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 Depot MasterIn a seaside village transformed by wealth and old rivalries, a versatile handyman faces a delicate challenge: moving a beloved colonial house to a contested estate, stirring tensi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Demagogue and Lady PhayreA passionate young cabinetmaker faces a tempting offer to leave his trade for political ambition, confronting the clash between principle and opportunity in the rising tides of new…
Level C1ClassicsThe Delectable MountainsIn a secret woodland altar where ancient idols linger, Aaron and Silvia grapple with fear and defiance as they face a menacing family fate, their fragile hope flickering amid natur…
Level C1ClassicsThe Delectable DuchyA journalist escapes the bustle of city life to explore the hidden charms of a quaint Cornish harbor town, discovering that its true allure lies not in grand sights but in the smal…
Level C1ClassicsThe DefendantDive into a series of incisive essays defending optimism against the tide of pessimism, exploring how love for the world’s hidden virtues sparks true progress amid doubt and skepti…
Level C1ClassicsThe DeemsterIn a rugged island community, the death of a revered patriarch sparks a fierce struggle for control between two very different brothers, revealing secrets, ambition, and the heavy…
Level C1ClassicsThe Debtor: A NovelIn the genteel village of Banbridge, where social rituals and appearances govern life, two women navigate the delicate dance of status, friendship, and obligation during the town’s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Death of the LionA young journalist is tasked with writing about the elusive author Neil Paraday, whose reclusive life and upcoming book stir curiosity and challenge journalistic conventions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Death of BalderIn a rugged Norwegian pine-wood, Balder, tormented by unrequited love for the proud Nanna, confides in Thor as he struggles against a relentless fate and the cold echoes of his des…
Level C1ClassicsThe Deacon: An Original Comedy Drama in Five ActsIn a lively Virginia town, a hapless Deacon stumbles through a series of comic misadventures involving mistaken identities, a hidden treasure, and a thwarted romance, all unfolding…
Level C1ClassicsThe De Coverley Papers, From 'The Spectator'Step into the genteel world of Sir Roger de Coverley, a charming country gentleman whose simple, generous spirit and whimsical quirks reveal timeless English character through live…
Level C1ClassicsThe Days of My Life: An AutobiographyA proud country girl encounters two mysterious strangers on an autumn evening, sparking tension and curiosity as they claim a surprising connection to her family estate.
Level C1ClassicsThe Days of Auld Lang SyneIn a tight-knit Scottish community, the delicate balance of tradition and change unfolds through the fierce negotiations and spirited rivalries over farm leases, where wit and dipl…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day's WorkAmid the relentless heat and danger, two engineers labor tirelessly to complete a monumental railway bridge over the Ganges, confronting unexpected challenges and the weight of res…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day of Small ThingsConfined to her sofa for two years, a woman finds unexpected blessings in the small joys of life—a comforting bed, the changing light on a nearby hill, and the kindness around her—…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day of His YouthA grieving father retreats to the wilderness to raise his son in nature's pure embrace, building a simple log cabin and forging a life of strength and solitude away from society's…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daughters of DanausIn a moonlit garret, a mysterious sister leads her siblings in a secretive dance before challenging their beliefs on fate with a bold lecture that promises to ignite fierce debate…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dark Lady of the SonnetsIn a witty exploration of Shakespeare’s mysterious Dark Lady, a determined scholar unravels theories linking her to Mistress Mary Fitton, sparking a theatrical clash of jealousy in…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dark FleeceIn a rugged coastal town, Olive Stanes faces the weight of family duty and change as she awaits the return of Jason Burrage, whose years of gold-seeking promise to transform their…
Level C1ClassicsThe DaredevilRoberta, a determined young woman, embarks on a perilous ocean journey from war-torn France to America, carrying her family’s fragile hope and a legacy intertwined with love, loss,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dangerous Age: Letters and Fragments from a Woman's DiaryA woman’s candid diary reveals the turmoil and restless discontent of middle age, confronting societal expectations with raw honesty and piercing insight.
Level C1ClassicsThe Danger MarkIn a grand household thrown into chaos by a sudden family crisis, two mischievous siblings turn the mansion into their playground, challenging rules and stirring up trouble while w…
Level C1ClassicsThe Danes, Sketched by Themselves. Vol. 3 (of 3): A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish AuthorsA young boy's heart is captivated by the sea, dreaming of the sailor's life while living with his widowed mother.
Level C1ClassicsThe Danes, Sketched by Themselves. Vol. 1 (of 3): A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish AuthorsA reckless young man sent to Hamburg for discipline finds himself drawn into wild nights and daring escapades, defying strict watchfulness while seeking out riotous company.
Level C1ClassicsThe Dancing FaunIn a world where truth is undignified and life is a carefully crafted illusion, Lady Geraldine navigates society’s contradictions with wit and innocence.
Level C1ClassicsThe Dance of DeathA candid exposé challenges the seductive allure and hidden dangers of modern dancing, revealing its perilous grip on society and warning those unaware of the moral decay swirling b…
Level C1ClassicsThe Damnation of Theron WareIn a packed Methodist conference hall, ministers await their appointments with a mix of hope and dread, embodying a changing clergy caught between heroic pasts and uncertain future…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daltons; Or, Three Roads In Life. Volume II (of II)Tensions flare as Norwood faces a sudden challenge to his honor, but his ally mysteriously vanishes, forcing him into a desperate search.
Level C1ClassicsThe Daltons; Or, Three Roads In Life. Volume I (of II)As a fashionable German resort falls into winter's quiet, three men—each choosing a different path—navigate the contrasts of society, ambition, and honor amid fading illusions and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dakotan Languages, and Their Relations to Other LanguagesExplore the intricate relationships among the Dakotan languages and their dialects, tracing connections to allied tribes and uncovering the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daisy Chain, or AspirationsIn a quaint country town, spirited sisters Ethel and Flora embark on a compassionate mission to aid a struggling family, navigating youthful aspirations and the challenges of their…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cynic's Word BookDive into a sharply witty lexicon where words are given cynical, humorous definitions that expose society’s quirks and contradictions with biting satire and clever poetic illustrat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cynic's Rules of ConductNavigate society’s quirks with sharp wit and biting advice on manners, courtship, and social conduct, revealing the clever, cynical rules that govern human interactions and the art…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cycle of SpringIn a royal court shadowed by the looming presence of death and famine, a distressed king grapples with the weight of time and destiny, seeking wisdom from his Pundit amid political…
Level C1ClassicsThe Custom of the CountryA young socialite navigates the glittering but cutthroat world of New York high society, where ambition and charm mask deeper intrigues.
Level C1ClassicsThe Curse of EveA quiet outfitter’s life unravels as his wife faces a difficult childbirth, revealing the fragile line between routine and chaos.
Level C1ClassicsThe Curious Republic of Gondour, and Other Whimsical SketchesIn a nation where voting power multiplies with education and property, political influence reshapes society’s values and hierarchies.
Level C1ClassicsThe Curate in ChargeA refined scholar reluctantly takes charge of a damp, rural parish where the idyllic landscape contrasts sharply with the struggles of village life and his own dissatisfaction.
Level C1ClassicsThe Cup of Trembling, and Other StoriesIn a remote mountain mining town, whispered rumors swirl around a sudden, mysterious elopement involving a wealthy mine-owner’s wife and the trusted superintendent who abruptly van…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cuckoo in the Nest, v. 2/2Tensions rise as Colonel Piercey confronts his proud cousin Margaret about the unsettling new dominance of Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Crystal CupIn the shadow of a fading family legacy, young Gita Carteret defies tradition with her boyish defiance and sharp tongue, clashing fiercely with her old-fashioned grandmother as the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crux: A NovelIn a small New England town, the Foote sisters stir up gossip about Morton Elder, a troubled orphan whose scandal threatens to shake the community.
Level C1ClassicsThe Cruise of the Shining LightA grizzled, scarred sea veteran with a wooden leg and a mysterious past guides his nephew through the harsh realities of life by the sea, blending rough wisdom with dark family sec…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crucial Moment: 1911As floodwaters rise against the Mississippi’s levees, laborer Walter Hoxer confronts the fragile barrier between order and disaster, challenging the arrogance and stakes that threa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crown of LifeA young man newly come of age wanders London, captivated by art and haunted by dreams of fate, when a chance meeting with his estranged half-brother stirs questions about family ti…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crowded StreetAt a grand party filled with shimmering gowns and whispered expectations, young Muriel navigates the delicate tensions of childhood and society, caught between innocence and the al…
Level C1ClassicsThe CromptonsA mysterious Northern stranger arrives late at a Southern river landing, his cold demeanor setting him apart from the curious locals.
Level C1ClassicsThe Crock of Gold: A Rural NovelIn a harsh rural world, Roger Acton endures relentless toil and poverty with unwavering faith and quiet dignity.