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 C1ClassicsA Red WallflowerA retired army officer lives quietly with his small family in a Connecticut village, shrouded in mystery and grief after his wife's death.
Level C1ClassicsA Record of Study in Aboriginal American LanguagesExplore the intricate structures and unique characteristics of Native American languages, revealing their deep connections to human cognition and the origins of speech, through a c…
Level C1ClassicsA Reckless Character, and Other StoriesIn a rigid, tradition-bound Russian household, young Mísha Polteff grows up under the watchful eyes of his strict father and melancholic mother, embodying a reckless spirit clashin…
Level C1ClassicsA Rebellious HeroineA determined author insists that a novelist’s true mission is to reveal life’s raw truth, capturing characters as they truly are without invention.
Level C1ClassicsA ReapingAt a dinner table, contrasting views on health reveal the divide between obsessive wellness seekers and those embracing life's pleasures despite illness.
Level C1ClassicsA Psychological Counter-Current in Recent FictionAmid the fading tide of romanticism, a brilliant yet troubled lawyer grapples with his own flaws and destiny against the vivid backdrop of Canadian life, exploring the clash betwee…
Level C1ClassicsA Protegee of Jack Hamlin's, and Other StoriesA young woman aboard the steamer Silveropolis teeters on the edge of despair, haunted by a reckless companion who has abandoned her.
Level C1ClassicsA Prose English Translation of HarivamshaExplore the cosmic origins and heroic tales of gods, kings, and demons in this prose translation of the Harivamsha, unfolding ancient myths from primeval creation to Krishna’s divi…
Level C1ClassicsA Princess of ThuleOn a bleak Scottish island, a lone man watches a steamer fade into the mist, bidding farewell to a beloved Sheila.
Level C1ClassicsA Prince of SinnersA young political agent dives into the gritty world of electioneering, navigating alliances and ambitions behind the scenes.
Level C1ClassicsA Prince of BohemiaIn the vibrant world of Parisian Bohemia, a young count navigates a life of wit, misfortune, and passionate love, embodying the restless spirit of an entire generation caught betwe…
Level C1ClassicsA Primer of Mayan HieroglyphicsExplore the enigmatic world of Mayan hieroglyphs through detailed analysis of their symbols, manuscripts, and inscriptions found across Central America.
Level C1ClassicsA Prairie CourtshipA young woman embarks on a daunting journey from sheltered life to the harsh prairies of western Canada, determined to carve out a new future despite poverty, isolation, and the re…
Level C1ClassicsA Practical NovelistAn unsuccessful writer vows to revolutionize storytelling by orchestrating a real-life novel, recruiting an unwitting millionaire he and his companions unexpectedly "kidnap" to sta…
Level C2ClassicsA Portrait of the Artist as a Young ManA young boy named Stephen navigates the complex world of childhood, school, and family through vivid memories and sensory impressions.
Level C1ClassicsA Poor Man's HouseImmerse yourself in the daily struggles and simple joys of a poor fishing community, as one man abandons middle-class life to live among them, revealing unexpected nobility, hardsh…
Level C1ClassicsA Poor GentlemanTwo Penton families live mere miles apart yet worlds away in fortune and spirit—one steeped in grand, somber tradition, the other bustling with youthful energy amid decay and hards…
Level C1ClassicsA Political RomanceIn a quaint village, a seemingly trivial dispute over an old watch-coat spirals into a tangled web of parish politics, personal favors, and secret motives, revealing the complex hu…
Level C1ClassicsA Phyllis of the SierrasA young traveler in the Sierra foothills stumbles upon a rugged sawmill and a mysterious man named Bradley, setting him on a path through wild forests and hidden trails to deliver…
Level C1ClassicsA Phantom LoverAn artist becomes captivated by the enigmatic and hauntingly graceful Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsA Pessimist in Theory and PracticeTwo old friends reunite in the secluded woods, where one has abandoned society’s race for a simpler, more contemplative life.
Level C1ClassicsA Personal RecordExplore the sincere reflections of a writer who reveals himself beyond fiction, sharing humble truths and vivid memories shaped by a life at sea, where words carry the power to mov…
Level B2ClassicsA Personal ProblemIn a remote island outpost, two men with a fraught past navigate uneasy alliances, hidden resentments, and the shadows of betrayal as they confront a personal problem that threaten…
Level B2ClassicsA Perfect Fool: A NovelIn a struggling London household, young Chris Abercarne musters courage and wit to challenge her mother’s old-fashioned views and find a way out of poverty, navigating society’s ex…
Level B2ClassicsA Pasteboard Crown: A Story of the New York StageIn a forgotten old estate shrouded in mystery and neglect, the arrival of the Lawton family stirs whispers and curiosity in the nearby village.
Level C1ClassicsA Passionate PilgrimAn American traveler immerses himself in the faded charm of a centuries-old English inn, where the atmosphere brims with history and quiet mystery.
Level C1ClassicsA Parody on Princess IdaIn a whimsical kingdom ruled by railroad lines, a prince must win over his bride, a fiercely independent princess who shuns men and embraces a life of female camaraderie in the imp…
Level B2ClassicsA Parody on PatienceJoin the Trevellyan family and the button-loving Deacon Fitney on a charming summer journey from Chicago to Niagara Falls aboard the luxurious Michigan Central Railroad, where live…
Level C1ClassicsA Parody on IolantheIn a whimsical fairy glade along the Chicago & Alton Railway, a half-fairy, half-human brakeman battles the challenges of love, duty, and railway politics, where enchantment meets…
Level C1ClassicsA Nobleman's NestIn a provincial town, a spirited widow navigates the complexities of family, social expectations, and lingering tensions with her sharp-tongued aunt, revealing the subtle intrigues…
Level C1ClassicsA Noble Name; or, DönninghausenAmid the glittering world of theater and family tensions, a young girl named Johanna wrestles with her role onstage and her place at home, caught between a demanding stepmother and…
Level C1ClassicsA Noble LifeIn the remote Scottish Highlands, the last Earl of Cairnforth is left an orphaned infant after a tragic drowning.
Level C1ClassicsA Nine Days' WonderA retired colonel struggles with the emptiness of civilian life after decades in the East, haunted by memories of his regiment and the desolate family estate awaiting him in Englan…
Level C1ClassicsA Night in AvignonIn the candlelit chambers of Avignon, a passionate poet wrestles with forbidden love and the clash between desire and virtue, as he confronts the haunting memory of the unattainabl…
Level C1ClassicsA Night in AcadieTelèsphore, a young farmer torn between marriage prospects, seeks escape from his indecision with a Sunday train ride near Marksville.
Level C1ClassicsA Night OutIn a pristine garden far from the city's clatter, a pampered Persian cat named Omar Ben Sufi encounters a scrappy street feline whose wild ways awaken a forgotten, fierce instinct…
Level C1ClassicsA New SensationRecovering from a long illness, a man seeks a new sensation to revive his life and decides to propose to Statia, only to face unexpected rejection that challenges his hopes and for…
Level C1ClassicsA New England Girlhood, Outlined from Memory (Beverly, MA)A reflective journey into girlhood in 19th-century New England reveals the intertwining of work, religion, and community shaping a young life.
Level C1ClassicsA New AristocracyIn a small parish shadowed by poverty, Margaret Murchison faces the challenge of raising her siblings after their devoted rector father’s death.
Level C1ClassicsA Nest of LinnetsIn a world where music masks true emotion, a gifted singer grapples with the tension between artifice and genuine feeling as she awaits her brother’s uncertain return—will the nigh…
Level C1ClassicsA Mysterious Disappearance: A FarceA playful farce unfolds on a farm where secret correspondences and mistaken identities spark comic mischief.
Level C1ClassicsA Mummer's WifeIn a reflective tribute to a just and kind art critic, a young writer dedicates his novel exploring the vibrant life and passions of a mummer’s wife, capturing youthful imagination…
Level C1ClassicsA Mummer's TaleIn the bustling backstage of the Odéon theatre, actress Félicie Nanteuil grapples with mysterious ailments and vivid visions, while a devoted doctor challenges societal norms about…
Level B2ClassicsA Mountain WomanA man marries a rugged mountain woman whose simplicity and strength contrast sharply with the polished society they visit.
Level C1ClassicsA Mortal AntipathyA man’s lifelong terror of tall clocks traces back to a mysterious shock in infancy, linked to an indelible olfactory impression.
Level C1ClassicsA Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publickIn a desperate Ireland plagued by poverty and overpopulation, a radical proposal suggests turning infants into a source of sustenance and economic relief, challenging society’s mor…
Level C1ClassicsA Modern Mephistopheles, and A Whisper in the DarkIn a bleak garret, a desperate young poet on the brink of despair meets a mysterious stranger offering unexpected aid and a chance to transform his shattered dreams into a new real…
Level B2ClassicsA Modern IdyllA passionate minister wrestles with his feelings for the captivating Mrs.