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 C1ClassicsThomas Wingfold, Curate V1Amid a roaring November wind, Helen Lingard wrestles with restless thoughts and quiet dissatisfaction in her sheltered world, challenged by the stirrings of deeper reflection and t…
Level C1ClassicsThomas Otway: The Best Plays of the Old DramatistsExplore the turbulent Restoration era, where art and morality clash amid political corruption and fading glory.
Level C1ClassicsThomas DekkerStep into the turbulent life of a playwright whose early promise is shadowed by debt and hardship, yet whose resilient spirit and heartfelt creativity shine through adversity.
Level C1ClassicsThomas CarlyleExplore the life and influence of a towering 19th-century Scottish thinker whose complex genius shaped generations, navigating criticism, personal trials, and profound intellectual…
Level C1ClassicsThomas CampbellExplore the rich heritage and life of a renowned Scottish poet, tracing his noble ancestry, early influences, and the family’s ties to historic Scotland amid the shifting tides of…
Level C1ClassicsThistledown: A Book of Scotch Humour, Character, Folk-lore, Story & AnecdoteDive into the rich humor and character of Scotland, where wit blooms in every corner—from solemn councils to village inns.
Level C1ClassicsThis and That and the OtherA witty and wide-ranging collection of essays and reflections offers sharp insights on diplomacy, society, and history, blending humor, serious thought, and personal anecdotes in a…
Level C1ClassicsThis Is the EndJay, a questioning 'bus-conductor estranged from her family, navigates a world where reason fails and secret, enchanted realms offer solace and mystery beyond ordinary life’s chaos…
Level C1ClassicsThirty Years in AustraliaA newlywed Englishwoman embarks on an uncertain journey to Australia, leaving behind the comforts of home for the mysterious and untamed Bush.
Level C1ClassicsThirty Years Since; or, The Ruined Family. A TaleIn the sprawling, restless heart of London, a young man sets out at dawn from a Piccadilly hotel, carrying not just his belongings but the weight of a troubled past.
Level C1ClassicsThirteen StoriesDive into vivid sketches from a vanished era, where landscapes and lives once vibrant have faded into memory and desolation.
Level C1ClassicsThingsA concerned mother seeks help from a specialist when her once-close relationship with her rebellious seventeen-year-old daughter deteriorates into conflict and profanity.
Level C1ClassicsThey and IA family debates the perfect house, juggling practical needs with lively dreams of billiards, dancing, and unconventional living spaces.
Level C1ClassicsThese TwainIn a divided suburb where old traditions clash with modern ambitions, the lives of Bleakridge's residents unfold against a backdrop of social pride and change.
Level C1ClassicsTheresa RaquinIn the shadowed streets of Paris, Thérèse Raquin explores the dark passions and fatal impulses that drive two lovers into a web of desire and consequence, revealing the raw forces…
Level C1ClassicsThereby Hangs a Tale. Volume OneIn a grand country estate, the meticulous daily rituals of Sir Hampton Rea and his household unfold, revealing quirky characters, social tensions, and the charming eccentricities o…
Level C1ClassicsThere's Pippins and Cheese to ComeA midday wander leads through bustling streets past tempting eateries and curious displays, capturing the sensory chaos and quiet mysteries of urban life.
Level C1ClassicsThere is a tideA young woman arrives in England, feeling out of place and uneasy, when a confident stranger with a mysterious past confronts her on a train, sparking tension and intrigue in this…
Level C1ClassicsThere Are Crimes and CrimesA man’s plunge from triumph to ruin, fueled by intoxicating excess, unfolds as he faces crimes beyond the law—transgressions against the spirit and God—leading to a profound spirit…
Level C1ClassicsThere & BackA baronet’s ill-fated marriage to a blacksmith’s daughter sparks scandal and regret, setting the stage for a tale of social divides, lost love, and the quiet strength of a woman ca…
Level C1ClassicsTheir Silver Wedding Journey — CompleteA weary magazine editor faces the prospect of a long-awaited European sabbatical, stirring dreams of youth and renewal alongside the comforts and challenges of his settled American…
Level C1ClassicsTheir PilgrimageAs spring dawns on the coast, Irene and her family arrive at the bustling Hygeia Hotel, a glass-enclosed winter resort teeming with eager travelers.
Level C1ClassicsTheft: A Play In Four ActsIn a world of power, politics, and conflicting ambitions, a determined woman and a reformist congressman navigate high society’s intrigues and moral compromises, revealing the comp…
Level C1ClassicsThe writing of fictionExplore the evolution of fiction as it shifts focus from grand historical tales to the intimate workings of the human soul, tracing the development of character and realism through…
Level C1ClassicsThe worship of the golden calf: A story of wage-slavery in MassachusettsIn a Massachusetts farm marked by harsh winter and harsher labor conditions, John Wycliff struggles against wage exploitation and debt while caring for his sick child, revealing th…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 5 (of 5)In a lively comedy of wit and intrigue, a suitor navigates fortune and folly while courting a wealthy widow, weaving through mistaken intentions and clever schemes.
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 4 (of 5)In the bustling streets of Cheapside, witty characters navigate marriage, social expectations, and lively debates on reason and folly in a sharp comedy filled with humor and intrig…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 3 (of 5)In a bustling Milan, noblemen and servants navigate love, death, and deception with sharp wit and raw emotion.
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 2 (of 5)A desperate gentleman plots to outwit his avaricious uncle by posing as a wealthy widow, hoping to turn his fortunes around through cunning deception and a clever ruse in the heart…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Thomas Middleton, Volume 1 (of 5)Delve into the rare and comprehensive collection of Thomas Middleton’s surviving works, revealing the rich tapestry of early literature through rare texts and detailed editorial no…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Mr. Thomas Brown, serious and comical : in prose and verse, with his remains in four volumes compleat; vol. IIJourney beneath the river Styx to a vivid underworld where the dead write letters to the living, and infernal politics mirror earthly intrigues.
Level C1ClassicsThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 18Explore a spirited defense of women’s virtues and foibles through a lively dialogue enriched with wit, gallantry, and learned critique.
Level C1ClassicsThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 17Dive into an extraordinary English translation of Plutarch’s Lives, enriched by scholarly notes and a compelling Life of Plutarch, revealing the grandeur of ancient heroes and the…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 08Dive into a witty reimagining of the ancient Roman comedy Amphitryon, where gods disguise themselves as mortals, sparking comic confusion, mistaken identities, and clever intrigues…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 07Amidst the fierce political turmoil of Charles II’s reign, the stage becomes a battleground where drama and intrigue mirror real-life power struggles, religious conflict, and the f…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 04Step into a world where chivalry and heroic valor shape the fate of kingdoms, as the mighty Moorish warrior Almanzor battles with unmatched prowess and unwavering devotion, embodyi…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 02Dive into a collection of dramatic works that reveal the complexities of honor, love, and conquest, framed by heartfelt dedications and insightful prefaces exploring art, generosit…
Level C1ClassicsThe works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 5: Une Vie and Other StoriesExplore the nuanced lives and social challenges of 19th-century Normandy through vivid tales blending tenderness, cynicism, and keen observation, revealing the complexities of love…
Level C1ClassicsThe wolf trailIn a lively London tavern, Bill Fright, a rugged young man with sea-worn strength, navigates the gritty world of 19th-century England, where sharp wit and hard living collide amids…
Level C1ClassicsThe windfallA young manager and his partner struggle to launch a street fair in the remote and rugged Great Smoky Mountains, confronting isolation, natural grandeur, and the challenge of drawi…
Level C1ClassicsThe willow weaver, and seven other talesA young man faces a dire ultimatum from a powerful superior, forced to vanish within twenty-four hours to protect his family's honor.
Level C1ClassicsThe wild duckIn a richly furnished study, old alliances and hidden pasts unravel as guests gather to celebrate a son's homecoming, revealing a tangled web of former glories and present struggle…
Level C1ClassicsThe well of lonelinessIn the English countryside, Stephen Gordon is born into a world of expectation and love, yet her true identity challenges the rigid confines of society.
Level C1ClassicsThe way of the spiritCaught between rigid vows and the stirring call of the East, Rupert Ullershaw confronts a profound moral dilemma that tests faith, renunciation, and the power of conscience amid th…
Level C1ClassicsThe way of all earthAs the workday ends, men and women hurriedly escape the office, blending into the bustling city streets filled with vibrant market stalls and ferry traffic.
Level C1ClassicsThe waltz of the dogsIn a stark, unfinished apartment, Carl Tile wrestles with dark secrets and desperate schemes as he contemplates betrayal and crime against his unsuspecting brother Henry, whose new…
Level C1ClassicsThe voyage of the Norman D.A young writer’s vivid letter reveals her thrilling voyage aboard the Norman D.
Level C1ClassicsThe virgin of the sunIn a wild, impenetrable land shadowed by the Temple of the Sun, a solitary young man wrestles with loneliness and forbidden passion, while a devoted uncle seeks to guide him toward…