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 C1ClassicsWhat Necessity KnowsIn a Canadian village stirred by 1843 Adventist fervor, a thoughtful clergyman grapples with the unseen sorrows entwined in daily life, offering spiritual insight amid the struggle…
Level C1ClassicsWhat Is Your Culture to Me?A young graduate, armed with timeless knowledge and idealistic zeal, confronts a world indifferent to classical learning and eager to test his worth beyond the lecture hall.
Level C1ClassicsWhat Every Woman KnowsIn a modest Scottish home, the Wylie family navigates the quirks of daily life, ambition, and tradition, as they gather around the draught-board and confront the challenges that bi…
Level C1ClassicsWhat Dreams May ComeAmidst the golden domes and shadowed intrigue of early 20th-century Constantinople, a sharp social web unfolds within the English Embassy—where ambition, poetry, and discontent cla…
Level C1ClassicsWhat Diantha DidIn a grand but mortgage-burdened southern mansion, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsWhat Can She Do?Three young women navigate the harsh realities of a changing society, confronting poverty, temptation, and the struggle for self-reliance in a bustling city where hope and hardship…
Level C1ClassicsWest African Folk-TalesStep into the twilight of a West African village, where tradition meets transformation and elders gather to share timeless folk-tales.
Level C1ClassicsWessex TalesIn a quiet Wessex town, a sensitive woman wrestles with her uneasy feelings about her husband's deadly trade, setting the stage for haunting tales of human nature, superstition, an…
Level C1ClassicsWesblock, the autobiography of an automatonAn automaton reflects on his narrow escape from a life of unfitness, tracing his origins in a bleak Montreal church and grappling with the meaning of existence in a world without c…
Level C1ClassicsWenderholme: A Story of Lancashire and YorkshireAmid the sweeping changes of Lancashire and Yorkshire, the story explores the fading world of old landed gentry and the rise of industry, using the militia to bridge the divide bet…
Level C1ClassicsWell, After All--In a tense moment when a bank faces a run, sharp observations reveal the true nature of people—especially women—who shed social masks to demand their money.
Level C1ClassicsWeighed and WantingAmid a bleak autumn storm at a seaside town, a diverse family grapples with dreary weather and restless spirits, revealing the rare patience and resilience that can brighten even t…
Level C1ClassicsWebster & TourneurStep into the shadowy world of early 17th-century tragedy where moral gloom and revenge intertwine.
Level C1ClassicsWe and Our Neighbors; or, The Records of an Unfashionable StreetIn an unfashionable street, neighbors observe the arrival of new residents, sparking curiosity and social judgments.
Level C1ClassicsWe Women and Our AuthorsAs women awaken to their individuality and seek independence beyond traditional roles, literature becomes a powerful force shaping their evolving self-awareness and desires.
Level C1ClassicsWaysiders, Stories of ConnachtIn a remote Connacht valley, Festus Clasby’s shop stands as a powerful symbol of commerce and civilization clashing with rural tradition, where every transaction weaves a complex w…
Level C1ClassicsWaterspringsIn the historic, fortress-like setting of Beaufort College, Cambridge, a dedicated classical lecturer navigates academic life, tradition, and the subtle tensions between old and ne…
Level C1ClassicsWastralls: A NovelIn a secluded West-Country valley, the ancient manor of Wastralls stands as a silent witness to generations of the Rosevear family, whose fortunes and secrets ripple through the ru…
Level C1ClassicsWaste: A Tragedy, In Four ActsIn a refined Hertfordshire home, a group of sharp-minded women and men navigate the tensions between tradition, education, and modern thought, revealing the undercurrents shaping t…
Level C1ClassicsWashington IrvingExplore the life and lasting influence of a literary pioneer whose works shaped American letters and captivated readers for decades, as this biography delves into his reputation, a…
Level C1ClassicsWashington IrvingDiscover the early life of a sensitive, modest boy destined to become a beloved figure in American literature, balancing childhood dreams of the sea with the strict expectations of…
Level C1ClassicsWarlock o' Glenwarlock: A Homely RomanceIn a rugged Scottish glen, the ancient Castle Warlock stands grim and weathered, sheltering its inhabitants from harsh winds and historic foes.
Level C1ClassicsWanted: A Cook: Domestic DialoguesTwo idealistic newlyweds, steeped in refinement and classical education, dream of a perfect home in bustling New York, confident they can maintain elegance without sacrificing comf…
Level C1ClassicsWang the Ninth: The Story of a Chinese BoyA young boy, known as Wang the Ninth, embarks on a journey with his blacksmith father, fleeing famine and abandonment in their remote village.
Level C1ClassicsWanderings of a beautyIn a world where beauty is both a blessing and a curse, Evelyn Travers navigates the trials of youth, friendship, and family in the haunting halls of Warenne Vicarage.
Level C1ClassicsWandering HeathA worn drum and trumpet locked by a mysterious word unlock a haunting tale from a stormy night in 1809, as a quarryman recounts a chilling legend entwined with ghosts and secrets b…
Level C1ClassicsWanderersA restless wanderer reflects on lost youth and fading passion, painting a vivid portrait of inner turmoil and artistic struggle against the backdrop of life's relentless passage.
Level C1ClassicsWanda, Vol. 3 (of 3)Amidst autumn rains and wild winds, a noble couple returns from distant travels only to inherit a secretive art collection in Paris, sparking a winter stay filled with passion, soc…
Level C1ClassicsWanda, Vol. 1 (of 3)A restless Russian nobleman unexpectedly finds himself confronting the desolation and neglect of his vast, forgotten estates along the Volga, where distant peasants live under hars…
Level C1ClassicsWandaIn a Poland under siege, the noble Wanda, daughter of Cracow’s founder, faces a heart-wrenching sacrifice to protect her homeland.
Level C1ClassicsWalter Pieterse: A Story of HollandIn a richly detailed portrait of 19th-century Holland, a young man named Walter Pieterse navigates the complexities of society, love, and ambition amid the shadows of colonial lega…
Level C1ClassicsWalt Whitman: An AddressCelebrate the fearless spirit of a poet who challenged conventions with raw honesty and boundless originality.
Level C1ClassicsWalladmor, Vol. 2 (of 2): "Freely Translated into German from the English of Sir Walter Scott." And Now Freely Translated from the German into English.In a frosty landscape marked by eerie ruins and whispered legends, a mysterious note sends Bertram on a perilous journey through haunted valleys and secretive paths, where old frie…
Level C1ClassicsWall Street storiesIn the high-stakes world of Wall Street, Fullerton F.
Level C1ClassicsWalking-Stick PapersExplore a collection of witty, insightful essays capturing the quirks of art, literature, and society through the lens of a discerning observer.
Level C1ClassicsWalking essaysExplore the intimate connection between walking and thought as the author delves into the art of true walking—beyond mere pace or record-breaking—to uncover a profound communion wi…
Level C1ClassicsWalkingChampioning the wildness and freedom of nature, this essay invites readers to rediscover the art of walking as a noble, almost sacred journey—one that reconnects us as part of the…
Level C1ClassicsWaiting for an Omnibus in the Lowther Arcade on a Rainy Day: A Farce, in One ActOn a rainy day, a diverse crowd gathers under the Lowther Arcade, where social ambitions and matchmaking collide amid the chaos of waiting for an elusive omnibus.![Cover of Waifs and strays [part 1] by O. Henry](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da4kqr2e2hvc73bn0ong.webp)
Level C1ClassicsWaifs and strays [part 1]When a burned trestle strands Tonia Weaver’s much-anticipated Easter hat far from home, two determined ranchmen race against time and distance to rescue her holiday plans and win h…
Level C1ClassicsVrouw Grobelaar and Her Leading Cases: Seventeen Short StoriesIn a sprawling South African homestead, the formidable Vrouw Grobelaar rules with a mix of iron will and surprising mercy, while her lively niece Katje disrupts the household with…
Level C1ClassicsVolpone; Or, The FoxA cunning con artist feigns a terminal illness to exploit the greed of wealthy fools eager for his inheritance, sparking a darkly comic battle of wits, deception, and avarice.
Level C1ClassicsVoices in the NightIn the smoky dawn of colonial India, whispered voices rise amid fog and imperial salutes, setting the stage for a world where tradition clashes with modernity.
Level C1ClassicsVoces PopuliIn a foggy suburban hall, a hapless magician’s tricks fall flat amid a sparse, skeptical audience—until an unexpected participant turns the evening’s illusions into a chaotic comed…
Level C1ClassicsVixen, Volume III.Banished from her family home amid whispered scandals and bitter enmity, Vixen faces exile with fierce pride and a steely resolve to survive the harsh new world that awaits beyond…
Level C1ClassicsVixen, Volume II.Amid the genteel society of Beechdale, Violet navigates the intricate dynamics between her mother's world of elegant guests and the simpler joys of her own life, all while secrets…
Level C1ClassicsVixen, Volume I.In the mysterious New Forest, spirited young Vixen defies her cautious mother's wishes, riding her daring pony through moonlit woods, while Roderick Vawdrey returns from Oxford to…
Level C1ClassicsVivian GreyAn ambitious young man of rank navigates the intricate social and political circles of early 19th-century England, revealing a vivid portrait of ambition, manners, and power in a w…
Level C1ClassicsVistas of New YorkA young man arrives in bustling New York, determined to rise from his country roots to success amid the city's relentless noise, crowds, and opportunity.