClassicsA Duel in the Dark: An Original Farce, in One ActA husband’s flirtation with a mysterious veiled Countess turns into a tangled comedy of mistaken identity when his own wife, disguised and determined to test his fidelity, arrives…
Level C1ClassicsA DuelA newlywed woman discovers her husband's financial ruin and deceit, unraveling a web of lies involving his mother’s small shop and their dwindling fortunes.
Level C1ClassicsA Drift from Redwood CampIn the aftermath of a devastating flood, a shiftless outcast drifts into an uncharted wilderness, forced to rely on raw instinct and newfound acuity to survive amid hostile surroun…
Level C1ClassicsA Drama on the SeashoreA young dreamer, standing on a rocky seashore, envisions a future filled with grand ambitions and the joys of love.
Level C1ClassicsA Drake by George!When the larger-than-life Captain Drake arrives in the quiet parish of Highfield, his booming voice, exotic treasures, and imposing presence disrupt the local order, sparking confl…
Level C1ClassicsA Double KnotA young woman pleads for her mother's mercy after a scandalous betrayal threatens to shatter their family’s fragile peace.
Level C1ClassicsA Doctor of the Old School — CompleteIn a rugged Scottish village where hardy men defy the elements and tradition reigns, a devoted country doctor confronts the trials of rural life with unwavering courage and compass…
Level C1ClassicsA Distinguished Provincial at ParisA young provincial and a mysterious woman journey to Paris, where ambition, love, and social intrigue collide amid the city's unforgiving salons and hidden scandals.
Level C1ClassicsA Dissertation upon Roast PigIn a world where humans once ate meat raw, a young boy’s accidental fire reveals the delicious secret of roasting pork, sparking a surprising discovery that changes culinary histor…
Level C1ClassicsA Desperate Character and Other StoriesStep into the vivid world of 19th-century Russia through six tales that blend sharp realism with poetic insight, revealing the struggles of humble souls, the clash of ideals, and t…
Level C1ClassicsA Description of Millenium Hall: And the Country Adjacent Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants and Such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections As May Excite in the Reader Proper Sentiments of Humanity, and Lead the Mind to the Love of VirtueJourney into the serene Millenium Hall, a hidden retreat where virtue thrives away from society’s distractions, as a weary traveler discovers a community whose lives offer inspirin…
Level C1ClassicsA Deal in Wheat and Other Stories of the New and Old WestCaught in a fierce battle of grain speculation, a Kansas wheat farmer faces ruin as market prices plunge, forcing desperate choices against powerful brokers manipulating the future…
Level C1ClassicsA Day with Robert Louis StevensonStep into the vibrant world of Robert Louis Stevenson, a fiercely dedicated writer battling illness and obscurity to craft timeless tales of adventure and mystery.
Level C1ClassicsA Day with John MiltonExperience a day in the life of John Milton, the blind poet and staunch defender of liberty, as he navigates family tensions and the crushing disappointment of political defeat fol…
Level C1ClassicsA Day Well Spent: A Farce, in One ActWhen Cotton leaves his shop in the care of two seemingly reliable apprentices, a day of comedic chaos and mistaken identities unfolds, revealing the unpredictable consequences of a…
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of the Middle BorderA family returns to their Wisconsin homestead after years apart, seeking comfort and connection on the fading frontier.
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of the LandA determined young woman challenges her family's expectations and gender roles as she struggles to balance relentless household duties with her dream of education and independence…
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of To-DayIn a small town, Miss Kimpsey, a dedicated schoolteacher with a strong conscience, navigates the social complexities of Sparta as she prepares to approach the influential Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of EveIn a lavish Parisian boudoir, two sisters bound by love and tears navigate the intrigues of ambition and shifting fortunes amid the opulent yet fragile world of a rising banking fa…
Level C1ClassicsA Dark Night's WorkIn a small county town, the ambitious Edward Wilkins returns from his grand tour to join his father's legal practice, navigating the rigid social hierarchies of the local gentry an…
Level C1ClassicsA Cry in the WildernessDefying the suffocating heat and relentless city life, a young woman recovering from illness answers a mysterious advertisement seeking a strong, country-raised companion in the va…
Level C1ClassicsA Cruel EnigmaIn a world where passion defies conventions and inner desires clash with destiny, this novel unravels the complex psychology of love through the eyes of a poet and critic haunted b…
Level C1ClassicsA Crooked Path: A NovelIn a bustling London on the brink of change, a chance encounter saves a young boy from disaster, intertwining the fates of strangers navigating society’s demands and personal trial…
Level C1ClassicsA Country Gentleman and His FamilyA brilliant Oxford student defies convention, choosing personal passions over expected academic success, sparking concern among his mentors.
Level C1ClassicsA Country Doctor and Selected Stories and SketchesOn a warm November day, a weary woman struggles through darkening fields, carrying a sleeping child toward a mysterious farmhouse light.
Level C1ClassicsA Counterfeit Presentment; and, The Parlour CarTwo young artists seek inspiration and friendship in a quiet rural hotel as autumn approaches, battling creative frustrations and life's uncertainties.
Level C1ClassicsA Commonplace Book of Thoughts, Memories, and Fancies.: 2nd ed.Explore a rich tapestry of personal reflections, literary musings, and ethical insights gathered from a lifelong habit of thoughtful note-taking.
Level C1ClassicsA Comedy of Masks: A NovelIn the fading shipbuilding district of Blackpool Dock, a young artist finds inspiration amid the picturesque decay and quiet bustle of a forgotten riveryard, capturing its haunting…
Level C1ClassicsA Collection of Stories, Reviews and EssaysIn a harsh Nebraska homestead, a worn old fiddler clings to memories of his musical past while his stern son demands toil and sacrifice.
Level C1ClassicsA Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4Unearth rare Jacobean dramas including a mysterious double tragedy blending a chilling murder with a haunting tale akin to the Babes in the Wood.
Level C1ClassicsA Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3Dive into a witty and lively early 17th-century comedy where verbal sparring and merriment unfold around the affectations of a foolish knight and the sincere friendship between nob…
Level C1ClassicsA Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2Step into the world of early English drama with newly unveiled plays that blend sharp wit, stirring sea adventures, and lessons of Christian charity, featuring the daring exploits…
Level C1ClassicsA Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 1Dive into a vivid revival of forgotten Elizabethan drama where the ruthless spectacle of Nero’s reign unfolds through sharp wit, fierce conspiracies, and haunting classical echoes…
Level C1ClassicsA Collection of Kachári Folk-Tales and RhymesExplore the rich folklore and unique linguistic blend of the Kachári people through tales and rhymes collected from Assam's hill tribes, revealing a fascinating fusion of vocabular…
Level C1ClassicsA Circuit Rider's WifeA young bride joins her Methodist circuit-riding preacher husband, stepping into a world of rugged faith, church politics, and the struggles of rural ministry.
Level C1ClassicsA Cigarette-Maker's RomanceIn a modest Munich tobacconist's shop, lives intertwine against a backdrop of everyday struggle and quiet ambition, revealing the complex dramas hidden beneath ordinary existence i…