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 B2ClassicsGood Stories Reprinted from the Ladies' Home Journal of PhiladelphiaStep into a world of humor and unexpected twists as everyday moments—from a crowded streetcar to a courtroom drama—unfold with wit and surprise, revealing the quirky side of human…
Level C1ClassicsGood IndianOn a rugged Western ranch, Peaceful Hart—once a gold prospector—now watches his five unruly sons embrace the wild, untamed spirit of the frontier, challenging the calm he once embo…
Level C1ClassicsGood BloodIn a quiet wine-room, a retired colonel’s intense gaze fixes on a brewing schoolboy fight in the square outside, unraveling a story of curiosity, conflict, and the unexpected drama…
Level C1ClassicsGone to EarthIn the wild beauty of the Callow, Hazel Woodus, a girl with foxlike eyes and a fierce spirit, navigates the mysteries of her gypsy heritage and the quiet power of nature.
Level C1ClassicsGoldsmith: English Men of Letters SeriesExplore the life of a writer whose cheerful optimism masks a troubled career marked by misfortune, wit, and a relentless struggle for recognition in 18th-century England.
Level C1ClassicsGoldsmith's Friend Abroad AgainAn eager immigrant leaves China for America, dreaming of freedom and opportunity, only to confront harsh realities aboard ship and a hostile reception upon arrival in San Francisco…
Level C1ClassicsGolden Fleece: The American Adventures of a Fortune Hunting EarlAn English earl faces financial ruin and must navigate the uneasy alliance of marrying a wealthy American heiress, while his family grapples with pride, class tensions, and the loo…
Level B2ClassicsGold and Incense: A West Country StoryIn a quaint village, plain yet spirited Jennifer captures the heart of Sam Petch, the tallest and most admired lad around, sparking whispers and wonder among the local maidens.
Level C1ClassicsGold ElsieAmid a snowstorm in the bustling capital, a young woman cloaked in mystery braves the cold, her joyful eyes hinting at a hidden past intertwined with noble legacy and the fading gr…
Level B2ClassicsGoldBeneath Colorado’s rugged mountains, a sudden gold strike ignites a fierce battle for a fortune that could change lives—and destroy old rivalries.
Level C1ClassicsGoing to Maynooth: Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume ThreeIn a lively Irish village, young Denis O'Shaughnessy, a sharp-witted and long-winded boy, is groomed by his father to become a priest and master debater, sparking humorous and spir…
Level C1ClassicsGoing into SocietyA wandering showman recalls his time running a curious house adorned with bizarre canvases depicting giants, dwarfs, and exotic spectacles, centered around a mysterious dwarf known…
Level C1ClassicsGodolphin, Volume 6.Torn between past love and present neglect, Constance delves into the troubled heart of her husband Godolphin, uncovering secrets and seeking a path to rekindle their fading bond a…
Level C1ClassicsGodolphin, Volume 5.Torn between duty and desire, a man grapples with a haunting past love and a sacred pledge to another, as a woman waits anxiously in his chamber, uncovering a letter that reveals t…
Level C1ClassicsGodolphin, Volume 4.Haunted by love and regret, a man wrestles with his conscience and the silence of the woman he adores, torn between duty and desire as he prepares to leave the eternal city behind.
Level C1ClassicsGodolphin, Volume 3.A young countess navigates the glittering yet treacherous social and political circles of London, using wit and charm to outmaneuver rivals and shape alliances in a world where app…
Level C1ClassicsGodolphin, Volume 1.A poetically inclined man drifts through the frivolities of high society, his genius stifled by indolence and vanity.
Level C1ClassicsGodolphin, CompleteA young man discovers his true parentage and navigates the allure and pitfalls of high society, exploring the conflict between ambition, intellect, and the seductive distractions o…
Level B2ClassicsGod's Country—And the WomanAlone in the vast Arctic wilderness, Philip Weyman paddles toward civilization, haunted by loss but buoyed by hope.
Level C1ClassicsGobseckIn a winter salon of 1829 Paris, a young count's promising future and questionable family past stir whispers and warnings among the elite.
Level B2ClassicsGoat-FeathersA man battles endless distractions—"goat-feathers"—that steal his time and keep him from success, juggling countless roles and committees while trying to focus on his true work.
Level B2ClassicsGlory of YouthA young woman, haunted by her parents' troubled past and isolated in a gloomy seaside house, wrestles with loneliness and the desire to escape.
Level C1ClassicsGloriana; or, the revolution of 1900In a visionary tale set at the turn of the 20th century, a young girl named Gloriana embodies the fight for women's equality, challenging societal injustices and envisioning a revo…
Level B2ClassicsGloria and Treeless StreetA wealthy young woman’s quiet days are stirred by her chance friendship with a diligent district nurse from a stark, treeless street.
Level C1ClassicsGloria MundiA chance encounter on a speeding train sparks tension and intrigue between two strangers forced to share a reserved compartment.
Level C1ClassicsGloriaAmidst the dazzling Christmas Eve bustle of New York, a desperate young man races through the theater crowd to confront the woman who has shattered his heart, only to face her cold…
Level C1ClassicsGleanings in Graveyards: A Collection of Curious EpitaphsExplore a fascinating collection of quirky and humorous epitaphs from British graveyards, revealing how wit and whimsy mark the resting places of the departed, alongside reflection…
Level C1ClassicsGleanings from the Harvest-Fields of Literature: A Melange of ExcerptaDive into a rich mosaic of literary snippets and curiosities, from whimsical epigrams to profound reflections, offering a diverse feast for every appetite and a charming companion…
Level C1ClassicsGlassesA painter on holiday in Folkestone becomes captivated by Flora Saunt, a striking young woman whose beauty and presence command attention amidst the seaside crowd.
Level C1ClassicsGladys, the ReaperAs summer sunshine revives a struggling farm, a young girl of uncertain origins finds herself entangled with a desperate group of Irish migrants at the farm’s gate, setting the sta…
Level C1ClassicsGlad ghostsAmid post-war tensions, an unlikely bond forms between an ambitious yet conflicted aristocrat and a struggling artist, united by a shared yearning to break free from societal conve…
Level C1ClassicsGinx's Baby: His Birth and Other Misfortunes; a SatireIn a crowded London home, Ginx and his wife struggle with the relentless challenges of poverty, family, and society as their many children—each birth a public spectacle—highlight t…
Level B2ClassicsGinger-SnapsBiting wit and keen observation unravel the tedious rituals of social dinner parties, exposing the hollow customs behind lavish feasts and forced conversation.
Level B2ClassicsGhosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three ActsIn a gloomy Norwegian fjord house, secrets and strained family ties simmer as a widow, her son, and their household confront the shadows of past sins and societal pressures, reveal…
Level C1ClassicsGhosts I Have Met and Some OthersEncounters with bizarre, grotesque spectres lead a skeptical narrator to confront the supernatural with wit and curiosity rather than fear.
Level C1ClassicsGhetto TragediesIn an East End Jewish community, Zillah’s fervent fasting finally brings a long-awaited son, Brum, whose frail health challenges their faith and hopes.
Level C1ClassicsGhetto ComediesAn artist sets out to paint a realistic portrayal of the Man of Sorrows, challenging traditional depictions by seeking a deeper truth rooted in reality and cultural identity.
Level C1ClassicsGetting MarriedIn a world where marriage laws are harsh and often hypocritical, rebellious spirits challenge tradition while grappling with the undeniable social and legal pressures to wed.
Level C1ClassicsGet-Rich-Quick Wallingford: A Cheerful Account of the Rise and Fall of an American Business BuccaneerA charming con artist with nothing but a hundred dollars and boundless confidence arrives in a new city, plotting a brilliant scheme to turn the world’s money his way.
Level C1ClassicsGet Next!A day at the racetrack turns into a whirlwind of colorful characters, wild bets, and tall tales as John Henry and his friends navigate the thrills and pitfalls of horse racing in t…
Level C1ClassicsGertrude's MarriageAn unexpected inheritance thrusts a young man into the challenges of rural estate life, forcing him to reconsider his ambitions and the practicalities of love and marriage amid a c…
Level C1ClassicsGerminalUnder a starless sky, a lone man journeys through harsh coal-mining lands, embodying the struggles of a working-class community facing relentless hardship.
Level B2ClassicsGerman wit and humorStep into a world where fools reveal truths, clever pranks challenge wisdom, and sly humor exposes human nature through tales of jesters, monks, and knights.
Level C1ClassicsGerman FictionExplore the unique landscape of German fiction, where characters are shaped by the world’s pressures and inner life takes precedence over outward action, revealing a deep psycholog…
Level C1ClassicsGerald Eversley's Friendship: A Study in Real LifeTwo boys from vastly different backgrounds arrive at St.
Level C1ClassicsGeorge Walker at SuezA Londoner exiled to the harsh desert town of Suez struggles with isolation and British exclusiveness, but an unexpected reunion sparks a week of surprising encounters and small tr…
Level C1ClassicsGeorge Silverman's ExplanationBorn into poverty and orphaned young, a boy’s harsh childhood in a cellar unfolds with raw honesty and dark humor as he grapples with loss, hunger, and the cruel world around him.
Level C1ClassicsGeorge Sand: Some Aspects of Her Life and WritingsExplore the life of Aurore Dupin, better known as George Sand, whose prolific writing and bold ideas challenged 19th-century norms on love, society, and politics, revealing the com…