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 C1ClassicsAloneIn the wake of a heartbreaking funeral, a young woman clings desperately to her departed mother’s coffin, confronting the stark reality of loss and the fragile bonds of family.
Level C1ClassicsAlmayer's Folly: A Story of an Eastern RiverStranded on a remote Bornean river, Almayer clings to dreams of wealth and escape from a life of failure and exile.
Level C1ClassicsAllison Bain; Or, By a Way She Knew NotIn a rain-soaked Scottish valley, a devoted minister and his son journey through familiar hills to comfort Allison Bain, a young woman facing sorrow after her father’s death and th…
Level C1ClassicsAll-Wool Morrison: Time -- Today, Place -- the United States, Period of Action -- Twenty-four HoursIn a single bustling day in Marion, a city gripped by political intrigue, steadfast mill owner and reluctant mayor Stewart Morrison balances his dedication to honest manufacturing…
Level C2ClassicsAll's Well That Ends WellIn a court shadowed by the King's mysterious illness, a young woman of rare skill and virtue seeks to navigate love, duty, and fate.
Level C1ClassicsAll the Sad Young MenA portrait of privilege and isolation, this collection delves into the lives of wealthy young men navigating the complexities of status, identity, and the elusive search for meanin…
Level C1ClassicsAll the Days of My Life: An Autobiography: The Red Leaves of a Human HeartBorn in 1831 England, a spirited soul recounts a life shaped by both joy and sorrow, seeking to inspire and comfort women through candid reflections on growth, resilience, and the…
Level C1ClassicsAll on the Irish Shore: Irish SketchesAmid the muddy fields and tangled woods of Ireland, a spirited hunt unravels with mischievous hounds, determined hunters, and a chaotic clash with local tinkers.
Level C1ClassicsAll Things ConsideredDive into a sharp and candid collection of essays tackling the weighty issues of modernism, philanthropy, and society’s fleeting trends, all penned with wit and urgency amidst the…
Level C1ClassicsAll Sorts and Conditions of Men: An Impossible StoryIn the vibrant heart of East London and the scholarly calm of Cambridge, two women grapple with their futures and the value of a single life.
Level C1ClassicsAll Roads Lead to CalvaryA young writer seeking inspiration in an ancient London church uncovers vivid stories of its past inhabitants, from literary figures to early feminists, as she navigates history, f…
Level B2ClassicsAll He Knew: A StoryA man freshly released from prison returns to his small town, seeking a fresh start amid suspicion and old acquaintances.
Level C1ClassicsAll God's chillun got wings, and WeldedIn a vibrant New York neighborhood divided by race, two children—Ella and Jim—navigate the challenges of friendship and identity amid teasing and societal barriers, revealing the t…
Level B2ClassicsAlice's blighted professionIn a bustling modern office, Alice Berning fights to establish her fledgling business despite a flood of unqualified applicants and mounting challenges.
Level C1ClassicsAlice Sit-By-The-FireIn a charmingly detailed room filled with handcrafted treasures, a clever seventeen-year-old girl named Amy navigates family tensions and hidden emotions, while her brother wrestle…
Level B2ClassicsAlice AdamsAn ailing man battles restless nights and persistent city noises while reflecting on old beliefs about the dangers of night air.
Level C1ClassicsAlfred TennysonExplore the life and work of a poet who embodies wisdom and self-control, navigating sorrow and success with enduring strength and renown.
Level C1ClassicsAlexander's BridgeA philosophy professor visiting Boston encounters the enigmatic Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsAlexander PopeExplore the intricate life and legacy of a towering English poet through a detailed survey of biographers, critics, and unpublished letters that reveal the complexities behind his…
Level C1ClassicsAlec Forbes of HowglenIn a quiet Scottish farmyard, a somber gathering confronts death and the struggles of a worn man who strove for goodness amidst harsh realities.
Level C1ClassicsAlbert SavarusIn Restoration Besancon, the devout Baronne de Watteville hosts a circle where politics, law, and religion collide, centering on the brilliant young lawyer Albert Savarus, whose le…
Level C1ClassicsAlas! A NovelOn a stormy night in Oxford, an uneasy reunion unfolds as a reluctant man is drawn into a peculiar social gathering where readings and strained conversations hint at deeper divides…
Level C1ClassicsAlarms and DiscursionsA priest builds a radiant temple to honor the sun, but after a brutal pirate invasion, the islanders embrace a new, wild vision—crafting a cathedral adorned with grotesque creature…
Level C1ClassicsAlamo Ranch: A Story of New MexicoIn the sunlit expanse of New Mexico's Alamo Ranch, a group of consumptive boarders seek healing in the dry air and rugged landscape, forging bonds of hope, humor, and courage amid…
Level C2ClassicsAlaeddin and the Enchanted LampJourney into a world of magic and mystery as a humble youth discovers an enchanted lamp with the power to change his destiny forever in this timeless Arabian tale of adventure and…
Level C1ClassicsAladdin of London; Or, LodestarIn the shadowed halls of Whitechapel, a desperate orator recounts his brutal past and ignites a revolutionary fervor among London's oppressed masses, challenging the city's authori…
Level C1ClassicsAikensideIn a quarrelsome Devonshire village, Dr.
Level C1ClassicsAgnes GreyBorn into a modest parsonage with loving but limited means, a young woman navigates the challenges of family sacrifices and uncertain fortunes while yearning to glimpse the wider w…
Level C1ClassicsAgainst the TideIn a grand Ohio mansion, a wedding unites two ambitious souls intertwined with a powerful business empire on the brink of transformation.
Level C1ClassicsAgainst the GrainA solitary heir to a once-mighty lineage, Jean Des Esseintes wrestles with a fading family legacy and his own restless intellect amid the decaying grandeur of the Château de Lourps…
Level C1ClassicsAfterwards, and Other StoriesA brilliant man on a sunlit Riviera holiday receives a telegram that shatters his escape, forcing him to confront the sacrifices and quiet devotion of his overlooked wife back home…
Level B2ClassicsAfterwardsTrapped in a remote hut at dawn, two captives face a grim fate after a terrifying ordeal inside an ancient temple.
Level C1ClassicsAfter a shadow, and other storiesA young boy chases his own shadow, sparking a reflection on life's pursuit of elusive goals and missed moments.
Level C1ClassicsAeschylus' Prometheus Bound and the Seven Against ThebesBound by the gods for defying Jupiter, Prometheus endures torment while foretelling a hero’s rise to free him; meanwhile, Thebes braces itself against an impending siege as loyalty…
Level C1ClassicsAdèle DuboisIn the wild Miramichi Valley of New Brunswick, a weary traveler finds unexpected refuge at the Dubois House, where young Adèle, a French-Canadian maiden, tends to the hearth amid a…
Level C1ClassicsAdvisory Ben: A StoryBenita Staveley, a practical and decisive young woman, navigates family complexities and societal expectations while managing her father's household.
Level C1ClassicsAdventures of Working Men. From the Notebook of a Working SurgeonA working surgeon shares vivid stories from his practice among the steadfast laborers of England, revealing their resilience, faith, and the daily dangers they face in factories, f…
Level B2ClassicsAdventures of BindleJoseph Bindle, a furniture remover, navigates domestic chaos and unexpected guests as his wife takes in a lodger to ease rising costs, sparking humorous complications and lively en…
Level C1ClassicsAdventures and RecollectionsA restless youth with a sharp wit and a poetic soul looks back on a life filled with wild adventures, mischief, and fleeting pleasures in a quaint English village.
Level C1ClassicsAdventures and Letters of Richard Harding DavisFollow the spirited youth whose fearless leadership and unyielding honor ignite schoolyard rebellions and imaginative adventures, shaping a life defined by ambition, integrity, and…
Level C1ClassicsAdventures and EnthusiasmsExplore charming essays on hospitality, social graces, and the art of being the perfect guest, blending wit and keen observation to reveal the subtle challenges of fitting graceful…
Level C1ClassicsAdrienne Toner: A NovelIn pre-war London, a scholarly bachelor is drawn into the orbit of Barney Chadwick, whose invitation to meet a captivating and original American woman promises to stir the calm wat…
Level C1ClassicsAdrienne LecouvreurIn a world of theatrical intrigue and passionate ambition, a celebrated actress navigates the dazzling yet perilous stage of 18th-century Paris, where art and life dangerously inte…
Level C1ClassicsAdrian Savage: A NovelA well-groomed young man navigates a bleak Paris winter, caught between the vitality of life and the shadows of unexpected farewells.
Level C1ClassicsAdopting an Abandoned FarmEscape the stifling city life for a neglected farmhouse ripe with charm and endless possibilities, where the promise of rustic beauty and rural adventure awaits among fields, a hid…
Level C1ClassicsAdeline Mowbray; or, The Mother and DaughterIn a grand Gloucestershire estate, young Adeline Mowbray grows up surrounded by wealth and indulgence but finds herself captivated by bold philosophical and political ideas that ch…
Level B2ClassicsAdela Cathcart, Volume 3A young girl, Chrissy, recounts a harrowing night of abduction and abandonment in a dilapidated house, clinging to faith and hope as she faces fear and isolation.
Level C1ClassicsAdela Cathcart, Volume 2In a gathering where stories take a solemn turn, Adela’s unexpected song reveals her deep, dreamlike emotions, while others respond with their own heartfelt melodies, exploring the…