Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
6,942 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 C1ClassicsHenry Fielding: a Memoir: Including Newly Discovered Letters and Records with Illustrations from Contemporary PrintsExplore the life of Henry Fielding through newly uncovered letters, documents, and contemporary prints that reveal his personal struggles, social activism, and career as a London m…
Level B2ClassicsHenry Dunbar: A NovelIn the shadows of a vast London banking empire, Henry Dunbar returns after decades in exile, bearing a scandalous past that could shatter his inherited fortune and reputation.
Level C1ClassicsHenry D. ThoreauExplore the intimate life and profound intellect of Henry D.
Level C1ClassicsHenrik IbsenExplore the life and artistic journey of a groundbreaking playwright whose Norwegian roots and European influences shaped modern drama.
Level C1ClassicsHenrietta's Wish; Or, DomineeringTwin siblings reunited after school face family tensions and hopes of moving closer to home, where attachments run deep but life feels stagnant—will Henrietta's wish bring change t…
Level C1ClassicsHell Fer Sartain and Other StoriesIn the rugged Kentucky hills, fiery rivalries and raw mountain life collide during a tense Christmas dance, where moonshine, love, and deadly grudges intertwine.
Level C1ClassicsHelena Brett's CareerA successful author struggles with family tensions and the pressures of marriage while navigating the complexities of his career and personal life, revealing the unromantic realiti…
Level B2ClassicsHelen's BabiesA bachelor is roped into babysitting his sister's two mischievous boys for a fortnight at a country estate, where their impish antics and lively personalities promise unexpected ch…
Level C1ClassicsHelen with the High Hand (2nd ed.)In the industrial heart of the Five Towns, where human nature is as tough as stone, the creation of a town park sparks rare moments of beauty and romance.
Level B2ClassicsHelen of the Old HouseIn an industrial town dominated by one powerful mill and its enigmatic owner, a stark divide separates wealth from hardship as two neglected children navigate the dusty streets ben…
Level B2ClassicsHeld to Answer: A NovelIn a bustling Los Angeles office, John, an awkward yet earnest stenographer, struggles against ridicule and stagnation as he clings to his dreams of acting and a life beyond the gr…
Level C1ClassicsHeld for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad LifeIn a rough cattle town where railroad workers face constant danger from hostile cowboys, Callahan struggles to keep the yard running amid sabotage and violence.
Level C1ClassicsHelbeck of Bannisdale — Volume IIAmid the fiery chaos of a factory accident, a young woman named Laura steps into the heart of a desperate community, confronting the raw human cost and social tensions ignited by t…
Level C1ClassicsHelbeck of Bannisdale — Volume IAmid the brooding marshlands and rising hills of a border country, Alan Helbeck returns home, contemplating the tensions surrounding his household and an anticipated visit from his…
Level C1ClassicsHedda GablerIn a world shaped by societal expectations, Hedda Gabler struggles with her identity as her father's daughter rather than her husband's wife, revealing the complexities of human em…
Level C1ClassicsHecuba and other playsAmidst the aftermath of the Trojan War, royal bloodlines clash as Orestes seeks vengeance for his father’s murder, navigating curses, divine wrath, and deadly intrigues that threat…
Level B2ClassicsHeather's mistressIn a gloomy old house, twin sisters Heather and Bluebell grapple with newfound freedom and the weight of their grandmother’s passing, as they navigate solitude, duty, and the stirr…
Level C1ClassicsHeather and SnowIn the wild heather, a spirited girl challenges an ambitious boy whose dreams of glory may outpace his understanding of himself and the world.
Level B2ClassicsHearts and clubsAt a seaside hotel, a weary wife struggles with loneliness and aches until a spirited friend introduces her to the X.
Level C1ClassicsHeartbreak HouseIn a decadent European country house on the brink of war, cultured leisure masks political paralysis and moral decay as guests evade reality amid revolutionary ideas shelved alongs…
Level C1ClassicsHeart: A Social NovelTwo parents debate the worth of a suitor, torn between wealth and virtue, as they decide their daughter's future.
Level C1ClassicsHeart-Histories and Life-PicturesExplore the delicate bonds of love and friendship as Edwin Florence’s affection shifts, challenging the tender connection with Edith and revealing the quiet struggles hidden in eve…
Level B2ClassicsHeart's KindredIn a rugged western landscape marked by solitude and fading glory, a solitary man contemplates a small-town wedding that stirs memories and unsettles his quiet life.
Level C1ClassicsHeart of the WestIn the rugged West, Webb Yeager wrestles with his role as a sidelined husband to the powerful "cattle queen" Santa McAllister, navigating loyalty, love, and the harsh realities of…
Level C1ClassicsHeart of DarknessA seasoned seaman reflects on the storied Thames as he prepares for a voyage into the mysterious heart of the African continent, where darkness broods beyond the known world and th…
Level C1ClassicsHeadlong HallFour strangers, united by fate, journey to Headlong Hall, where clashing philosophies and eccentric characters collide amidst debates on society, science, and human nature in this…
Level C1ClassicsHe that will not when he may; vol. IIIIn a house shadowed by secrets and strained loyalties, a mysterious visitor stirs unrest as legal battles and fractured relationships threaten to unravel a family’s fragile peace.
Level C1ClassicsHe that will not when he may; vol. IIAt Markham Chase, thirteen-year-old Bell is entrusted with the care of the household after the sudden departure of the family elders, facing unexpected challenges and mysterious vi…
Level C1ClassicsHe that will not when he may; vol. IAs Easter holidays wane at the grand Markham Chase, the children seize a rare chance to rule the house with playful dances and woodland picnics, savoring fleeting freedom before th…
Level C1ClassicsHe Knew He Was RightA brilliant and independent young man marries into a lively family with eight daughters, but his insistence on having his own way soon tests the harmony of their London household.
Level C1ClassicsHawthorne: (English Men of Letters Series)Explore the quiet life and subtle genius of a writer rooted deeply in New England’s landscape and society, whose modest yet profound works reveal the complex moral and cultural fab…
Level C1ClassicsHawthorne and His CircleBorn into the radiant circle of his father’s illustrious friendships, a son reflects on the priceless legacy of genius, integrity, and human kindness that shaped his life amid the…
Level C1ClassicsHaworth'sIn a gritty foundry town, a determined man rises from a starving runaway boy to a powerful ironworks owner, ready to reshape his world and confront the challenges of leadership wit…
Level C1ClassicsHassan : the story of Hassan of Bagdad, and how he came to make the golden journey to Samarkand : a play in five actsIn old Baghdad, Hassan, a humble confectioner, finds himself hopelessly in love with a mysterious widow whose beauty haunts him, leading him to seek out magic and the help of a cun…
Level C1ClassicsHarvestAmid drought and war, two old laborers confront a changing countryside where women take the reins of farming and politics, challenging traditional roles and sparking new hopes and…
Level C1ClassicsHarvard Classics Volume 28: Essays English and AmericanDive into a rich collection of English and American essays that explore the lives, humor, and human truths behind celebrated writers and their times, revealing the wit and wisdom s…
Level C1ClassicsHarry Joscelyn; vol. 3 of 3After a decade of quiet change, the once-troubled Joscelyn family faces new challenges and shifting roles within their rural estate, where time softens old wounds but stirs fresh t…
Level C1ClassicsHarry Joscelyn; vol. 2 of 3After being cast out by his family and denied support, a young man wrestles with anger and despair as he contemplates leaving everything behind to forge a new identity across the s…
Level C1ClassicsHarry Joscelyn; vol. 1 of 3Tensions simmer in the Joscelyn household as a father and son clash, while the anxious mother and calm daughter navigate their contrasting ways of coping.
Level B2ClassicsHarry Heathcote of Gangoil: A Tale of Australian Bush-LifeA young squatter in Queensland commands a vast sheep-run, facing the harsh Australian bush and the challenges of independence with unwavering determination.
Level C1ClassicsHarrington: A Story of True LoveOn a scorching Louisiana plantation, simmering tensions rise beneath the oppressive heat and shadowy presence of unseen demons.
Level C1ClassicsHarlequin and ColumbineIn bustling New York, acclaimed actor Talbot Potter navigates the dazzling yet scrutinizing world of Fifth Avenue before stepping onto the stage for a pivotal rehearsal, where a ne…
Level B2ClassicsHarding of AllenwoodIn the vast, untamed prairies of early Saskatchewan, two pioneers toil to transform wilderness into thriving farmland, envisioning a future where grit and innovation will shape pro…
Level C1ClassicsHard-Pan: A Story of Bonanza FortunesIn the shadow of fading bonanza fortunes, a mysterious daughter of Colonel Ramsay Reed emerges from obscurity, stirring curiosity and whispers among a close-knit circle.
Level C1ClassicsHard TimesIn an unyielding school where facts alone shape young minds, a rigid educator seeks to extinguish imagination and emotion.
Level C1ClassicsHard CashIn a snowy villa near a bustling seaport, a refined family navigates the tensions between high society and harsh realities, revealing deep truths about human nature and societal ex…
Level B2ClassicsHarbor Jim of NewfoundlandIn the fog-shrouded harbor of St.
Level B2ClassicsHappy Island: A New "Uncle William" StoryOn a quiet harbor, Uncle William studies a map while preparing a lobster meal, navigating local disputes and the challenges of a new fish warden.