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 C1ClassicsLiza; Or, "A Nest of Nobles"In a vivid portrayal of Russian provincial life, a young noblewoman named Liza navigates the complexities of society, love, and personal conscience during a time of social transfor…
Level C1ClassicsLives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)Explore the turbulent life of Voltaire, a fearless critic of religious dogma and champion of intellectual liberty, as he challenges the powerful church and ignites a revolution in…
Level C1ClassicsLives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 1 (of 2)Explore the fascinating lives of France's most influential literary and scientific figures, beginning with Montaigne, whose unique upbringing and groundbreaking essays reveal a viv…
Level C1ClassicsLives of the English Poets: From Johnson to Kirke White, Designed as a Continuation of Johnson's LivesExplore the lives and works of English poets from Samuel Johnson to Henry Kirke White, revealing their struggles, inspirations, and literary achievements through intimate and detai…
Level C1ClassicsLives of Two CatsTwo cats, Pussy White and Pussy Gray, weave through the tender memories of a home filled with warmth, play, and quiet companionship.
Level C1ClassicsLittle Travels and Roadside SketchesSet off from a cozy English inn to bustling coaches and stately duchesses, journeying through vivid scenes of aristocratic life, lively travel companions, and the spirited atmosphe…
Level C1ClassicsLittle Pilgrimages Among the Men Who Have Written Famous BooksExplore the literary journeys and personal lives of America's revered authors through intimate sketches that reveal the struggles, ambitions, and successes behind their celebrated…
Level C1ClassicsLittle Novels of ItalyIn sunlit Verona, Giovanna Scarpa, a striking yet humble washerwoman, struggles to support her large family and dreams of love beyond her lowly station.
Level C1ClassicsLittle NovelsA widowed father and his young daughter encounter a mysterious, ghostlike woman in Kensington Gardens whose eerie presence defies explanation, blurring the line between the living…
Level C1ClassicsLittle NobodyA Northern journalist finds himself enchanted by the vibrant, sunlit world of New Orleans, where dazzling races and a mysterious retired actress draw him into a web of intrigue and…
Level C1ClassicsLittle Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor, Volume IDive into a rich collection of American humor, featuring voices from Washington Irving to Mr.
Level C1ClassicsLittle Guzzy, and other storiesIn a rugged mining camp fiercely resisting the arrival of a schoolteacher, tensions simmer as the miners plot to maintain their hard-won freedom and way of life.
Level C1ClassicsLittle FoxesExplore the subtle, unseen tensions that quietly erode family happiness in a home where affection and flaws collide.
Level C1ClassicsLittle EyolfA father's infatuation and weakness mirror in his son, Little Eyolf, whose mysterious disappearance shakes the family and exposes hidden tensions.
Level C1ClassicsLittle Dinners With the Sphinx, and Other Prose FanciesA man reunites with the enigmatic Sphinx over a delicate dinner, exploring the bittersweet passage of time, memory, and the mysticism found in shared moments.
Level C1ClassicsLittle Brown JugIn a humble shoemaker’s shop, young Will Nutter dreams of escaping the slow, steady life of his trade to conquer the bustling city and its fierce bargains, while old friends debate…
Level C1ClassicsLittle BritainIn the heart of old London, a faded neighborhood called Little Britain preserves its ancient charm, quirky customs, and ghostly legends amidst crumbling mansions and timeworn stree…
Level C1ClassicsLiterature and Life (Complete)Explore the intimate connections between literature and everyday existence through a series of essays and sketches that reveal the poetry hidden in common life, inviting readers to…
Level C1ClassicsLiterary Taste: How to Form It: With Detailed Instructions for Collecting a Complete Library of English LiteratureDiscover how literary taste shapes a deeper, more vivid experience of life, transforming mere distraction into a vital awakening to the world’s hidden beauty and meaning.
Level C1ClassicsLiterary Shrines: The Haunts of Some Famous American AuthorsExplore Concord, a tranquil village that served as the home and inspiration for some of America's greatest literary minds, including Thoreau, whose presence lingers in its landscap…
Level C1ClassicsLiterary Love-Letters and Other StoriesAmidst social gatherings and whispered intrigues, a man rekindles memories of a past love through tender literary letters, capturing the complexities of affection, ambition, and th…
Level C1ClassicsLiterary CopyrightAt the dawn of a new literary society, writers and artists unite to elevate art and literature through shared standards, honest critique, and mutual support.
Level C1ClassicsLiterary Character of Men of Genius: Drawn from Their Own Feelings and ConfessionsExplore the inner lives and diverse characters of literary geniuses, revealing how their passions, fortunes, and unique minds shape their art and influence human nature.
Level C1ClassicsLiterary Blunders: A Chapter in the "History of Human Error"Explore the amusing and enlightening world of literary blunders, from ghost words and misquotations to translators' errors and schoolboy mistakes, revealing the humorous side of hu…
Level C1ClassicsLinda TresselIn a picturesque Nuremberg home, young Linda Tressel faces the harsh trials imposed by her devout and inflexible aunt, whose rigid virtue clashes with mercy, shaping Linda’s strugg…
Level C1ClassicsLinda Lee, Incorporated: A NovelAmid the glitz of California's motion-picture world, a woman wrestles with love and loyalty as past passions resurface after five years apart.
Level C1ClassicsLinda CondonIn a lavish seaside hotel, young Linda Condon navigates the delicate balance between her mother’s flamboyant gaiety and her own grave, mature demeanor, caught in a world where appe…
Level C1ClassicsLimehouse NightsIn the shadowy streets of Limehouse, a fierce boxer battles his own demons while a fragile girl endures a harsh existence, their lives quietly observed by a lonely, poetic sailor c…
Level C1ClassicsLimbo, and Other Essays; To which is now added Ariadne in MantuaExplore a contemplative journey through liminal spaces—both literal and metaphorical—where forgotten memories, lost childhoods, and the delicate threshold between existence and obl…
Level C1ClassicsLilithA man struggles to reclaim life’s beauty after his wife Lilith is brutally murdered, leaving him broken and haunted by grief.
Level C1ClassicsLilianA beautiful young woman toils alone late into the night in a bustling London typewriting office, yearning for the glamorous life just beyond her reach.
Level C1ClassicsLighter Moments from the Notebook of Bishop Walsham HowDiscover the joyful and humorous reflections of a deeply pious bishop whose sunny disposition and keen wit illuminate the trials and triumphs of everyday life, offering warmth and…
Level C1ClassicsLight interviews with shadesStep into a surreal interview with Bluebeard’s shade as he reveals the darkly comic and twisted truths behind his infamous marriages, challenging the myths and exposing the chaos o…
Level C1ClassicsLightIn a bleak industrial town, a clerk navigates the daily grind between the factory and divided streets, where the shadows of laborers and the allure of a different life quietly unfo…
Level C1ClassicsLifted Masks; storiesAn American woman navigating Parisian charm and cultural quirks encounters a boisterous fellow countryman whose well-meaning gift plans reveal the surprising nuances of identity an…
Level C1ClassicsLife's Progress Through the Passions; Or, The Adventures of NaturaFollow Natura’s journey through the triumphs and trials of human passions, as youthful innocence gives way to complex emotions and life’s unpredictable challenges test reason, ambi…
Level C1ClassicsLife's Little Ironies: A set of tales with some colloquial sketches entitled A Few Crusted CharactersA young invalid woman, once a parlour-maid, navigates life’s quiet ironies alongside her well-bred son in a London suburb, haunted by memories of her past in a remote village and t…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Sir Walter Scott, with Abbotsford NotandaExplore the life and lineage of a literary giant, tracing his family roots from rugged border farms to the halls of Edinburgh’s esteemed university, revealing the influences that s…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Robert BurnsDive into the life of a soul-stirring Scottish bard, whose heroic spirit is captured in a profound, spiritual portrait that explores his origins, education, and the rich depth behi…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Lord Byron, Vol. 6: With His Letters and JournalsDelve into the turbulent world of Lord Byron as he navigates fading fame, complex friendships, and financial entanglements amid Italy’s literary circles, revealing the fragile bond…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Lord Byron, Vol. 5: With His Letters and JournalsExplore the tumultuous life of a misunderstood poet navigating exile, public scandal, and personal strife in early 19th-century Europe, revealing letters and reflections that illum…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Lord Byron, Vol. 4: With His Letters and JournalsFollow the restless journeys and candid letters of a scandalous poet navigating illness, rivalries, and shifting loyalties across Europe, from Venice to Rome, while wrestling with…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Lord Byron, Vol. 3: With His Letters and JournalsDive into the intimate journals and letters of a restless poet grappling with fame, friendship, and the turbulent world around him—from political upheavals to theatrical triumphs a…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Lord Byron, Vol. 2: With His Letters and JournalsFollow the restless youth of a daring schoolboy turned poet as he returns from continental travels, navigating London’s society and solitude while forging a mind that balances shar…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Lord Byron, Vol. 1: With His Letters and JournalsExplore the tumultuous life of a poet who, exiled yet fiercely connected to England, reveals his deepest thoughts and ambitions through a rich collection of letters and journals th…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Johnson, Volume 4: 1780-1784Dive into the sharp wit and profound reflections of Samuel Johnson as remembered through candid conversations and keen observations, revealing the mind behind his celebrated saying…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Johnson, Volume 3: 1776-1780Follow the journey and keen intellect of Samuel Johnson as he navigates society, friendship, and personal reflections during 1776-1780, offering sharp observations on human nature,…
Level C1ClassicsLife of Johnson, Volume 2: 1765-1776Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century literary London, where a towering intellect offers sharp critiques, courtly dedications, and deep friendships.