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 Crime of Henry Vane: A Study with a MoralA young man, newly independent and heartbroken, grapples with lost love and the harsh judgment of society.
Level C1ClassicsThe Creators: A ComedyIn a world of celebrated artists and biting wit, a complex relationship unfolds between Jane Holland, a fiercely independent writer, and George Tanqueray, as they navigate fame, ge…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crayon PapersAmidst a wild Hudson River landscape, a young dreamer nurtures a vivid imagination fueled by fairy tales and ancient family lore, turning a sprawling ancestral mansion into a realm…
Level C1ClassicsThe CraterIn the oppressive heat off East Africa, a mysterious man named Ross shares a tale of Norah Sinclair, a proud woman whose reckless choices unravel amid the unforgiving wilderness wh…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coxon FundWhen the enigmatic Frank Saltram takes up residence with the Mulvilles, their infinite hospitality is tested by his dazzling intellect and mysterious allure.
Level C1ClassicsThe Coverley Papers, From 'The Spectator'Step into the genteel world of Sir Roger de Coverley, where wit and wisdom illuminate the quirks of country life and manners.
Level C1ClassicsThe Court of the King, and Other StudiesStep beyond the ordinary into realms where fairyland’s magic weaves through everyday life, revealing hidden meanings in nature, history, and imagination.
Level C1ClassicsThe Courage of the CommonplaceOn Tap Day at Yale, fifteen seniors must choose just as many juniors to join secret societies, igniting fierce hopes and heartbreaks beneath the watchful eyes of the entire campus.
Level C1ClassicsThe Country of the Pointed FirsAmid the rugged beauty of a Maine coastal village, a visitor returns to Dunnet Landing, where quaint homes and fragrant herb gardens reveal a close-knit community steeped in tradit…
Level C1ClassicsThe Country HouseAs guests arrive at the sprawling Pendyce estate, old alliances, social tensions, and personal ambitions quietly unfold among the landed gentry in this vivid portrait of English co…
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess of Rudolstadt: A Sequel to "Consuelo"In the opulent Berlin opera-house of Frederick the Great's reign, political intrigue and royal scrutiny unfold amid grand performances and rigid court customs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess of EscarbagnasIn a provincial town buzzing with gossip and courtly airs, a young couple navigates secret love amid family feuds and the comical extravagances of the vain Countess of Escarbagnas,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess FannyIn a remote Cornish estate shadowed by loss and isolation, Ambrosia Sellar prepares to leave her gloomy home for a marriage of duty—but she yearns to escape the suffocating monoton…
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess CathleenIn a famine-stricken land where the dead walk and strange creatures lurk, Countess Cathleen returns to her childhood home, confronting hunger, despair, and eerie omens that threate…
Level C1ClassicsThe Count of Narbonne: A Tragedy, in Five ActsAmidst grief and political strife, a noble Count faces betrayal, loss, and a mysterious disappearance that threatens his legacy and honor.
Level C1ClassicsThe Council of SevenA powerful politician returns unexpectedly to a London club, stirring admiration and hostility alike, as Helen Sholto grapples with a shocking newspaper report that threatens every…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cost of KindnessIn a quaint village, the contentious Rev.
Level C1ClassicsThe Coryston Family: A NovelIn the charged atmosphere of the House of Commons, Lady Coryston and her daughter Marcia navigate political tensions and societal expectations amidst debates over a transformative…
Level C1ClassicsThe Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872, Vol. IExplore the rich intellectual friendship between two towering 19th-century thinkers through their candid letters, revealing insights into literature, philosophy, and the challenges…
Level C1ClassicsThe Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872, Vol II.Two towering minds exchange letters revealing their struggles, triumphs, and the literary world of their time—discussing poetry, politics, piracy, and the shaping of history throug…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cornish Fishermen's Watch-Night, and Other StoriesIn a storm-lashed Cornish village where fishermen’s livelihoods hide dark secrets of wrecking and murder, a determined young minister confronts their ruthless ways with fearless fa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coquette, or, The History of Eliza Wharton: A Novel: Founded on FactIn a world bound by rigid social codes, Eliza Wharton navigates the delicate balance between desire and duty, revealing the complexities faced by a woman whose charm and independen…
Level C1ClassicsThe Convict: A TaleA young scholar at Cambridge, driven by ambition and burdened by relentless study, struggles against the weight of his family's lost fortune and the desire for a different life.
Level C1ClassicsThe ConvertA young woman sneaks into a grand household nursery, where mischievous children and a strict nurse create a lively scene of innocence and discipline.
Level C1ClassicsThe Convent School; Or, Early Experiences of a Young FlagellantA young girl recounts her strict upbringing under a formidable governess and her father's stern discipline, revealing a world where punishment shapes education and family alliances…
Level C1ClassicsThe ContrastStep into the lively world of early America where sharp wit and satire expose the clash between honest simplicity and polished hypocrisy.
Level C1ClassicsThe ConsulAn aging U.
Level C1ClassicsThe Constant Couple; Or, A Trip to the Jubilee: A Comedy, in Five ActsIn this lively comedy, a charming rake navigates love and misadventure amidst the bustling backdrop of London’s high society, where wit and folly collide in a spirited quest for co…
Level C1ClassicsThe Conquest of CanaanIn the quiet Indiana town of Canaan, a group of elderly sages gather each morning at the National House, observing the world with sharp wit and deep reflection as they debate the m…
Level C1ClassicsThe Confounding of CameliaA rebellious young woman returns to her quiet country family, where her wild charm and defiance of tradition stir scandal and fascination alike.
Level C1ClassicsThe ConflictJane Hastings returns home after years abroad, restless and unwilling to surrender her identity to marriage.
Level C1ClassicsThe Confidence-Man: His MasqueradeA mysterious stranger boards a Mississippi steamer, attracting curious onlookers and whispers of imposture.
Level C1ClassicsThe Confessions of Artemas Quibble: Being the Ingenuous and Unvarnished History of Artemas Quibble, Esquire, One-Time Practitioner in the New York Criminal Courts, Together with an Account of the Divers Wiles, Tricks, Sophistries, Technicalities, and Sundry Artifices of Himself and Others of the Fraternity, Commonly Yclept "Shysters" or "Shyster Lawyers"Raised under strict religious discipline and orphaned young, Artemas Quibble embarks on a legal career shaped by family eccentricities and sharp observations of the courtroom’s cun…
Level C1ClassicsThe Confession: A NovelIn a Russia caught between despair and revolution, the lives of society’s lowest outcasts reveal the fierce courage and restless spirit of a nation struggling to awaken.
Level C1ClassicsThe Confession of a FoolIn a vast royal library, a young librarian haunted by despair confronts the shadows of his failed ambitions and a tumultuous marriage, embarking on a raw, unflinching journey into…
Level C1ClassicsThe Comstock ClubIn the rugged wilderness of the American West, pioneers blaze trails and face relentless hardships to transform the wild into civilization.
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner — Volume 2Embark on a reflective journey across the vast Atlantic, challenging common myths about discovery and history while exploring the legacy of Columbus and the enduring mysteries of t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner — Volume 1Explore a collection of thoughtful essays that weave gentle observations of nature, rural life, and gardening into a tapestry of wisdom and quiet joy, offering solace and insight b…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Appendix to Volume XII: Tales, Sketches, and other Papers by Nathaniel Hawthorne with a Biographical Sketch by George Parsons Lathrop: Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel HawthorneExplore the life and mind behind a celebrated writer through a detailed biographical sketch that traces his upbringing in old Salem, family background, and the shaping of his liter…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Josh BillingsDive into the sharp wit and homespun wisdom of a beloved American humorist whose clever observations and pointed satire illuminate both the profound and the trivial, promising laug…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 10Dive into sharp critiques of wealth and power as the author dissects the economic realities behind business revivals and the widening gap between plutocrats and workers, revealing…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 01Dive into the fierce and fearless writings of a defiant genius who challenged provincial politics, social norms, and orthodox popularity with raw, unfiltered passion in a turbulent…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 7: MiscellaneousEmbark on a whimsical journey down the Wabash Canal aboard the Polly Ann, where lively characters, rustic scenes, and unexpected adventures unfold in a humorous and heartfelt narra…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 6: Artemus Ward's PanoramaStep into the unconventional humor and charm of a renowned showman delivering lively lectures on Mormons, Utah, and the American West, all accompanied by his whimsical panorama at…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 5: The London Punch LettersA sharp-witted American humorist arrives in London, sharing quirky tales and satirical observations of British society, history, and culture through whimsical letters filled with c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 3: Stories and RomancesIn a lively Boston mansion, young Elizy reunites with Moses, a fiery fireman claiming noble birth and daring adventures.
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)Dive into a rich collection of witty essays, letters, and sketches that chronicle the humorous observations and adventures of a 19th-century American humorist, from lively local sc…
Level C1ClassicsThe Complete Short Works of Georg EbersIn a bustling tavern on the eve of an imperial assembly, a group of outcasts hides from the watchful eyes of noble magistrates, their secrets tangled with the arrival of aristocrat…