Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
3,360 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 The Boy in the Bush, The Boy Grew Older and The Bostonians, Vol. II (of II). 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.
- 3,360
- books
Level C1ClassicsThe Bickerstaff-Partridge PapersA sharp critique of astrology exposes the folly of almanac-makers while promising a new, rational approach to predictions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bibliotaph, and Other PeopleDive into the passionate world of bibliophiles where collecting rare books becomes an art of obsession, humor, and devotion.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beth Book: Being a Study of the Life of Elizabeth Caldwell Maclure, a Woman of GeniusIn a world where women accept their lot without question, one delicate mother’s quiet suffering and unfulfilled dreams set the stage for a remarkable life.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Vol. V (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland IIIDive into the vibrant world of 18th-century Britain through the eyes of a young Scottish lawyer determined to befriend the formidable Dr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume III (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland IExplore the timeless wisdom and knowledge preserved in books, where truth shines brighter than gold and rulers and scholars alike find guidance.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VIII (of X) - Continental Europe II.Explore the tension between majority rule and individual rights as power concentrates in democratic societies, questioning whether freedom can survive when the majority’s will beco…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VI (of X)—Great Britain and Ireland IVExplore the early years of a transformative religious movement through the reflections of a devoted scholar at Oxford, as he navigates friendships, faith, and the stirring beginnin…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. IX (of X) - America - IEncounter the vivid and perilous early days of America’s first English settlements through the dramatic story of John Smith and Pocahontas, revealing alliances, betrayals, and the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. IV (of X)—Great Britain and Ireland IIDive into a rich collection of prose that captures the wit and social nuances of Britain and Ireland from 1672 to 1800, exploring themes of friendship, flattery, and human nature t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best Letters of Charles LambDive into the intimate world of a beloved literary circle, where wit, friendship, and lively debates unfold over hearty meals and late-night gatherings.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best American Humorous Short StoriesDive into a curated collection of American short stories that blend sharp wit with literary craft, capturing humor’s broad spectrum from frontier satire to playful exaggeration.
Level C1ClassicsThe Berkeleys and their neighborsIn post-Civil War Virginia, the Campdown race-course becomes a stage for a community clinging to old traditions and fading grandeur, where hope and hardship intertwine in a world s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Benefit of the Doubt; a Comedy in Three ActsIn a sunlit drawing-room near Regent’s Park, the suspense of a high-stakes divorce case grips a fashionable family, as they await a verdict that could clear a young woman’s name an…
Level C1ClassicsThe BenefactressAt twenty-five, Anna Estcourt wrestles with the emptiness of a life shaped by dependence on her wealthy sister-in-law and societal expectations of marriage.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bellman Book of Fiction, 1906-1919Amidst wartime turmoil, a mute and deaf peasant named Le Muet navigates danger and suspicion with silent resilience, accompanied only by his loyal dog.
Level C1ClassicsThe Belle's StratagemIn a lively London setting, a witty gentleman navigates high society’s intrigues and romantic entanglements, as new arrivals and family schemes stir the fashionable world.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bell-Ringer of Angel's, and Other StoriesIn a secluded riverside settlement transformed by gold discovery, a sharpshooting prospector known as the Bell-ringer of Angel's guards his peaceful domain while new fortunes and r…
Level C1ClassicsThe BelfryA young journalist’s chance encounter with a passionate, unconventional sports reporter sparks a story woven with risk, ambition, and the untold depths behind public personas, reve…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beldonald HolbeinAn artist is invited to paint Lady Beldonald, a beautiful yet elusive American woman whose life seems frozen by vanity and circumstance.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bed-Book of Happiness: Being a colligation or assemblage of cheerful writings brought together from many quarters into this one compass for the diversion, distraction, and delight of those who lie abed,—a friend to the invalid, a companion to the sleepless, an excuse to the tiredFind comfort and cheer in a curated collection of uplifting writings designed to brighten the spirits of the ill, the sleepless, and the weary, offering a gentle escape and a frien…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beaux-StratagemTwo charming rogues devise a clever scheme to marry rich women and escape their debts, sparking a whirlwind of wit, deception, and romance that unfolds in a single, lively day and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beauty Of The VillageIn the quaint village of Aberleigh, Hannah Colson reigns as the undeniable beauty, adored yet spoiled by family and neighbors alike.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beautiful and DamnedA young man, heir to a vast fortune and burdened by high society's expectations, grapples with irony, honor, and his place in a world teetering between grandeur and decay.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beautiful Wretch; The Pupil of Aurelius; and The Four MacnicolsSeventeen-year-old Nan Beresford, dubbed the "Beautiful Wretch" for her sharp wit and independent spirit, wanders the serene English coast, navigating the challenges of youth, fami…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beautiful LadyA young Neapolitan actor's dreams of the stage are dashed, forcing him into a humiliating role as a living billboard in the heart of Paris.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beast in the JungleA man attends a grand estate tour, where a chance encounter with a mysterious woman stirs a forgotten past and unspoken tensions, setting the stage for a haunting exploration of me…
Level C1ClassicsThe Battle of the Books, and other Short PiecesAmidst a fierce literary quarrel between defenders of Ancient and Modern writers, a sharp-witted scholar navigates rivalries with wit and satire.
Level C1ClassicsThe Battle of LifeAmidst the peaceful English countryside lies a forgotten battlefield, where nature thrives over the scars of a fierce and bloody fight.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bath Keepers; Or, Paris in Those Days, v.2: (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume VIII)In a stormy Paris night, Ambroisine confronts the turmoil of family strife and unexpected visitors, revealing a world of hardship, loyalty, and secrets among the city's bath keeper…
Level C1ClassicsThe Barton ExperimentIn a small town united against alcohol, a grand temperance meeting brings together clergy, citizens, and reformers for a stirring call to battle King Alcohol.
Level C1ClassicsThe Baronet's Bride; Or, A Woman's VengeanceIn a grand estate shadowed by impending tragedy, Sir Jasper Kingsland faces a harrowing night as his wife lies gravely ill, forcing him to confront his past and the weight of his o…
Level C1ClassicsThe Baritone's Parish; or, "All Things to All Men"In a city church where pulpit and choir rarely connect, the new baritone singer forms an unexpected bond with the pastor, revealing the complex harmony between music, faith, and pe…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ball at SceauxA steadfast royalist and war hero struggles to reclaim his lost honor and fortune in post-revolutionary France, only to face cold indifference and political intrigue at the royal c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Babe, B.A. : being the uneventful history of a young gentleman at Cambridge UniversityA young undergraduate navigates the ordinary yet chaotic life of Cambridge University, where cricket, football mishaps, and academic trials shape the uneventful but spirited days o…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ayrshire Legatees; Or, The Pringle FamilyWhen Dr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening: (The Resurrection)In the oppressive confines of a city jail, a young woman named Maslova prepares to face trial, embodying the harsh clash between nature's renewal and human cruelty in a world blind…
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening, and Selected Short StoriesIn a vibrant coastal retreat, a woman begins to question the confines of her marriage and the roles imposed on her, as her restless spirit stirs beneath the surface of everyday lif…
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of ChildhoodAdolescents grapple with the harsh realities of ignorance and societal repression in a stark exploration of youthful innocence confronted by natural instincts.
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening of Helena RichieIn a small town marked by secrets and solitude, a widow's quiet life stirs curiosity as a doctor seeks a home for an orphaned boy.
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of an Ex-Colored ManBorn into a post-Civil War South, a fair-complexioned Black boy navigates the complex, often painful realities of race in America, uncovering hidden truths about identity, prejudic…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Super-TrampExperience the candid journey of a man living on society's edges, whose simple, poetic reflections reveal the raw truths of a life spent wandering as a super-tramp, untouched by li…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a SlanderIn a sleepy town where gossip reigns, a scandalous slander comes to life, weaving through social intrigues and whispered secrets.
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Play: Papers on Play-Making, IIExplore the art of play-making through the meticulous craft and human insight of a pioneering American dramatist, revealing how thoughtful construction and deep sympathy shape comp…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Journalist, Volume IA journalist reflects on his life’s journey from strict New England Puritan roots to intellectual freedom, sharing personal and public experiences that shaped his unique perspectiv…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of Mark Rutherford, Edited by his friend Reuben ShapcottA reflective soul wrestles with the weight of lofty ambitions and the pursuit of happiness amid ordinary life’s demands.
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of Goethe: Truth and Poetry: From My Own LifeJourney through a lifetime of poetic creation and self-reflection as a renowned artist arranges his works chronologically, revealing the passions, influences, and intellectual purs…
Level C1ClassicsThe Author's CraftA young, naive puppy’s fatal encounter with a motor-bus sparks a quiet spectacle of public opinion, authority, and human indifference on the streets of Fulham Road.
Level C1ClassicsThe Author of BeltraffioA young American writer nervously seeks out the elusive and brilliant author of "Beltraffio," hoping for insight into art and genius during an intimate visit in the English country…