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 C1ClassicsSweethearts at HomeAmid the serene Swiss landscape by Lake Neuchâtel, two friends embark on a quiet journey filled with literary musings and intimate reflections, uncovering the charm of forgotten pl…
Level C1ClassicsSweet RocketA woman returns to the quiet, enchanting Sweet Rocket road, where memories and nature intertwine amid the changing autumn woods.
Level C1ClassicsSwann's WayA restless mind drifts between sleep and wakefulness, where memories, dreams, and fleeting desires intertwine in a delicate dance.
Level C1ClassicsSwan SongIn a Russia shadowed by apathy and despair, a young doctor-writer struggles to find meaning and hope amid societal stagnation and personal hardship, blending humor and deep sympath…
Level C1ClassicsSusâni: 1901On a remote Pacific island, a fading native community clings to ancient traditions amid encroaching change, as two visitors encounter Susâni, a mysterious girl whose haunting song…
Level C1ClassicsSusy, a Story of the PlainsIn the sunbaked expanse of a vast Californian rancho, a young girl named Susy returns from convent school, restless amid the wild plains and ancient adobe walls.
Level C1ClassicsSuspense, Volume 3 (of 3)A determined war-correspondent follows the trail of a troubled soldier lost in London's foggy streets, uncovering secrets and confronting fate in a tense quest for truth and redemp…
Level C1ClassicsSuspense, Volume 2 (of 3)A steamer navigates the treacherous yet stunning waters near the Pointe de Raz, carrying passengers whose lives conceal quiet struggles and unspoken sorrows.
Level C1ClassicsSuspense, Volume 1 (of 3)Aboard the luxurious schooner Hermione, Brenda Gilholme wrestles with her feelings for Theo Trist amid the restless sea and complex social expectations.
Level C1ClassicsSusanna and SueIn a serene Shaker settlement where order and harmony reign, two girls navigate the quiet rhythms of spring and community life.
Level C1ClassicsSusan ProudleighCaught in a bitter neighborhood feud fueled by envy and social divides, a proud young woman refuses to lower herself, even as hostility grows around her.
Level C1ClassicsSusan Lenox: Her Fall and RiseAmid societal hypocrisies and harsh truths about human nature, Susan Lenox emerges as a deeply real and complex woman, navigating love, morality, and identity in a world rife with…
Level C1ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Neighbors' AffairsIn a quiet town shadowed by loss, Susan Clegg faces a delicate truth that will shock her dear neighbor, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsSusan Clegg and Her Love AffairsIn a quiet town, Susan Clegg shares curious tales from the Sewing Society, unraveling dreams and signs that hint at unexpected twists in everyday life.
Level C1ClassicsSupersededAt St.
Level C1ClassicsSunriseIn chilly London, a worldly bachelor and a young baron delve into a secretive organization claiming to defend the oppressed worldwide, challenging loyalties and beliefs amid suspic…
Level C1ClassicsSunny-SanIn the House of a Thousand Joys, the death of the celebrated dancer Madame Many Smiles casts a shadow of despair, leaving her enigmatic daughter to step into her revered place amid…
Level C1ClassicsSunCarried away to a sun-drenched villa by the sea, Juliet wrestles with deep frustration and a haunting sense of responsibility while seeking solace beneath the relentless Mediterran…
Level C1ClassicsSummerfield: or, Life on a FarmA young man leaves home to build a new life in a wild, bountiful landscape filled with game, forests, and lakes.
Level C1ClassicsSumerian Hymns from Cuneiform Texts in the British MuseumExplore ancient Babylonian spirituality through meticulously translated Sumerian hymns dedicated to deities like Bêl, Sin, Adad, and Tammuz, revealing the linguistic and religious…
Level C1ClassicsSuch is Life: A Play in Five ActsIn a city torn by war and political upheaval, a fierce struggle unfolds as citizens seize power, debate freedom, and crown a new king amidst promises of justice and looming threats…
Level C1ClassicsSuch Things Are: A Play, in Five ActsAmid the exotic backdrop of Sumatra, an English couple navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and political intrigue in a land ruled by capricious princes and shadowed by sus…
Level C1ClassicsSuch Is LifeAn unemployed traveler embarks on a contemplative journey through the vast Australian Riverina, chronicling the everyday life, landscapes, and encounters that reveal the complex ta…
Level C1ClassicsSuccessful Methods of Public SpeakingUnlock the secrets of compelling public speaking by exploring the methods of renowned orators, emphasizing sincerity, thorough preparation, and adapting techniques to your unique s…
Level C1ClassicsSuccess and How He Won ItIn a grand church filled with aristocracy and wealth, a young bride and groom stand united, yet their icy detachment hints at deeper tensions beneath the dazzling ceremony.
Level C1ClassicsSuccessIn a world dominated by industrial power and social intrigue, Michael Annarly, a brilliant yet enigmatic genius, navigates the complex halls of influence and ambition, where admira…
Level C1ClassicsSuburban SketchesExperience the quiet charm and unexpected dramas of suburban life in Charlesbridge, where nature's resilience meets the rhythms of a close-knit community and the promise of simple…
Level C1ClassicsStyle and the ManExplore the intimate art of style and its impact on writing, as the author navigates personal preferences, literary tastes, and timeless influences shaping the way we express ourse…
Level C1ClassicsStyleExplore the art of style as it transcends mere writing, shaping expression across literature, music, and even human gesture.
Level C1ClassicsStudying the short-story: Sixteen short-story classics with introductions, notes and a new laboratory study method for individual reading and use in colleges and schools.Explore sixteen carefully selected short stories, each accompanied by critical introductions, notes, and study questions designed to deepen understanding and analysis.
Level C1ClassicsStudy of a WomanIn a world where virtue and ambition intertwine, the Marquise de Listomere navigates society with calculated grace while a young, clever man, Eugene de Rastignac, intrigues her wit…
Level C1ClassicsStudies in WivesA young bride navigates the complexities of her new life in a stately Westminster home, caught between societal expectations and her own quiet discontent.
Level C1ClassicsStubbleIn a rain-soaked Southern home, Mary Louise confronts the arrival of Zenie, who brings an unexpected bundle—a fragile infant named Nausea Zekiel Thompson—unveiling secrets and shif…
Level C1ClassicsStrong as DeathAn aging artist, once celebrated for his strength and beauty, struggles with fading inspiration and the pressure to please a fickle public, as he searches for a new muse amidst the…
Level C1ClassicsStrong HeartsIn the post-war South, a young man known as "Crackedfiddle" navigates the tangled realms of faith, poetry, and survival, revealing the profound unity between religion and the human…
Level C1ClassicsStrife: A Drama in Three ActsTensions ignite at the Trenartha Tin Plate Works, where a fierce winter strike pits the company’s board and management against the determined workers’ committee.
Level C1ClassicsStrife and PeaceAmidst the majestic, untamed mountains and serene valleys of ancient Norway, discover a land untouched by time, where nature’s grandeur and tranquil beauty offer refuge from the wo…
Level C1ClassicsStrictly Business: More Stories of the Four MillionBehind the vaudeville curtain, two performers navigate the realities of the stage far from the glamorous myths—one harboring a secret sketch and searching for the perfect partner t…
Level C1ClassicsStrangers at LisconnelIn the remote hamlet of Lisconnel, life unfolds in quiet rhythms amid vast boglands and changing seasons, where the arrival of strangers is a rare and intriguing event.
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from the Lodge of LeisuresDive into a world where Taoist magicians, wandering souls, and Buddhist reincarnations intertwine, revealing the mysterious beliefs and everyday life of eighteenth-century China th…
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 1 (of 2)Enter a world where ancient Chinese customs, beliefs, and supernatural tales unfold through the eyes of a scholar deeply immersed in his culture.
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)Delve into a collection of eerie and fascinating tales that reveal the customs, superstitions, and spiritual life of ancient China, as told by a scholar deeply immersed in Chinese…
Level C1ClassicsStrange StoriesVenturing into the realms of psychology and sensation, these stories explore hereditary character, moral ambiguity, and cultural clashes through gripping tales of human nature’s de…
Level C1ClassicsStories of a Western TownIn a quiet Western town dusted with silver frost, a desperate woman races against time to save her husband from his recurring shadows of despair and attempts on his own life, revea…
Level C1ClassicsStories of New YorkIn a New York drawing-room, Esther Van Dyke prepares for an afternoon tea that stirs old flames and unresolved feelings, as unexpected guests and past loves converge in a delicate…
Level C1ClassicsStories of IntellectA man rents a reputedly haunted London house, only to find an undefinable terror that drives him and his wife away.
Level C1ClassicsStories of ExileAmid the flickering glow of a mountain kiln, a mysterious laughter unsettles a father and son, hinting at deeper, haunting secrets.
Level C1ClassicsStories of ComedyIn a lively Irish fishing village, Barny O'Reirdon, a respected and jovial fisherman, clashes and converses with a rival cousin, blending humor, local rivalries, and rural wisdom i…