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 C1ClassicsFrom Wealth to Poverty; Or, the Tricks of the Traffic. A Story of the Drink CurseA man battles to reclaim his life and honor after struggling with the curse of drink, while his devoted wife and children pray for his strength and salvation.
Level C1ClassicsFrom Place to PlaceAn elderly man known as Uncle Tobe Dramm holds a grim monopoly as the continent’s lone professional hangman, navigating the complexities of duty, state sovereignty, and morality in…
Level C1ClassicsFrom Pillar to Post: Leaves from a Lecturer's Note-BookA seasoned lecturer shares the raw realities of life on the speaking circuit, revealing the nervous struggles and unexpected adventures behind each public appearance.
Level C1ClassicsFrom One Generation to AnotherAmid the chaos of the Indian Mutiny, a calculating young officer navigates ambition, love, and betrayal, weighing fortune against conscience as he seizes his chance for power in a…
Level C1ClassicsFrivolities, Especially Addressed to Those Who Are Tired of Being SeriousA found purse sparks a series of eccentric visitors each claiming ownership, revealing quirky characters and unexpected tensions in a whimsical tale that questions identity, honest…
Level C1ClassicsFriendship VillageIn a small town caught between modern progress and old-fashioned ways, the residents of Friendship Village navigate daily life with a charming blend of tradition and change.
Level C1ClassicsFriends and Neighbors; Or, Two Ways of Living in the WorldExplore the power of kindness and charity to transform human relationships and overcome suspicion and discord.
Level C1ClassicsFriends I Have MadeA woman reflects on a life marked by early sorrow and quiet strength, becoming a confidante to those burdened by their troubles.
Level C1ClassicsFresh LeavesIn a modest home, the restless Mr.
Level C1ClassicsFresh Every Hour: Detailing the Adventures, Comic and Pathetic of One Jimmy Martin, Purveyor of Publicity, a Young Gentleman Possessing Sublime Nerve, Whimsical Imagination, Colossal Impudence, and, Withal, the Heart of a Child.At Jollyland amusement park, press agent Jimmy Martin's heart races uncontrollably over the enchanting Lolita Murphy, a small-town girl with big dreams of stardom and a flair for d…
Level C1ClassicsFrenzied FictionStep into the shadowy world of spies who move unseen, wielding secrets that shake empires and infiltrate the highest echelons of society.
Level C1ClassicsFree, and other storiesIn a quiet Central Park West apartment, Rufus Haymaker faces the harsh reality of his ailing wife’s grave condition while wrestling with decades of unhappiness and a longing for fr…
Level C1ClassicsFree Joe and Other Georgian SketchesIn a Southern village shadowed by slavery’s threats, Free Joe, a freed slave, lives under constant suspicion and scrutiny.
Level C1ClassicsFraternityIn Edwardian London, a woman grapples with fading youth, financial strain, and the desire to keep her husband's admiration, while navigating the lives of those less fortunate aroun…
Level C1ClassicsFrançois the waifA mysterious foundling, François, grows up in a rustic village where humble affections and quiet self-devotion shape his world.
Level C1ClassicsFranklin KaneAn American woman weary of her endless European travels confronts the hollow routine of her privileged, nomadic life in elegant Paris, questioning what truly gives meaning beyond t…
Level C1ClassicsFramley ParsonageA young man blessed with good fortune and character is destined for the Church, backed by influential patrons who aim to secure his future in the esteemed living of Framley.
Level C1ClassicsFragments from the Journal of a Solitary Man: (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")A solitary man reflects on a life of isolation and unfulfilled dreams as he faces death, revealing a poignant struggle between a yearning for connection and a retreat from the worl…
Level C1ClassicsFoxglove Manor: A Novel, Volume 3 (of 3)In a quiet manor, a husband uncovers a scandalous secret involving a clergyman, igniting jealousy and suspicion in his wife.
Level C1ClassicsFoxglove Manor: A Novel, Volume 2 (of 3)A loyal yet enigmatic servant battles inner demons and a dark past as his master prepares for a journey to London, stirring tensions and secrets within the eerie Foxglove Manor.
Level C1ClassicsFour YearsA young artist navigates the fading charm of a Pre-Raphaelite neighborhood while wrestling with the clash between tradition and modernity, forging a new faith rooted in poetic imag…
Level C1ClassicsFour Short Stories By Emile ZolaStep into the dimly lit world of Parisian theatre, where anticipation builds before the debut of "The Blonde Venus.
Level C1ClassicsFour Plays of AeschylusMaidens flee forced marriage, seeking sanctuary in Argos, while their pursuers demand their return—sparking a dramatic clash of duty, divine will, and political decision.
Level C1ClassicsFour Phases of LoveTwo blind siblings face a life-changing surgery that promises sight, stirring hope and fear as they confront the unknown world beyond their sheltered village life and the bonds tha…
Level C1ClassicsFour Mystery PlaysJourney through the spiritual awakening of ordinary souls as they confront inner forces and seek initiation into higher knowledge.
Level C1ClassicsFour Minute Essays, Volume XExplore the resilience of the human spirit amid suffering and the vision of a just society where intellectual freedom, equality, and universal brotherhood shape a hopeful future be…
Level C1ClassicsFour MeetingsAt a snowy New England tea-party, a reserved young woman named Caroline Spencer captivates a traveler with her quiet charm and surprising knowledge as they explore photographs of d…
Level C1ClassicsFortitudeOn a snowy Christmas Eve, young Peter Westcott finds courage and comfort in the rugged warmth of The Bending Mule inn, where stories and shadows mingle amid a rough seaside town’s…
Level C1ClassicsForrest HouseA young man receives urgent letters pulling him between a playful theatrical role and a sick mother’s need, forcing him to choose between love, duty, and unexpected responsibilitie…
Level C1ClassicsFore!Step onto the course where golf’s early pioneers battle slow foursomes, etiquette, and the struggle between patience and passion in a game that’s more than just a pastime—it’s a te…
Level C1ClassicsFor whose sake?: A sequel to "Why did he wed her?"A man haunted by dark crimes and a woman trapped in a loveless marriage cross paths aboard a transatlantic steamer, unaware that his forsaken wife and child are also on board.
Level C1ClassicsFor the RightA man driven by pure reverence for justice defies an unjust emperor, forsaking family and security to become an outlaw fighting for righteousness in a world where true justice has…
Level C1ClassicsFor the Major: A NoveletteNestled between two rival mountain towns, Far Edgerley prides itself on aristocratic tradition and distance from commerce, awaiting the return of Major Carroll's daughter in a carr…
Level C1ClassicsFor the Allinson HonorIn a peaceful country cottage, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsFor love and life; vol. 1 of 2Set against the rugged beauty of Loch Arroch, a young gentleman navigates the delicate ties of duty, pride, and social divide as he cares for a proud, aging matriarch and her innoc…
Level C1ClassicsFor Love of the King: A Burmese MasqueIn a vibrant sixteenth-century Burmese palace, a young king navigates political intrigue and a postponed royal marriage amid dazzling ceremonies and mystical traditions.
Level C1ClassicsFootsteps of FateA passionate revolt brews among young Dutch writers challenging the sleepy traditions of their predecessors, sparking a fierce literary revolution filled with beauty, delicacy, and…
Level C1ClassicsFootlightsIn a small-town vaudeville theater, an actress battles loneliness, shattered dreams, and the harsh backstage reality as she faces the ultimate humiliation of returning home to a fo…
Level C1ClassicsFontainbleau; a comic opera. In three actsIn a bustling London tavern during race time, the prideful but penniless gentleman Lackland clashes with the sharp-witted landlady, setting the stage for comic misunderstandings, l…
Level C1ClassicsFollowing darknessAn intimate fragment of a renowned art critic’s unfinished autobiography unravels the enigmatic life and tragic death of Peter Waring, revealing his intense, morbid aestheticism an…
Level C1ClassicsFolle-FarineA young girl named Folle-Farine, called "dust" and deemed worthless, endures harsh labor and cruelty at a mill, while watching the free-floating dust she shares a name with—ponderi…
Level C1ClassicsFolks from DixieIn a snowy Kentucky plantation, Anner ’Lizer, the most admired young woman among the enslaved community, faces a tender but troubled romance with Sam Merritt amid the stirring back…
Level C1ClassicsFolk-Speech of Cumberland and Some Districts Adjacent: Being Short Stories and Rhymes in the Dialects of the West Border CountiesExplore the rich dialects and lively folk tales of Cumberland and its border counties through vivid short stories and rhymes, capturing the authentic speech and culture of the regi…
Level C1ClassicsFolk-Lore and Legends: OrientalIn the bustling city of Isfahan, an honest cobbler is forced to abandon his trade and pose as an astrologer to satisfy his ambitious wife’s dreams of wealth, plunging him into a pe…
Level C1ClassicsFoe-FarrellAmid the trenches of the Aisne, a seasoned officer recounts stories that escape the war’s horrors, revealing the camaraderie and quiet struggles of soldiers carving out moments of…
Level C1ClassicsFlowers and fruit from the writings of Harriet Beecher StoweExplore the profound inner life where souls connect beyond absence and death, and truth melts like music into the heart.
Level C1ClassicsFlower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces;: or, the Wedded Life, Death, and Marriage of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, Parish Advocate in the Burgh of Kuhschnappel.Delve into the intricate life and reflections of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, whose story unfolds amid the nuances of marriage, death, and community in Kuhschnappel, enriched by…
Level C1ClassicsFlower o' the PeachIn the vast, sunlit Karoo, a young boy watches over his flock as an old shepherd recounts a haunting tale of a mysterious, singing madman wandering the veld.