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 Judgment Books: A StoryIn a serene Cornish retreat, an artist contemplates the ghosts of his past while his friend Frank wrestles with memories stirred by a forgotten Parisian concert program, setting th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Joys of Being a Woman, and Other PapersExplore a collection of personal essays that celebrate the elusive joy of selfhood, capturing the playful spirit and unique delights of womanhood through thoughtful, witty reflecti…
Level C1ClassicsThe Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five ActsIn a Berlin drawing-room at the turn of the century, political intrigue and social tensions unfold as Count Kellinghausen's electioneering stirs unexpected alliances and rivalries,…![Cover of The Joy of Life [La joie de vivre] by Émile Zola](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daf7m30e1ofc73dhc71g.webp)
Level C1ClassicsThe Joy of Life [La joie de vivre]On the rugged Normandy coast, a tender-hearted woman sacrifices everything for a talented but fragile man haunted by an all-consuming fear of death.
Level C1ClassicsThe Joy of Captain RibotIn the sunlit gardens of Valencia, Captain Ribot’s visit sparks a tender idyll and subtle comedy, revealing the rich tapestry of provincial Spanish life filled with warmth, humor,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Journal to StellaDive into the intimate letters of a complex friendship between a seasoned writer and his younger confidante, filled with personal reflections, societal observations, and the challe…
Level C1ClassicsThe Journal of a Disappointed ManA young naturalist chronicles his intense passion for science and the poignant struggle with a creeping illness that shatters his youthful dreams.
Level C1ClassicsThe Journal of Sir Walter Scott: From the Original Manuscript at AbbotsfordStep into the intimate world of a celebrated writer as he reflects on ambition, memory, and the passage of time through his private journal entries.
Level C1ClassicsThe Jolly CornerReturning after thirty years abroad, a man confronts the startling transformations of his childhood home and the city around it, uncovering unexpected insights about himself and th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Job: An American NovelIn a small Pennsylvania town, Una Golden navigates the confines of respectability and unfulfilled ambition, yearning for knowledge, love, and a life beyond the mundane roles prescr…
Level C1ClassicsThe Jews of Barnow: StoriesIn a Galician town where tradition and prejudice reign, Jewish life unfolds within strict boundaries of faith and isolation, revealing the tensions between heritage, identity, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Jew and Other StoriesDive into a profound exploration of human nature and society through a masterful collection of tales that blend poetic insight with the vivid realities of Russian life, revealing t…
Level C1ClassicsThe JewIn a tranquil Italian seaside village, the Albergo della Grotta—once a noble villa—welcomes a diverse crowd, from local workers to quiet tourists, all drawn to its unique grotto di…
Level C1ClassicsThe Jest Book: The Choicest Anecdotes and SayingsDive into a lively collection of timeless jests, witty anecdotes, and clever repartees that have entertained generations, carefully curated to delight readers with humor both old a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Jervaise ComedyAmid a lively dance at the Jervaise Hall, an eerie thirteenth strike of the clock hints at an unfolding mystery that disrupts the evening’s charm and draws a sharp contrast between…
Level C1ClassicsThe Jealousy of le Barbouillé: (La Jalousie du Barbouillé)A jealous husband, tormented by his wife's behavior, seeks counsel from a pompous doctor whose pedantic ramblings only deepen the absurdity.
Level C1ClassicsThe Jealousies of a Country TownIn a provincial town steeped in fading nobility, rivalries ignite around the enigmatic Chevalier de Valois while old-world honor clashes with new ambitions, revealing the complex s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Island PhariseesA young man named Shelton embarks on a daring journey off the well-trodden path, confronting the tension between tradition and the courage to explore the unknown.
Level C1ClassicsThe Irrational Knot: Being the Second Novel of His NonageAn Irish-American electrical engineer navigates the clash of cultures and ambitions amid the early days of telephone invention in London, revealing the tensions between American in…
Level C1ClassicsThe Iron Rule; Or, Tyranny in the HouseholdIn a household ruled by rigid morality and cold discipline, a young boy’s innocent friendship defies his father’s harsh commands, revealing the clash between strict authority and t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Invisible LodgeA head-forester’s daughter can only marry the man who defeats her in chess within seven weeks—a challenge blending wit, strategy, and unexpected romance.
Level C1ClassicsThe Inventions of the IdiotA hapless boarder in a high-class home dreams up whimsical inventions to improve civilized life, starting from the trials of a disastrously cooked steak.
Level C1ClassicsThe Invader: A NovelA mysterious portrait of a scandalous ancestress sparks intrigue at an Oxford gathering, unveiling tales of forbidden love, theatrical escape, and daring bravery.
Level C1ClassicsThe IntruderA man haunted by his own calculated crime wrestles with guilt, desire, and a fractured marriage as he navigates a complex pact of friendship and betrayal with his wife.
Level C1ClassicsThe International Auxiliary Language Esperanto: Grammar & CommentaryExplore the groundbreaking international language created to unite humanity beyond borders, offering a simple, logical grammar that enables effortless communication, translation, a…
Level C1ClassicsThe InterloperIn early 19th-century Scotland, the reserved and enigmatic Gilbert Speid arrives to claim an inheritance at the ancient Whanland estate, where the local lawyer senses a complex min…
Level C1ClassicsThe Interdependence of LiteratureExplore the rich tapestry of world literature as it weaves together ancient civilizations, from Babylonian and Hebrew texts to Greek, Roman, and beyond, revealing how cultures have…
Level C1ClassicsThe Intelligence Office (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")In a dim city office where every human longing is cataloged, a mysterious clerk listens to visitors seeking their true place in the world—whether a humble role or a throne—explorin…
Level C1ClassicsThe Inspector-GeneralCorruption runs rampant in a small Russian town thrown into chaos when officials mistake a visitor for an incognito inspector-general.
Level C1ClassicsThe Inside of the Cup — CompleteIn a rapidly changing Midwestern city, a steadfast patriarch clings to old values amid the rise of industrial prosperity and shifting social landscapes, challenging the comfort and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Innocents AbroadEmbark on a lively voyage across Europe and beyond with a curious band of American travelers, encountering eccentric characters, cultural clashes, and humorous misadventures as the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Inner ShrineA mother waits anxiously through the night, sensing an unseen danger looming over her son's seemingly perfect marriage in the glittering society of Paris.
Level C1ClassicsThe Inn at the Red OakIn a fading coastal town where prosperity has slipped away, the weathered Inn at the Red Oak stands as a relic of a bygone era.
Level C1ClassicsThe Inmate Of The Dungeon: 1894In a grim prison chamber, a gaunt, iron-willed convict is summoned unexpectedly before the State Prison Directors, sparking a tense confrontation that promises to reveal dark secre…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ink-Stain (Tache d'encre) — CompleteA young law student grapples with the monotony of his provincial upbringing and academic pursuits, until an unexpected event on December 10, 1884, promises to disrupt his uneventfu…
Level C1ClassicsThe Influence of Old Norse Literature on English LiteratureExplore the profound impact of Old Norse sagas and poetry on English literature, tracing their influence from Thomas Gray to William Morris and revealing a timeless connection that…
Level C1ClassicsThe InfernoA tormented soul battles doubt, suspicion, fear, and desire in a raw, autobiographical journey through madness and redemption.
Level C1ClassicsThe Infernal MarriageA dark god’s fiery chariot whisks a reluctant maiden beneath the earth to the shadowy realm of Hades, where she confronts eerie guardians, uneasy family ties, and the haunting pric…
Level C1ClassicsThe InevitableIn a bustling Roman boarding-house blending old charm and modern life, a solitary traveler arrives, sensing both the city's beauty and an uneasy forewarning.
Level C1ClassicsThe Indian Lily and Other StoriesA wealthy retired officer navigates the complexities of passion and duty in Berlin, where secret rendezvous and social influence collide.
Level C1ClassicsThe Indeterminate Sentence: What Shall Be Done with the Criminal Class?Exploring the persistent challenge of the criminal class, this work examines society's failure to rehabilitate offenders and the economic and social costs of short-term incarcerati…
Level C1ClassicsThe InconstantAmidst witty banter and social intrigues, a spirited group navigates friendship, love, and deception in a lively Parisian setting, where personal fortunes and follies intertwine wi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Inca of Perusalem: An Almost Historical ComediettaIn a sharp comedic playlet set against the backdrop of wartime fears and folly, an archdeacon struggles to curb his extravagant widowed daughter’s lavish lifestyle while satire gen…
Level C1ClassicsThe Impostures of ScapinCaught in a web of arranged marriages and secret loves, young Octave turns to the cunning servant Scapin, whose wit and trickery might be the only way out of his desperate predicam…
Level C1ClassicsThe ImpostorIn the frozen Canadian frontier, Rancher Witham battles harsh winters and mounting debts, clinging to fading hope as foreclosure threatens his land and future.
Level C1ClassicsThe Imported Bridegroom, and Other Stories of the New York GhettoIn the heart of New York's Jewish ghetto, Flora dreams of escaping tradition to marry a refined American doctor, defying her devout father's strict expectations.
Level C1ClassicsThe Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious PeopleIn a lavish London flat, two charming bachelors navigate love, identity, and societal expectations with wit and satire, while their flirtations and family intrigues threaten to upe…
Level C1ClassicsThe ImperialistIn a small Canadian town, the mysterious Mother Beggarlegs captivates children and stirs local gossip with her gingerbread stall and secretive past.