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 RapinIn the glittering salons of Paris, the reckless young Toto stirs trouble with wild generosity and charming mischief, defying his mother’s hopes and society’s expectations.
Level C1ClassicsThe Ramrodders: A NovelIn the quiet village of Fort Canibas, entrenched political power faces a rebellious surge as reformers rally behind the fiery "War Eagle" Ivus Niles, challenging the long-standing…
Level C1ClassicsThe RalstonsIn a rigidly proper family torn by conflicting ambitions, two daughters chart very different paths—one married into political power, the other still bound to the old family home.
Level C1ClassicsThe Rake's ProgressIn a fading English estate, whispers swirl around the charming Rose and her cousin Marius, whose return stirs tensions of love, scandal, and looming financial ruin.
Level C1ClassicsThe RainbowAmid the rich farmland and timeless rhythms of the Brangwen family, a woman yearns for a life beyond the earth-bound cycle of birth and harvest, seeking the distant world of knowle…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ragged Trousered PhilanthropistsIn a small English town, a group of building workers navigate the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, and class struggle, revealing the unseen hardships of working-class life…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queer Folk of Fife: Tales from the KingdomIn a sleepy Scottish town where life moves at an easy pace, local storytellers keep the community entertained with tales drawn from their rich memories and close-knit connections.
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen's Twin and Other StoriesAlong the rugged Maine coast, a curious visit to a hidden hilltop stirs memories of distant lands and untold stories, as a spirited woman ventures through wild swamps and forgotten…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen's Scarlet: The Adventures and Misadventures of Sir Richard FrayneCaught in the tangled debts of his cousin, Sir Richard Frayne faces unexpected demands from a persistent tailor, forcing him to confront financial and social entanglements that thr…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen of the Swamp, and other plain AmericansIn a lively 1846 Ohio community, festive Christmas gatherings bring neighbors together amidst faith, courtship, and rural life’s challenges.
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen PedauqueDive into the lively adventures and sharp wit of l'Abbé Jérôme Coignard, a man whose keen intellect and playful spirit weave through a tapestry of romance, intrigue, and religious…
Level C1ClassicsThe Quality of MercyIn a snowy village caught between winter’s hold and the promise of spring, a mysterious figure disrupts a quiet evening, stirring tensions among familiar faces and restless horses.
Level C1ClassicsThe Quaint Companions: With an Introduction by H. G. WellsIn a world grappling with race and identity, a compelling group of flawed yet vivid characters navigate personal ambitions and societal prejudices.
Level C1ClassicsThe PurseA young painter lost in his art suffers a sudden fall and is rescued by two mysterious women whose refined grace and gentle care awaken his curiosity and stir a tender, unexpected…
Level C1ClassicsThe Puritan WidowA grieving widow mourns her unmatched husband while her brother-in-law urges her to embrace life and consider remarriage, revealing a sharp contrast between sorrow and practical am…
Level C1ClassicsThe Purgatory of St. PatrickA drunken artisan is suddenly thrust into the lavish life of a duke, awakening to a dazzling world of courts and ceremonies that blurs the line between dream and reality.
Level C1ClassicsThe PupilA timid young tutor is hired to educate Morgan Moreen, an intelligent but sickly boy with a sharp tongue and mysterious family dynamics.
Level C1ClassicsThe Punster's Pocket-book: or, the Art of Punning Enlarged by Bernard Blackmantle, illustrated with numerous original designs by Robert CruikshankDive into the witty world where puns and playful jests ignite laughter and cleverness, enriched by original illustrations and a rich collection of puns from celebrated wits.
Level C1ClassicsThe Prussian OfficerA harsh Prussian captain leads his regiment through a scorching landscape, his rigid, cold demeanor clashing with the warm, instinctive vitality of his young orderly.
Level C1ClassicsThe ProvostA seasoned magistrate recounts his rise to power and the public duties that defined his life, revealing the wisdom and challenges behind his thrice-held office in the royal burgh o…
Level C1ClassicsThe ProtectorTwo rugged men navigate the wilds of British Columbia, having fought to claim a valuable mineral property amid fierce opposition.
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose of Alfred LichtensteinIn a shadowy city, Max Mechenmal, a small locksmith with grand ambitions, navigates a life of petty crime and unfulfilled desires until an enigmatic encounter with the mysterious K…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Writings of Heinrich HeineDive into a vivid exploration of 19th-century thought where fierce rebellion against tradition meets the quest for human freedom, blending sharp wit and profound philosophy in the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Works of William Wordsworth: For the First Time Collected, With Additions from Unpublished Manuscripts. In Three Volumes.Discover the rich prose behind a revered poet's legacy, unveiling unpublished works that reveal his political insights, personal reflections, and literary thoughts, all gathered fo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 09: Contributions to The Tatler, The Examiner, The Spectator, and The IntelligencerDive into sharp social and political critiques from early 18th-century England, where satire and statesmanship collide to challenge party power and public opinion with piercing ins…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 04: Swift's Writings on Religion and the Church — Volume 2Explore sharp and provocative writings that challenge the religious and political controversies of early 18th-century Ireland, revealing fierce debates over the Sacramental Test an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 03: Swift's Writings on Religion and the Church — Volume 1Explore the complex religious views and steadfast loyalty of a clergyman who navigates doubt, duty, and the challenges facing the Church of England in the eighteenth century, while…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07: Historical and Political Tracts-IrishDive into the sharp political and historical essays that reveal Ireland's complex struggles through the incisive voice of eighteenth-century satire and commentary.
Level C1ClassicsThe Prose Tales of Alexander PushkinA young sergeant’s unconventional education is upended by a scandalous French tutor’s downfall, setting the stage for a vivid tale of family, discipline, and coming of age in 18th-…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prophet's MantleIn a world where nobility clashes with tyranny, Count Michael Litvinoff, a revolutionary thinker, encounters a desperate gambler at Monte Carlo whose fate might intertwine with the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prophet of the Great Smoky MountainsIn the mist-shrouded Great Smoky Mountains, a young woman and a brooding ploughman grapple with visions, faith, and the haunting presence of evil as they navigate the rugged wilder…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prophet of Berkeley SquareIn a refined Berkeley Square drawing-room, a whimsical gentleman known as the Prophet peers through his telescope at the twinkling stars above London, while surrounded by ancestral…
Level C1ClassicsThe Promise of AirJoseph Wimble, indifferent yet curious, defies his father's social ambitions by marrying secretly and setting out with little more than £500 and his wife.
Level C1ClassicsThe Progressionists, and Angela.In a world where millions and marriage intertwine with political intrigue, a wealthy young landholder faces the turbulent elections that expose the corruption and follies of progre…
Level C1ClassicsThe Profligate: A Play in Four ActsA man haunted by his past sins faces a desperate choice as his wife, once innocent, returns with a heart full of forgiveness, challenging the harsh finality of his downfall in this…
Level C1ClassicsThe Profession of Journalism: A Collection of Articles on Newspaper Editing and Publishing, Taken From the Atlantic MonthlyExplore the vital role newspapers play in shaping public opinion and democracy, as this collection unpacks the challenges, ethics, and influence of journalism through expert insigh…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prodigals and Their Inheritance; vol. 2In the wake of a father's sudden death, Winifred grapples with grief, guilt, and shifting relationships, while Edward Langton steps into a new role amidst household turmoil and uns…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prodigals and Their Inheritance; vol. 1A father confronts the painful reckoning of his wayward sons who have squandered their promising inheritance, while his daughter clings to hope and loyalty amid family strife and s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prodigals and Their Inheritance; CompleteA father confronts the bitter reality of his two wayward sons, whose reckless choices have shattered his hopes and pride.
Level C1ClassicsThe Prodigal SonIn the rugged, moonlit landscape of Iceland, youthful Thora Neilsen awakens to a day filled with promise and complicated affections, as she prepares for the annual sheep-gathering—…
Level C1ClassicsThe Prodigal FatherIn Edinburgh, the esteemed solicitor Heriot Walkingshaw shocks society with an inexplicable public outburst that threatens his impeccable reputation.
Level C1ClassicsThe Problem ClubTwelve gentlemen gather monthly to solve peculiar, often perplexing problems, competing for a substantial prize while navigating social quirks and secretive club customs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Private Papers of Henry RyecroftA struggling writer, long burdened by poverty and disappointment, finally finds peace and quiet in the Devon countryside after an unexpected inheritance.
Level C1ClassicsThe PrisonerTwo sisters and their stepfather arrive in the quiet town of Addington, carrying hopes and secrets as they settle into the old Blake house.
Level C1ClassicsThe Principles of Success in LiteratureExplore how literature evolves as both a reflection and driver of social progress, revealing the ambitions, challenges, and principles that shape success in the literary world.
Level C1ClassicsThe Princess of Bagdad: A Play In Three ActsIn a lavish drawing-room shadowed by mounting debts, a young man grapples with the ruin brought on by his wife's reckless spending and a family inheritance locked by strict conditi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Princess Priscilla's FortnightA poised princess bound by strict etiquette finds her gilded life in a stifling palace more burden than blessing, as the grand duchy’s beauty contrasts sharply with the dull, oppre…
Level C1ClassicsThe Princess Casamassima: A NovelIn a cluttered London street, a mysterious visitor seeks a boy named Hyacinth Robinson, whose quiet life and small adventures hold secrets that ripple through the lives of those ar…