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 C1ClassicsAn Irish Cousin; vol. 2/2At a lively supper after a spirited dance, a young woman navigates social tensions and secret engagements, caught between the charms of Nugent and the elusive Willy.
Level C1ClassicsAn Irish Cousin; vol. 1/2A restless traveler crosses the Atlantic to Ireland, where family tensions and new destinies await amidst the rolling green hills and changing tides.
Level C1ClassicsAn International EpisodeTwo young Englishmen arrive in bustling New York City, encountering its vibrant streets, diverse culture, and unfamiliar customs.
Level B2ClassicsAn InterloperMonsieur Raoul embarks on a mysterious and determined journey through his richly cultivated estate, defying caution and stirring curiosity.
Level C1ClassicsAn Idyl of the East Side: 1891A frail young man from the Black Forest carries his beloved canary-birds across the ocean to New York, chasing dreams of family, fortune, and a lost childhood love in a new land fu…
Level C1ClassicsAn Eye for an EyeConfined in a luxurious asylum, a tormented lady obsessively demands justice for a past wrong, while her tragic story unfolds beyond the walls of Scroope Manor—a grand but somber e…
Level B2ClassicsAn Experiment in AltruismIn a city buzzing with new ideas and social experiments, a woman embraces her lifelong cause amidst debates on faith, altruism, and human suffering.
Level C2ClassicsAn Essay on CriticismDive into a sharp exploration of literary judgment and taste, where examples of sublime and flawed writing reveal the art of "right thinking" and ignite a spirited debate on Englis…
Level C1ClassicsAn Essay on Comedy and the Uses of the Comic SpiritExplore the elusive art of comedy and the rare genius behind the comic spirit as it navigates societal norms, intellectual demands, and the delicate balance between laughter and of…
Level C1ClassicsAn Essay Upon ProjectsA sharp-minded observer navigates the political and social upheavals of 17th-century England, proposing practical improvements and visionary ideas for society’s moral and material…
Level C1ClassicsAn Englishman Looks at the World: Being a Series of Unrestrained Remarks upon Contemporary MattersAs aeroplanes break the barrier of the Channel, an Englishman confronts the shock of foreign innovation and the unsettling implications for national pride, military security, and t…
Level C1ClassicsAn English SquireAt Oakby Hall, a proud English squire and his spirited children navigate the rugged beauty and social challenges of their ancestral home.
Level B2ClassicsAn Enemy of the PeopleA dedicated medical officer uncovers a disturbing truth about the town’s prized new Baths, threatening the prosperity and reputation cherished by its leaders.
Level C1ClassicsAn Autumn SowingIn a rigid Sunday church service, the Keeling family faces the stern doctrines of eternal damnation, revealing tensions and unspoken struggles beneath their outward piety.
Level C1ClassicsAn Autobiography of Anthony TrollopeDiscover the intimate memoir of a life shaped by passion, duty, and literary pursuit, chronicled with candor from personal reflections to final years marked by travel and creativit…
Level C1ClassicsAn Author's Mind : The Book of Title-pagesDive into a vivid ramble through the restless mind of an author wrestling with endless thoughts and creative chaos, seeking relief and clarity amid a flood of ideas and literary mu…
Level C1ClassicsAn Australian GirlIn the sun-drenched gardens of North Adelaide, a young man and woman navigate the passions and challenges of horse racing and personal dreams amid the vivid backdrop of Australian…
Level B2ClassicsAn Arkansas PlanterOn an Arkansas plantation once ruled by proud planters, Major John Cranceford faces the harsh realities of post-war life, clinging to faded honor while rebuilding his family’s lega…
Level C1ClassicsAn Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela AndrewsA sharp satire unfolds as a witty editor exposes the supposed falsehoods and hidden motives behind the virtuous Pamela, offering a candid and humorous counter-narrative to her cele…
Level C1ClassicsAn Anarchist WomanIn gritty Chicago streets, Marie, a young factory worker scarred by poverty and cruelty, channels her relentless spirit into a fierce quest for freedom and meaning beyond her harsh…
Level C1ClassicsAn American tragedy, v. 2Caught between a haunting past and a tantalizing future, a young man navigates social ambitions and complex love affairs, as desire and duty collide in a world shadowed by secrets…
Level C1ClassicsAn American tragedy, v. 1In the shadows of a bustling American city, a struggling family clings to faith and hope through street hymns and sermons.
Level C1ClassicsAn American Politician: A NovelIn the refined world of Boston society, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsAn American Girl in LondonAn American girl navigates the curious and often misunderstood world of English society, offering candid reflections on cultural contrasts and the peculiar fascination with her ide…
Level C1ClassicsAn Ambitious Woman: A NovelIn a bleak suburb overshadowed by death and despair, a determined woman navigates the harsh realities of life, work, and hope on the fringes of a bustling metropolis.
Level C1ClassicsAn Ambitious ManA driven young editor from humble beginnings proposes to the heiress of a powerful political family, not for love but for ambition.
Level C1ClassicsAn Adventure with a Genius: Recollections of Joseph PulitzerA weary traveler contemplates a quiet life in Barbados but is unexpectedly drawn into a new path when he responds to a mysterious advertisement seeking a companion-secretary for a…
Level B2ClassicsAn Adulteration Act: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 10.Dr.
Level C1ClassicsAn Act in a BackwaterA retired colonel with a flair for grandiosity navigates the quaint social rituals of a country club, revealing his blustery opinions and charming absurdities.
Level C1ClassicsAmy HerbertIn a quaint village beside an ancient forest, Amy Herbert’s peaceful childhood unfolds in a charming cottage filled with love, learning, and simple joys, where nature and nurturing…
Level C1ClassicsAmy FosterIn a quiet coastal village, a country doctor encounters Amy Foster, a simple woman marked by tragedy and misunderstood by those around her.![Cover of Amusing prose chap-books by Robert Hays [Editor] Cunningham](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daeugr8e1ofc73dh9e2g.webp)
Level C1ClassicsAmusing prose chap-booksExplore the lively world of chap-books—cheap, popular literature crafted by and for the common people from the eighteenth century onward—offering vivid insights into the superstiti…
Level C1ClassicsAmphitryonWhen Jupiter, king of the gods, disguises himself as Amphitryon to win his wife Alcmene’s love, divine deception intertwines with mortal passion, setting the stage for a night wher…
Level B2ClassicsAmos JuddThree mysterious travelers, marked by dignified foreignness and strange silver trunks, arrive in the quiet village of Daleford to seek out the elusive Mr.
Level C1ClassicsAmong the Humorists and After Dinner Speakers, Vol. 1: A New Collection of Humorous Stories and AnecdotesDive into a lively collection of witty anecdotes and humorous stories that capture the sharp wit of famous humorists and after-dinner speakers, blending clever jokes with social in…
Level C2ClassicsAmong My Books. Second SeriesExplore the rich history and timeless artistry of Florence, where Dante’s legacy and the city’s majestic monuments intertwine with the lives of poets, painters, and thinkers who sh…
Level C1ClassicsAmong My Books. First SeriesExplore the evolution of English poetry through vivid reflections on Dryden, Pope, and Wordsworth, revealing the tensions between tradition and innovation that shaped the literary…
Level C1ClassicsAmericans and OthersExploring the nature of American manners through thoughtful essays, this collection questions the roots of societal behavior, youth's self-absorption, and the evolving concept of p…
Level C1ClassicsAmerican short storiesExplore the evolution of American storytelling through a vivid collection that traces the short story’s growth from early experimental tales to a unique, distinctly American art fo…
Level C1ClassicsAmerican ideas for English readersExplore the fervent loyalty and noble ideals that define American identity through the eloquent speeches and letters of a distinguished diplomat bridging two great nations, advocat…
Level C1ClassicsAmerican Literary Centers (from Literature and Life)Explore the shifting landscape of American literature, where no single city holds sway but many sparks of creativity ignite across regions—from Boston's early prominence to the vib…
Level C1ClassicsAmelia — CompleteAmidst the English constitution and the harsh realities of prison life, Captain Booth’s tale unfolds through surprising adventures, tender moments, and complex characters, revealin…
Level C1ClassicsAmbrose Gwinett; or, a sea-side story: a melo-drama, in three actsA weary traveler seeking refuge in a crowded seaside town stumbles upon a mysterious lodging and a strange companion, setting in motion a gripping tale of intrigue, survival, and u…
Level C1ClassicsAmaryllis at the FairIn an English springtime setting, the story delicately reveals the intimate lives of the Iden family, capturing their struggles, passions, and the stirring rural landscape around t…
Level C1ClassicsAlter Ego: A TaleIn a diverse Canadian town, a progressive and fearless new minister challenges narrow minds and confronts local corruption, inspiring hope and stirring controversy as he preaches a…
Level C1ClassicsAlphabetical Vocabularies of the Clallum and LummiExplore the rich linguistic heritage of the Clallam and Lummi tribes through detailed vocabularies and local names, revealing unique sounds and cultural distinctions from the Pacif…
Level C1ClassicsAlonzo Fitz, and Other StoriesTrapped indoors by a fierce Maine winter, Alonzo Fitz Clarence seeks solace from his isolation with witty banter and unexpected conversations, revealing the quirks of high society…
Level C1ClassicsAlone on a Wide Wide Sea, Vol. 2 (of 3)A lone woman aboard a vast sailing ship grapples with isolation and mystery, her identity unknown as she navigates the silent, star-lit ocean.