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 Impending Sword: A Novel (Vol. 2 of 3)An acclaimed actor-author leads a select troupe on a transatlantic journey to bring his celebrated plays to America, navigating the excitement and skepticism of critics and society…
Level C1ClassicsThe Immortals: Masterpieces of Fiction, Crowned by the French Academy — CompleteStep beyond Parisian façades and public spectacles to discover the intimate lives, motives, and souls of French society as revealed through its most celebrated novels crowned by th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Immortal; Or, One of the "Forty.": (L'immortel) - 1877A devoted historian faces the loss of his cherished archives and the disruptions of weekly visitors, forcing him into a cramped refuge where unexpected encounters challenge his ord…
Level C1ClassicsThe Immortal Moment: The Story of Kitty TailleurTwo siblings arrive at a seaside hotel, their youthful innocence and curiosity setting the stage for unexpected encounters and subtle adventures.
Level C1ClassicsThe Immortal LureA passionate artist in Venice grapples with betrayal and shattered dreams as he confronts the public exposure of a cherished muse, testing the boundaries between love, pride, and a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Illustrious GaudissartA cunning commercial traveler navigates the clash between Parisian innovation and provincial tradition, using wit and eloquence to sell wares and ideas alike.
Level C1ClassicsThe Idol of the Blind: A NovelA woman waits nearly twenty years to marry the man she loves, only to find their long-delayed happiness tempered by poverty and quiet resignation.
Level C1ClassicsThe Idol of ParisIn a distinguished Parisian family, fifteen-year-old Esperance Darbois challenges the old-fashioned belief that children must obey their parents without question, sparking a passio…
Level C1ClassicsThe Idle Thoughts of an Idle FellowIndulge in the witty musings of a self-proclaimed expert on idleness, who reveals the art of doing nothing with surprising energy and humor, turning laziness into a delightful and…
Level C1ClassicsThe IdiotIn a quirky boarding house, the Idiot sparks lively debate by championing the charm and freedom of canal-boat living over traditional homes.
Level C1ClassicsThe HypocriteA charmingly cynical university student navigates the precarious balance between intellectual pretension and social deception, captivating an admiring circle while hiding his true…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hypnotic Experiment of Dr. Reeves, and Other StoriesA renowned but controversial doctor faces a life-or-death challenge when a young patient’s severe rheumatism of the heart resists all remedies.
Level C1ClassicsThe Husbands of EdithIn sunlit Paris, Brock savors leisurely mornings at the Hôtel Chatham, where chance encounters and old friends like Roxbury Medcroft promise to intertwine his cosmopolitan adventur…
Level C1ClassicsThe Husband's Story: A NovelA man reluctantly fulfills a friend's request to share a revealing manuscript, unfolding a tale that journeys from modest origins to the dazzling heights of New York’s elite societ…
Level C1ClassicsThe HuntressIn a tight-knit lakeside tribe, Bela defies tradition with her fierce independence and rebellious spirit, sparking scandal and fear among her people.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hungry Stones, and Other StoriesA weary tax collector takes up residence in a deserted marble palace once alive with joyous Persian maidens, only to find the eerie solitude slowly consuming him—and strange, haunt…
Level C1ClassicsThe HunchbackIn a bustling tavern, Sir Thomas Clifford and a lively group of gentlemen engage in spirited toasts and intrigue, setting the stage for a drama filled with wit, deception, and hidd…
Level C1ClassicsThe Humourous Story of Farmer Bumpkin's LawsuitA widow’s fight for justice drags on for years through endless trials and costly delays, exposing the flaws and frustrations of a legal system stacked against the poor.
Level C1ClassicsThe Humors of Falconbridge: A Collection of Humorous and Every Day ScenesFollow the unpredictable journey of a restless literary man as he ventures from Philadelphia to the Western frontier, embracing adventures from farming to theater, and ultimately f…
Level C1ClassicsThe Human Interest: A Study in IncompatibilitiesA London authoress visits a cultured but constrained Newcastle hostess, uncovering the clash between provincial gloom and artistic ambition.
Level C1ClassicsThe Human Comedy: Introductions and AppendixA relentless pursuit of genius drives a writer to confront the vast complexities of human nature and society.
Level C1ClassicsThe Human ChordA man who breathes life into his imagined worlds by discovering their true names seeks an extraordinary adventure to escape the mundane and rediscover the wonder of his childhood i…
Level C1ClassicsThe House: An Episode in the Lives of Reuben Baker, Astronomer, and of His Wife, AliceA young couple dreams of building their perfect home, navigating the bittersweet realities of love, ambition, and unexpected inheritance.
Level C1ClassicsThe House with the Green ShuttersIn a small Scottish town, John Gourlay stands proudly before his new house, determined to assert his dominance through his thriving business despite the quiet judgment of his neigh…
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Moor, v. 3/3A determined young woman embarks on a solitary journey across the moor to visit her uncle in Scotland, grappling with exhaustion, secrecy, and the hope of reuniting with her brothe…
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Moor, v. 2/3A determined young soldier returns home with ambitions and an army list, sparking intrigue about local figures and hidden family ties.
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Moor, v. 1/3Two siblings, trapped in a gloomy moorland house, face the relentless monotony of isolation and simmering frustration—one resigned and content, the other restless and embittered by…
Level C1ClassicsThe House on the Beach: A Realistic TaleA self-made man retreats to a humble seaside home, juggling the ambitions of gentility with the stubborn habits of his mercantile past.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Rimmon: A Drama in Four ActsIn a fragrant Damascus garden under moonlight, a priest and a noblewoman plot to undermine a beloved war hero and sway a kingdom’s fate amid the looming threat of Assyrian conquest…
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Quiet: An AutobiographyA gentle soul, sidelined by frailty and misfortune, grapples with shattered hopes and the challenge of finding meaning and love amid life's harshest setbacks.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of MirthIn the bustling heart of New York, Lily Bart navigates society’s glittering yet unforgiving demands, her every move a delicate dance between desire and survival.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of HelenIn the quiet town of Shannon, where flowered porches bloom and old customs hold sway, the arrival of education and ambition stirs the delicate balance of home and society.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Heine Brothers, in MunichIn the bustling heart of Munich, the modest yet reputable Heine Brothers bank stands as the backdrop to a tale of family, tradition, and the quiet complexities of German life.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of FulfilmentIn a clash of Northern austerity and Southern indulgence, young Harriet Blair navigates family tensions, cultural divides, and the mysterious charm of a Catholic priest during a tu…
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Defence v. 2Amid skeptical debates and personal convictions, Maud defends Christian Science while witnessing a mysterious recovery that challenges medical understanding, setting the stage for…
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Defence v. 1In a world where the mind's power over the body blurs the line between science and mystery, a compelling tale unfolds of healing, fear, and the intricate dance of nervous and organ…
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Cobwebs and Other StoriesStep into the world of a sensitive scholar struggling against the rigid conventions of Victorian literature and society.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of BaltazarIn a grand country estate turned military convalescent home, a young officer named Baltazar grapples with the physical and emotional scars of war, his restless spirit caught betwee…
Level C1ClassicsThe House of Atreus; Being the Agamemnon, the Libation bearers, and the FuriesA watchman anxiously awaits news from the Trojan War, while the palace of Atreus brims with tension and foreboding.
Level C1ClassicsThe House of ArmourAmid the rugged beauty of Nova Scotia’s harbor, a young woman returns to her native land, haunted by loss and longing, where the sea’s secrets and a mysterious companion hint at a…
Level C1ClassicsThe House by the Medlar-TreeIn a humble Sicilian fishing village, the Malavoglia family faces the harsh realities of life, love, and honor, revealing the timeless struggles and deep humanity beneath their sim…
Level C1ClassicsThe House Behind the CedarsA man returns to his Southern hometown years after the Civil War, confronting the scars of destruction and the complex legacies of race and memory.
Level C1ClassicsThe Honour of the FlagOn the bustling banks of the Thames in 1851, a retired tailor’s curious annual tradition and a scarred old sailor’s unexpected inheritance set the stage for a stirring tale of hono…
Level C1ClassicsThe Honorable Miss MoonlightOn the eve of his arranged marriage, a young nobleman escapes into the dazzling nightlife of the city’s pleasure quarters, torn between duty and the yearning for a freer, more pass…
Level C1ClassicsThe Honeymoon: A comedy in three actsNewlyweds Flora and Cedric navigate the exhilarating uncertainties of their honeymoon, balancing nervous excitement with bold plans for adventure beyond a quiet seaside town.
Level C1ClassicsThe Home; Or, Life in SwedenIn a Swedish household, a spirited debate over home improvements sparks deeper reflections on daily life, family dynamics, and social challenges.
Level C1ClassicsThe Home in the ValleyNestled in a picturesque valley by Lake Wenner, a young maiden named Nanna lives a life touched by both tender care and lingering sorrow.
Level C1ClassicsThe Home at GreylockIn a large home filled with love and loss, a devoted mother and her youngest daughter share an unbreakable bond until tragedy strikes, challenging faith and resilience in the face…