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 Home MissionA grieving mother, overwhelmed by loss, finds solace in a visionary dream where hope and heavenly comfort intertwine with the enduring bonds of home and family.
Level C1ClassicsThe Holy War, Made by King Shaddai Upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World; Or, The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of MansoulIn a spiritual allegory of epic conflict, a city called Mansoul is besieged as forces of good and evil vie for control over its soul, revealing timeless struggles of faith, temptat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Holy Cross and Other TalesDive into a collection of whimsical and tender tales that blend mirth with heartfelt reflections, capturing the spirit of a jester who delights in friendship, childhood, and the po…
Level C1ClassicsThe Holly-TreeA bashful man, heartbroken by lost love, embarks on a solitary winter journey across a frozen England, seeking solace and discovery at the remote Holly-Tree Inn where unexpected en…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hohenzollerns in America: With the Bolsheviks in Berlin and Other ImpossibilitiesFallen German royals, stripped of their titles and wealth, embark on a humble voyage to America as ordinary immigrants, facing ridicule, hardship, and the challenge of starting ane…
Level C1ClassicsThe History of Sir Charles Grandison, Volume 4 (of 7)Amidst formal visits, family trials, and delicate negotiations, Sir Charles Grandison navigates complex relationships and social expectations, while grappling with news of friends’…
Level C1ClassicsThe History of Samuel Titmarsh and the Great Hoggarty DiamondA young man’s holiday with his wealthy aunt turns mysterious when she gifts him a curious family locket rumored to hold the Great Hoggarty Diamond, sparking intrigue amid secrets,…
Level C1ClassicsThe History of Mr. PollyPlagued by indigestion and a deep sense of dissatisfaction, Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe History of Miss Betsy ThoughtlessIn a genteel boarding school, young Betsy Thoughtless navigates friendship, secret romances, and the lessons of courtship as she becomes entwined in the clandestine love affairs of…
Level C1ClassicsThe History of John BullAn honest tradesman named John Bull finds himself entangled in a costly lawsuit and political intrigues that mirror the turbulent public affairs of early 18th-century England.
Level C1ClassicsThe History of David GrieveA young boy tends sheep on a rugged English moorland farm, surrounded by wild beauty and the changing seasons.
Level C1ClassicsThe History and Records of the Elephant ClubA curious club embarks on a whimsical journey to witness the elusive elephant in all its glory, chronicling their quirky meetings, misadventures, and the eccentric characters they…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hills of Refuge: A NovelIn a stately home overlooking the state Capitol, a banker wrestles with the heavy burdens of his career and the troubled life of his younger brother, whose struggles with addiction…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hills of HinghamA contemplative journey unfolds on a modest hill in Hingham, where the author reflects on life, nature, and the quiet compromises between youthful dreams and middle-aged realities…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hill of DreamsA young dreamer ventures into a mysterious, forgotten lane leading to wild hills and silent woods, where reality blurs into a strange, fairy-tale landscape filled with shadowy figu…
Level C1ClassicsThe Higher CourtA young priest, cast down by charges of modernism, grapples with shattered dreams and a city’s changing face as he battles inner turmoil and a fierce blizzard.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hidden MasterpieceA struggling young artist, driven by admiration and poverty, ventures into the atelier of a renowned painter in early 17th-century Paris, confronting the awe and uncertainty that a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Hermit of Far EndIn a quiet, shabby London room, a woman waits anxiously for a man she once loved, clutching a little pearl ring as a sign.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hermit and the Wild Woman, and Other StoriesA young boy, scarred by violent war and loss, retreats to a solitary cave to live a life of piety and peace, seeking refuge from a brutal world and the torment of his haunted soul.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of the SiouxAs spring breathes life into the vast mesa, a seasoned rancher wrestles with restless ambition and the call of the open range, determined to lead his roundup despite uncertain prom…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of the Kurts, Volume 2 (of 2)In a small community, four remarkable young women known as "The Staff" navigate friendship, music, and the challenges of youth, while the enigmatic Sheriff's daughter Nora grapples…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of the Kurts, Volume 1 (of 2)A sprawling estate overlooking town and sea holds centuries of secrets and ambition, beginning with a mysterious exile who stakes his claim through love and power.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heritage of Dedlow Marsh and Other TalesTwo young siblings navigate the eerie Dedlow Marshes at sunset, their bond as strong as the mysterious landscape surrounding them.
Level C1ClassicsThe HenchmanIn a politically charged convention within New York's Demijohn District, Calvin Ross Shelby rises from humble beginnings and fierce local rivalries to claim his place as the "Champ…
Level C1ClassicsThe HelpmateAwakening to a dawn filled with doubt, a newlywed wife confronts the painful truth about her husband’s past, testing the fragile bond of trust and love between them.
Level C1ClassicsThe HelpersIn a bustling Denver opera house, a newcomer wrestles with his hopes and doubts about the city’s promise, while a spirited local woman challenges his views and hints at unexpected…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heiress; a comedy, in five actsIn a witty London setting, the Blandish siblings scheme and spar over fortunes, flirtations, and social standing, weaving a sharp comedy of manners where love and money clash in th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heir to Grand-PréA young geologist embarks on a serene but mysterious voyage along Nova Scotia’s rugged shores, studying tides and landscapes while uncovering secrets hidden in the shifting current…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heir of RedclyffeIn the cozy drawing-room of Hollywell House, a sudden letter brings shocking news of Sir Guy Morville's unexpected death, setting in motion a tale of guardianship, family secrets,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heir Presumptive and the Heir ApparentA charming tale of family dynamics unfolds as Lord Frogmore’s stepbrother, the heir presumptive, declares his intention to marry a country girl, stirring unexpected emotions and ch…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heavenly TwinsIn a city where a haunting cathedral chime echoes day and night, residents grapple with its mysterious power and meaning, revealing the tensions between tradition, faith, and perso…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart's KingdomA woman torn between the allure of a charming suitor and the haunting pull of her troubled family legacy must confront the mysterious stirrings of her heart in a battle for her own…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of the HillsIn the rugged hills where two feuding clans have long battled, a young boy caught between family loyalty and personal desires navigates the harsh mountain life, secret meetings, an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of Rome: A Tale of the "Lost Water"In the heart of a crumbling Roman palace, a noble family faces ruin as their servants vanish and debts mount, leaving the once-grand Conti estate eerily deserted.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of PenelopeAfter twenty years of exile and disgrace, Sir George Downing returns to London, bearing the scars of a mysterious scandal intertwined with love and betrayal.
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart of Canyon PassTwo old prospectors, once inseparable, now bitter enemies, set out from the rough mining town of Canyon Pass for another season in the unforgiving desert, their long-standing feud…
Level C1ClassicsThe Heart Line: A Drama of San FranciscoIn the grimy Siskiyou House of 1877 San Francisco, a clean and curious boy finds solace in books amidst squalor and hidden treasures, setting the stage for a drama where the city's…
Level C1ClassicsThe Headsman; Or, The Abbaye des VigneronsAn American family settles in the picturesque Swiss town of Vévey, where chance meetings and the charm of Lake Geneva reveal local lore, rugged landscapes, and the clash between wo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Head of the House of CoombeIn a London nursery overshadowed by wealth and status, a young child’s restless hatred hints at deep family secrets, while her mother, delicate and elusive, drifts through life tet…
Level C1ClassicsThe Haunters & The Haunted: Ghost Stories And Tales Of The SupernaturalExplore a chilling collection of supernatural tales and eerie hauntings that blur the line between reality and the unseen, revealing how ghosts and spirits may be more intertwined…
Level C1ClassicsThe Haunted Room: A TaleIn a charming Elizabethan villa near London, a family’s peaceful life hints at deeper mysteries as Captain Arrows arrives to uncover the truths behind their idyllic existence and t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Haunted Man and the Ghost's BargainA solitary scholar, haunted by memories and surrounded by shadowy relics, dwells in a gloomy, forgotten corner of the city.
Level C1ClassicsThe HarvesterA solitary harvester faces a poignant choice between the wild freedom of the woods and the temptations of city life, guided only by the silent counsel of his loyal dog, Belshazzar.
Level C1ClassicsThe Harvest of a Quiet Eye: Leisure Thoughts for Busy LivesPause the relentless pace of modern life to find solace and insight in meditative reflections drawn from everyday experiences and nature’s quiet beauty, offering a spiritual respit…
Level C1ClassicsThe Harvest of YearsA young girl’s early life is marked by constant mischief, misunderstandings, and a longing for acceptance, as she navigates family struggles and her own rebellious spirit while gro…
Level C1ClassicsThe Harlot's Progress (1733), The Rake's Progress (Ms., ca. 1778-1780)Follow the tragic yet theatrically transformed journey of Kitty, a country girl navigating London's debauchery and masquerade, as her story unfolds through a lively blend of pantom…
Level C1ClassicsThe Happy-go-lucky MorgansIn a Balham street named after a distant Welsh town, the Morgans’ lively household brims with family, secrets, and a mysterious tragedy by a garden pond.
Level C1ClassicsThe Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in ChaptersA clever governess turned reluctant widow navigates a delicate social dance under the guardianship of Lady Petherwin, blending sharp wit and grace in a world where servants hold as…