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 C1ClassicsSketch of Grammar of the Chippeway Languages: To Which is Added a Vocabulary of some of the Most Common WordsExplore the structure and vocabulary of the Chippeway language through detailed lessons on syllable accents, grammar rules, and common words, accompanied by traditional prayers and…
Level C1ClassicsSixes and SevensA wandering minstrel, Sam Galloway, the Last of the Troubadours, leaves a lively ranch to seek solitude on a remote sheep ranch, blending music, humor, and the rugged spirit of the…
Level C1ClassicsSix WomenHaunted by a loveless marriage and a deep despair, a handsome civil servant in colonial India struggles with a life drained of passion and meaning, seeking solace amid the dust and…
Level C1ClassicsSix PlaysStep into the authentic world of English country life where peasants speak with vivid, homely metaphors and simple stories unfold, capturing timeless folk traditions and the heart…
Level C1ClassicsSix One-Act PlaysIn a richly detailed Arabian setting, a wedding feast unfolds amid mysterious delays, whispered secrets, and the arrival of a captivating stranger whose presence stirs passion and…
Level C1ClassicsSistersA young sailor marries a struggling girl and, after months apart, prepares a heartfelt surprise homecoming for his new family.
Level C1ClassicsSister TeresaIn a convent gripped by financial crisis, Evelyn confronts unexpected challenges that test faith and resilience.
Level C1ClassicsSister Dolorosa, and Posthumous FameA young woman named Sister Dolorosa stands at a crossroads between earthly hardship and spiritual devotion, gazing beyond a bleak landscape to a radiant vision that promises transc…
Level C1ClassicsSister Carrie: A NovelAn eighteen-year-old girl leaves her rural home for the dazzling, dangerous allure of Chicago, where the city's seductive charms and harsh realities threaten to reshape her innocen…
Level C1ClassicsSister CarmenOn a radiant Easter morning in a Moravian village, a young girl named Sister Carmen reflects amid timeless traditions and heartfelt faith, revealing a community bound by love, sacr…
Level C1ClassicsSister Anne (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume X)In the quiet Parisian night, Dubourg, an unlucky and idle man with a penchant for self-deception, grapples with debts, lost money, and a life of half-hearted work and fleeting plea…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott: A Lecture at the SorbonneExplore the remarkable journey of a novelist whose Scottish roots and dialect shaped timeless tales that captivated Europe, blending vivid local color with sweeping historical roma…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott as a Critic of LiteratureExplore the overlooked critical and scholarly works of Sir Walter Scott, revealing how his literary criticism intertwines with his renowned novels and poems to deepen our understan…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the rich ancestry and historical roots of Sir Walter Scott, tracing his Celtic, Anglo-Norman, and Scottish heritage that shaped his profound connection to the past and fuel…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the early life and lineage of a literary giant, tracing his roots from noble Scottish families to his formative years amid family, legend, and education, revealing the orig…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottDive into the rich heritage and adventurous spirit that shaped the life of a great literary figure, tracing his roots from daring ancestors to the influential family that inspired…
Level C1ClassicsSir TomAfter years of restless wandering and near ruin, Sir Thomas Randolph unexpectedly marries a young heiress, restoring his fortune and status.
Level C1ClassicsSir Henry Irving—A Record of Over Twenty Years at the LyceumFollow the relentless journey of an actor rising from humble beginnings to commanding the stage at the Lyceum Theatre, revealing the grit, discipline, and resilience behind a celeb…
Level C1ClassicsSir Harry Hotspur of HumblethwaiteA proud English baronet faces the crushing loss of his only son and heir, forcing him to confront the future of his centuries-old estates and the fate of his family legacy through…
Level C1ClassicsSir GibbieIn the gritty streets of a grey city, a young boy named Gibbie, with striking blue eyes and an untamed spirit, scours the gutters with an unfathomable fascination for dirt, hinting…
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IIIn the tense world of London society and politics, George Tressady navigates family conflicts and social intrigues while managing his duties in the House of Commons.
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IA newly elected MP returns from a hard-fought, narrow victory in a mining district, grappling with the weight of political promises and the simmering unrest among the working class…
Level C1ClassicsSir Dominick FerrandAn aspiring writer navigates the harsh realities of literary rejection while finding unexpected solace in the melancholic music of his enigmatic new neighbor, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsSir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I.Amid Dublin’s military society, the enigmatic Sir Brook Fossbrooke—once the fastest man in town—emerges as a gentleman angler with secrets beneath his stern exterior, setting the s…
Level C1ClassicsSink or swim?In a quaint English village resistant to change, scandal brews over John Beacham’s controversial choice to marry an Irishwoman, stirring gossip and suspicion among the locals.
Level C1ClassicsSingle Life: A Comedy, in Three ActsIn a witty exploration of courtship, a devoted admirer plans to transform a confirmed bachelor’s untidy apartment—and perhaps his heart—while a cynical friend vows to keep him sing…
Level C1ClassicsSimon the JesterA bold politician retreats to the desolate seaside village of Murglebed-on-Sea, a place so bleak and hostile it bewilders even his closest companions.
Level C1ClassicsSimon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch. Two Stories of Jewish LifeIn the heart of a bustling city, a doctor encounters Simon Eichelkatz, a venerable man whose sharp wit and deep connection to tradition reveal the complexities of Jewish life and f…
Level C1ClassicsSimon Called PeterAmid the shattered illusions of World War I, a soldier named Peter confronts the harsh realities behind the glamorized tales of war, wrestling with faith, temptation, and the haunt…
Level C1ClassicsSilent StrugglesAmid a fierce Boston storm, two unlikely companions meet on a windswept hill, both drawn by a restless hope and an urgent secret loomed in the turbulent sea.
Level C1ClassicsSilas Strong, Emperor of the WoodsIn the fading wilderness of the Adirondacks, Silas Strong—the rugged "Emperor of the Woods"—stands as a living symbol of a vanishing world.
Level C1ClassicsSide LightsImmerse yourself in the life of a towering, passionate schoolmaster who transforms a London slum with fierce kindness and relentless energy, battling injustice both in the classroo…
Level C1ClassicsSibyllaA young student torn between his passion for knowledge and his family’s expectations faces a difficult choice that challenges duty, love, and the pursuit of his true calling.
Level C1ClassicsShorter novels, vol. 3Explore the final echoes of Augustan thought alongside the dawn of Romantic imagination through three tales that journey from philosophical reflection to gothic mystery and exotic…
Level C1ClassicsShorter Prose PiecesWitty and provocative aphorisms challenge conventions on art, society, and identity, while vivid portraits explore beauty’s timeless influence.
Level C1ClassicsShort-story masterpieces, Vol. 2Dive into a rich collection of French short stories that explore the intricate lives and vivid characters crafted with detailed settings and psychological depth, showcasing a liter…
Level C1ClassicsShort-story masterpieces, Vol. 1Explore the essence of French storytelling through vivid tales that capture national spirit, character, and local color with precision and charm.
Level C1ClassicsShort story writingUnlock the secrets behind crafting compelling short stories with guidance drawn from the masters.
Level C1ClassicsShort story classics (Foreign), Vol. 4, French IA young artist, trembling with reverence and self-doubt, seeks entry into the studio of a revered master in 1612 Paris, where passion and talent collide in a world of artistic ambi…
Level C1ClassicsShort story classics (Foreign), Vol. 3, GermanIn a sun-drenched Provençal village famed for its beauty, Marietta’s arrival stirs hearts and rivalries alike, as her charm captivates every young man—threatening peace and sparkin…
Level C1ClassicsShort story classics (Foreign), Vol. 2, Italian and ScandinavianA distinguished Egyptologist and professor unpacks a trove of books, stirring memories and rivalries that reveal the passionate world of academic discovery and the delicate balance…
Level C1ClassicsShort story classics (Foreign), Vol. 1, RussianExplore a rich collection of seventy-eight compelling short stories from Russian literature, featuring works by Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov, capturin…![Cover of Short stories from Life: The 81 prize stories in "Life's" Shortest Story Contest by Thomas L. etc.] Masson](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafd1qta8p2c739itea0.webp)
Level C1ClassicsShort stories from Life: The 81 prize stories in "Life's" Shortest Story ContestDive into a unique collection of 81 prize-winning stories crafted under a daring contest challenge: how short can a story be and still captivate?
Level C1ClassicsShort and Sweet: A Comic Drama, in One ActIn a charming London apartment near the Crystal Palace, two wives navigate the quirks of their busy husbands and a planned afternoon ride that promises aristocratic adventure and u…
Level C1ClassicsShort Stories for English CoursesDive into a curated collection of short stories designed to captivate adolescent readers with vivid moments of adventure, character, and setting.
Level C1ClassicsShireen and her Friends: Pages from the Life of a Persian CatFollow the elegant Persian cat Shireen as she navigates life at Uncle Ben’s cozy seaside bungalow, where gentle breezes and whispered waves set the stage for charming adventures an…
Level C1ClassicsShips that pass in the nightIn a foreign sanatorium, a weary newcomer meets a cynical man whose bleak outlook challenges her fragile hope for recovery.
Level C1ClassicsShining FerryIn a bustling harbor town, John Rosewarne, a powerful shipping magnate, contemplates his life and legacy on his birthday, as the tides of trade and family fortunes ebb and flow aro…