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 C1ClassicsThe Two Guardians: or, Home in This WorldIn a tranquil Devonshire setting, a spirited young girl navigates everyday joys and trials alongside her companions, embodying quiet strength and self-sacrifice.
Level C1ClassicsThe Two BrothersIn 1792, amidst the quiet town of Issoudun, a stern doctor’s troubled household reveals the harsh realities of paternal authority and domestic strife, where societal expectations c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Twins: A Domestic NovelIn the quiet coastal town of Burleigh-Singleton, a young wife faces the trials of separation from her soldier husband, torn between duty, love, and personal interest as their fragi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Twins of Table Mountain, and Other StoriesHigh atop a serene mountain, two identical brothers carve out a solitary life, their calm retreat contrasting with distant worldly conflicts and the wild nature surrounding their e…
Level C1ClassicsThe Twa Miss DawsonsIn a modest Scottish town, young Jean Dawson defies expectations by fiercely protecting her family and forging her own path through shrewd business and quiet determination.
Level C1ClassicsThe TurnstileIn the sweltering heat of an Argentine estancia, a wealthy couple contemplates leaving their hard-won life behind to return to England, torn between the comfort of old ties and the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Turn of the BalanceAmidst the first snow of winter, Elizabeth Ward finds solace in the quiet beauty outside her window, while the world beyond buzzes with untold stories of duty, pride, and unexpecte…
Level C1ClassicsThe Turkish Jester: or, The Pleasantries of Cogia Nasr Eddin EffendiFollow the witty and whimsical Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi as he spins clever tales and humorous anecdotes that challenge common sense and delight his congregation with unexpected wisd…
Level C1ClassicsThe Truth About an AuthorDive into a candid literary autobiography that shatters romanticized illusions about the writing life, revealing the harsh realities of earning a living by the pen and the mixed re…
Level C1ClassicsThe Truth About Tristrem Varick: A NovelA young heir shocks New York by relinquishing a seven-million-dollar fortune to a hospital, defying society's expectations and sparking rumors of madness.
Level C1ClassicsThe Trumpeter SwanIn the aftermath of war, a young Virginian returns to his ancestral home, grappling with pride, sacrifice, and change as he journeys through rain-soaked landscapes aboard a delayed…
Level C1ClassicsThe TruantsPamela Mardale lives a seemingly perfect life, yet those closest to her sense a hidden struggle beneath her composed exterior.
Level C1ClassicsThe Troll Garden, and Selected StoriesIn the harsh Nebraska plains, Canute battles isolation and the relentless forces of nature, surrounded by eerie carvings that tell of struggle and despair.
Level C1ClassicsThe Triumph of DeathIn a shadowed Rome, two lovers confront the unsettling chill creeping into their bond as they witness a tragic suicide, forcing them to face the agonies of love, suspicion, and des…
Level C1ClassicsThe Triumph Of Night: 1916A young secretary stranded in a bitter New Hampshire winter meets an unexpected ally while waiting for a forgotten sleigh, leading to a chance invitation that might just thaw the c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trimmed Lamp, and Other Stories of the Four MillionTwo young women escape rural poverty to work in the bustling city, each choosing a different path—one in a laundry, the other in a shop—while navigating ambition, appearance, and r…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trials of a Country ParsonA country parson returns to his rural parish to navigate the complex social fabric, confronting both the faults and virtues of his community while striving to uplift and understand…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trial; Or, More Links of the Daisy ChainIn a quiet parsonage, the Rivers family navigates the joys and strains of recent weddings, youthful love, and whispered family secrets, while illness and change loom just beyond th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trespasser, CompleteA man leaves the familiar North behind to confront the clash between the refined traditions of England and the untamed vigor of the colonies, exploring identity and belonging amid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trembling of the VeilA young artist wrestles with the fading charm of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and the rise of modern skepticism, capturing the vibrant tensions of art, tradition, and youth in late…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tree of Knowledge: A NovelA young artist escapes London’s dreariness to a serene English valley, where idyllic landscapes and simple village life awaken his imagination and stir dreams of transformation and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Travelling Companions: A Story in ScenesTwo very different men meet to embark on a meticulously planned European tour, navigating the chaos and charm of travel arrangements, contrasting personalities, and unexpected adve…
Level C1ClassicsThe Translation of a Savage, CompleteA man’s ill-fated marriage to a mixed-blood woman from the Canadian wilderness sparks scandal and challenges societal prejudices, exploring the transformation of a "savage" into a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Training of a Public SpeakerMaster the art of public speaking with timeless guidance on persuasion, clarity, and eloquence tailored for modern audiences.
Level C1ClassicsThe Trail of ConflictTwo powerful families negotiate a high-stakes ultimatum: a marriage alliance to secure fortunes and legacies, as ambition and tradition clash over love, loyalty, and the price of s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragic MuseA young man abandons public life to pursue a challenging artistic craft, navigating the clash between creative passion and societal expectations.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragic BrideIn a fading Irish baronetcy, a mysterious marriage drapes Gabrielle Hewish in silence, intertwining her fate with that of Arthur Payne and a secret that promises to unravel beneath…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragedy of Pudd'nhead WilsonIn the charming town of Dawson’s Landing, a sharp-witted lawyer known as Pudd’nhead Wilson navigates a world where identity and justice intertwine, revealing how truth can be twist…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragedies of SenecaExplore the gripping world of Roman tragedy where stoic philosophy meets intense drama, revealing the roots of Western theater through Seneca’s powerful adaptations of Greek classi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragedies of Euripides, Volume I.Dive into the gripping world of ancient Greek tragedy, where gods and mortals clash in tales of fate, passion, and revenge.
Level C1ClassicsThe Trader's Wife: 1901In the sultry South Seas, a wealthy trader returns to Levuka with his beautiful wife, stirring tensions beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic life.
Level C1ClassicsThe Toys of Peace, and Other PapersDive into a collection of sharp, witty tales that blend youthful joy with life’s poignant realities, inspired by a spirited writer who found beauty and satire in both the wild wood…
Level C1ClassicsThe Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737)In a world where every trifle tells a tale, a witty Toy Shop master dispenses sharp satire and moral lessons from the smallest objects.
Level C1ClassicsThe TouchstoneA man haunted by his unfulfilled love for a brilliant yet distant woman wrestles with regret and longing as he confronts the fading memory of their tragic relationship amid the pub…
Level C1ClassicsThe Torrent (Entre Naranjos)A celebrated young deputy returns to his sun-drenched hometown, basking in the adulation of its people while reflecting on his childhood and the political legacy he inherits.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tobacco Tiller: A Tale of the Kentucky Tobacco FieldsJourney into Kentucky’s tobacco fields, where the harsh toil and intricate history of tobacco cultivation unfold through the lives of those who depend on this demanding crop for th…
Level C1ClassicsThe TitanEmerging from prison and stripped of his social standing, Frank Cowperwood sets out to rebuild his fortune far from Philadelphia's staid world.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tinker's WeddingIn a rustic Irish village, a tinker struggles to craft a wedding ring while his spirited partner pushes for marriage, revealing tensions, humor, and dreams amid their rugged, wande…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tiger LilyA sharp-faced man battles relentless pain and faces a risky operation with the help of a young surgeon and an unexpected, compassionate nurse.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tidal Wave and Other StoriesOn a sunlit shore, Rufus the Red, a solitary fisherman with fierce blue eyes, navigates tense relationships and looming challenges, while his steadfast partner Adam faces unexpecte…
Level C1ClassicsThe Thunders of SilenceA charismatic congressman faces fierce opposition and accusations as he champions a controversial message of world peace during a time of war, risking everything to awaken a divide…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three PartnersThree partners strike gold on a remote mountain, yet their newfound wealth brings unexpected silence and tension.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three FatesA father ruined by financial betrayal pins his hopes on a son who rejects the world of business and finance, choosing instead a path driven by ideals and the pen.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three ComradesThree orphans—Petrik, Ondrejko, and their faithful dog Fido—find solace and brotherhood under the stern watch of "Bacha" Filina in a remote mountain hut, where survival and friends…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 5Amid the shadowy grandeur of Rome, a young priest named Pierre wrestles with grief and compassion after a tragic loss, seeking solace within the silent, solemn halls of the Vatican…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 4In the intricate and secretive world of ecclesiastical politics, Pierre navigates a maze of cautious alliances and hidden adversaries as he seeks support for his controversial book…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 5Two brothers navigate the shadowy streets of Paris on the eve of a grim execution, confronting the city's stark contrasts—from its monumental basilica to the desperate souls that h…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 4As Pierre accompanies Guillaume to Montmartre, they reunite with a family deeply devoted to their crafts and each other, where work and love intertwine under the warm spring sun.