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 So-called Human RaceWitty reflections and sharp observations dissect the quirks and follies of everyday life with a sunny, alert spirit.
Level C1ClassicsThe Smuggler's CaveIn a remote English village, a humble local pageant unexpectedly ignites scandal, gossip, and political upheaval, all sparked by an eager vicar's wife, a hospitable innkeeper, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Smart Set: Correspondence & ConversationsDive into the glittering world of New York high society as a determined hostess orchestrates a grand ball, navigating family tensions, social ambitions, and the clash between old m…
Level C1ClassicsThe Slim PrincessIn a land where feminine beauty is measured by weight, one slender princess defies tradition and society’s expectations, challenging the very notion of desirability in a world fixa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sleeping-Car: A FarceIn a bustling sleeping-car on the Boston and Albany Road, a young mother anxiously awaits a reunion with her long-lost brother, while curious passengers and quirky conversations se…
Level C1ClassicsThe Slaves of Society: A Comedy in CoversIn a lavish Berkeley Square drawing-room, a sharp-witted marchioness and her enigmatic companion navigate the gilded cage of high society, exposing its constraints and intrigues wi…
Level C1ClassicsThe SlanderersIn a windswept estate by the sea, the miserly Zeus Gildersedge clings to his wealth and isolation, while his innocent, idealistic daughter Joan grows up untouched by love or sin—he…
Level C1ClassicsThe Slanderer: 1901At a lively wedding feast, a harmless moment in the kitchen spirals into scandal when a mischievous assistant teacher spins a tale of a secret kiss, igniting gossip that threatens…
Level C1ClassicsThe Skipper and the Skipped: Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron SproulA seasoned sea captain, forced ashore by age and rheumatism, reluctantly takes over his late uncle’s tollhouse, trading the open ocean for a life filled with local characters, keen…
Level C1ClassicsThe Skin Game (A Tragi-Comedy)In a genteel English countryside, an aging landowner and his spirited daughter navigate the clash between tradition and modern ambition as new money challenges old social orders, s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sisters-In-Law: A Novel of Our TimeIn the heart of San Francisco's rigid old aristocracy, young Alexina defies her Victorian mother's strict social rules to explore the vibrant, new world of the city's restless yout…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sisters Rondoli, and Other StoriesA reluctant traveler finally embarks on a journey through Italy, confronting the discomforts of travel and the loneliness of unfamiliar places, while his companion finds meaning an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sins of the Cities of the Plain; or, The Recollections of a Mary-Ann: with Short Essays on Sodomy and TribadismAn intriguing encounter in Victorian London leads to a candid exploration of the secret lives and desires of a captivating young man known as a "Mary-Ann.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sins of the Children: A NovelAt Oxford during Commemoration, a spirited Rhodes scholar prepares to impress his visiting family while navigating friendship, rivalry, and the complex ties that bind youth and amb…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sin of Monsieur Antoine, Volume 1 (of 2)In a tranquil countryside setting, a mysterious young woman emerges amidst social tensions and hidden pasts, while a bold critique of society unfolds through interconnected lives m…
Level C1ClassicsThe Simpkins PlotAs Sir Gilbert Hawkesby rushes through a bustling train platform, he encounters a mysterious woman whose striking resemblance to his niece unsettles him.
Level C1ClassicsThe Silver Shield: An Original Comedy in Three ActsIn a stately English hall, artists and friends navigate creativity, creditors, and social expectations as a mysterious visitor arrives from Australia, stirring old alliances and ne…
Level C1ClassicsThe Silver PoppyIn a vibrant artist’s studio buzzing with bohemian charm and high society, a young poet named John Hartley navigates the clash between raw genius and societal expectations, where a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Silver FoxIn a snowy English manor, Lady Susan and her circle navigate sharp wit, social tensions, and unexpected hardships like a Sunday dinner shortage.
Level C1ClassicsThe Silver Domino; Or, Side Whispers, Social and LiteraryStep into a world of sharp wit and biting satire as social and literary elites face candid critiques and humorous parodies that expose their foibles with irresistible charm and aud…
Level C1ClassicsThe Silver Box: A Comedy in Three ActsIn a wealthy London household, a drunken son stumbles home with a stolen reticule, sparking a clash between social classes and hidden secrets.
Level C1ClassicsThe Silent MillAn old, decaying mill stands as a silent witness to a family's tragic past, where a fiery father's temper and his sons' fierce rivalry lead to devastating consequences.
Level C1ClassicsThe Silent IsleAn introspective traveler chooses a simple, deliberate life over restless complexity, exploring the quiet rhythms of a secluded landscape where still waters and silent fields evoke…
Level C1ClassicsThe Side Of The Angels: A NovelIn a changing English village, young doctor Thorley Masterman struggles to find his place among old family rivalries and shifting social tides.
Level C1ClassicsThe Shoulders of Atlas: A NovelA worn shoemaker battles the relentless weight of debt and fading dreams in an early spring town, where beauty and hardship intertwine.![Cover of The Short-story by William Patterson etc.] Atkinson](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dagmt8micedc739b6bh0.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe Short-storyExplore the art of storytelling through the evolution of the short story, from ancient myths to modern narratives, revealing how unity, originality, and economy of means craft comp…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shopkeeper Turned GentlemanA wealthy shopkeeper dreams of rising into the ranks of nobility, hiring masters to teach him music, dance, and the arts of a gentleman.
Level C1ClassicsThe Ship of StarsA boy named Taffy grows up in a mysterious old gate-house, surrounded by lace-making women and his bookish clergyman father.
Level C1ClassicsThe Shewing-up of Blanco PosnetA sharp critique of theatrical censorship unfolds through a detailed parliamentary inquiry, revealing the absurdity and contradictions of controlling art under the guise of moralit…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sheriffs Bluff: 1908In a remote Colonial county, the imposing Judge Lomax and the jovial Sheriff Aleck Thompson rule with contrasting styles—one of strict order and dignity, the other of charm and cun…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shepherd's Calendar. Volume I (of II)Amidst harsh winter storms and deep snow, a seasoned shepherd reflects on the hardships facing his flocks and the moral decay he believes curses the land, weaving a tale of nature,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shepherd of the HillsA weary stranger, out of place in the misty mountain wilderness, seeks shelter and meaning beyond gold mines and old legends.
Level C1ClassicsThe Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other TalesAmidst the tranquil Salisbury Plain, a humble shepherd’s simple wisdom and steadfast virtue illuminate the challenges and blessings of rural life, inviting reflection on faith, ind…
Level C1ClassicsThe She Boss: A Western StoryIn the rugged wilderness of Mendocino County, Hiram Hooker, a good-natured but misunderstood young man, faces rumors and judgment from his tight-knit community as he navigates a li…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shakespeare-Expositor: An Aid to the Perfect Understanding of Shakespeare's PlaysUnlock the mysteries of Shakespeare’s plays with detailed corrections, insightful notes, and a comprehensive glossary designed to deepen your understanding beyond the simple text.
Level C1ClassicsThe Shakespeare MythUncover the mysteries behind the Shakespearean plays, exploring their publication history, textual changes, and the intriguing question of authorship in a detailed examination of t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shadowy Third, and Other StoriesA young nurse, drawn by a mysterious summons from the renowned surgeon Roland Maradick, finds her life entwined with his charm and the strange case he entrusts her to.
Level C1ClassicsThe Shadow of the CathedralIn the shadow of Spain’s majestic cathedrals, a bullfighter’s rise and fall unfolds amid passionate ambition, social divides, and ruthless devotion.
Level C1ClassicsThe Shadow of LifeA young orphan named Elspeth is sent to live with her distant relatives in a grand Scottish estate, where the mysterious house and surrounding moorland hold secrets and a haunting…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shadow of AshlydyatOn a crisp autumn morning in the English countryside, a revered but ailing nobleman defies his frailty to join the spirited meet of the hounds, where old rivalries and deep regrets…
Level C1ClassicsThe Shadow Line: A ConfessionA young man, restless and discontented, abandons his comfortable maritime life aboard an Eastern steamship to confront the mysterious threshold between youth and maturity.
Level C1ClassicsThe ShadowIn a stormy Southern night, a judge faces a personal crisis as a hidden family secret threatens to unravel his life and challenge his unwavering sense of justice.
Level C1ClassicsThe Seven Who Were HangedSeven condemned prisoners face their final hours before execution, each wrestling with fear, hope, and despair.
Level C1ClassicsThe Seven Poor TravellersOn Christmas Eve in the ancient city of Rochester, seven poor travellers gather at a quaint charity house offering lodging and scant provisions, where warmth and camaraderie ignite…
Level C1ClassicsThe Seven Plays in English VerseImmerse yourself in seven powerful Greek tragedies that explore fate, honor, and human struggle, from the defiant Antigone to the haunting Oedipus at Colonus, revealing the evoluti…
Level C1ClassicsThe Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and IndolenceA young mother transforms a bleak farmhouse and its surroundings into a vibrant haven, crafting a nurturing sanctuary for her eagerly awaited child.
Level C1ClassicsThe Seven Ages of ManExplore the early stages of human life through thoughtful reflections on infancy, revealing the mysteries and challenges of babyhood with humor and insight.
Level C1ClassicsThe SettlerIn the vast, untamed Park Lands of Manitoba, a determined settler confronts the harsh realities of frontier life, clashing over scarce resources and claiming his place in a land wh…