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 Modern Chronicle — CompleteBorn into privilege and tragedy, Honora Leffingwell navigates a world shaped by heritage, loss, and high society.
Level C1ClassicsA Mixed Proposal: The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 9.Two determined gentlemen, Major Brill and Halibut, unexpectedly find themselves rivals as they prepare to propose to the same lady on the very same day, sparking a humorous and ten…
Level C1ClassicsA Miscellany of MenExplore the complex dance of attraction and conflict between the sexes, where instinct and societal change collide in sharp, witty reflections on feminism, marriage, and the nature…
Level C1ClassicsA Millionaire of Rough-and-ReadyA miner finally strikes a rich vein of gold, but his sudden fortune brings unexpected unease and complicated family obligations.
Level C2ClassicsA Midsummer Night's DreamAs Theseus prepares for his wedding, Hermia defies her father’s command to wed Demetrius, sparking a night of magical mischief and tangled affections in an enchanted forest where l…
Level C1ClassicsA Michigan Man: 1891In the shadowed pine forests of Michigan, seasoned lumberman Luther Dallas faces haunting superstitions and a life-altering accident that forces him from the woods to the bustling…
Level C1ClassicsA Message from the SeaIn a steep, picturesque cliffside village alive with fishermen and their families, Captain Jorgan arrives, drawn into local life and secrets by a young fisherman and his hopeful sw…
Level C2ClassicsA Merry Dialogue Declaringe the Properties of Shrowde Shrews and Honest WivesTwo wives share sharp and honest reflections on marriage, contrasting the trials of shrewish husbands with the virtues of honest wives, blending humor and wisdom in a lively dialog…
Level C1ClassicsA Mere AccidentIn the tranquil English countryside, a young man wrestles with his conflicting feelings toward his family estate—an architectural oddity reflecting deeper tensions between idealism…
Level B2ClassicsA Melody in SilverTwo boys, David and Mitch, navigate childhood challenges and misunderstandings, from the mystery of "trouvers" to the trials of growing up in dresses and pants.
Level B2ClassicsA Master's DegreeTwo men from opposite sides of the country meet on the first day at Sunrise College, setting the stage for a rivalry that will unfold alongside the changing seasons and the growth…
Level B2ClassicsA Master of DeceptionA charming yet cunning boy wrestles with temptation and morality as a stolen fortune leads him from innocent mischief to a web of deception.
Level C1ClassicsA Marriage in High Life, Volume IIEmmeline struggles with a cold and distant husband, trapped in a marriage shadowed by suspicion and unspoken pain.
Level B2ClassicsA Man's WorldA man reflects on his life shaped by loss, faith, and the quest for decency amid ordinary struggles and profound meditations.
Level C1ClassicsA Man of the MoorsA rough quarryman returns to his isolated moorland home, where his harsh nature clashes with his sensitive wife’s quiet strength.
Level B2ClassicsA Man of Samples. Something about the men he met "On the Road"A hesitant salesman steps into unfamiliar territory, facing skeptical merchants and old grievances as he tries to prove himself on the road.
Level C1ClassicsA Man of BusinessIn the lively Parisian world of debtors and creditors, a spirited group of artists, lawyers, and a charming lorette gather for a Carnival evening filled with witty banter and sharp…
Level C1ClassicsA Man from the NorthA young man from the North Country dreams of London’s dazzling streets and cultural pulse, eager to claim his place amid its relentless bustle.
Level C1ClassicsA Man and a WomanTwo lifelong friends navigate the rugged challenges of nature, ambition, and conscience as one man’s fierce individuality clashes with the shifting world around him, while a myster…
Level C1ClassicsA Maid of the Silver SeaIn a quiet island transformed by the rush of silver mining, a young girl and boy hide among cliffs, watching the upheaval that threatens their peaceful home and family ties.
Level B2ClassicsA Lover in Homespun: And Other StoriesIn a close-knit French-Canadian village, the return of the wanderer Zotique sparks a joyful celebration filled with anticipation and hidden tensions, as two brothers face the compl…
Level C1ClassicsA Lost LadyIn a fading railroad town, the charming Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsA Lost HeroIn a small Southern town, young Donny de Mone faces a scorching day filled with restless animals and anxious crowds, only to be swept into chaos when a sudden, terrifying earthquak…
Level C1ClassicsA Lost CauseIn a turbulent era of religious conflict, a determined Catholic voice rises to challenge the fierce Protestant propaganda shaking the Church of England, revealing the deep struggle…
Level C1ClassicsA Loose End and Other StoriesOn a remote Channel Island, a young girl navigates treacherous cliffs with practiced agility to help her aging father, revealing a rugged life shaped by the sea and isolation.
Level C1ClassicsA London Life, and Other TalesA restless young woman navigates the quiet English countryside and its genteel inhabitants, uncovering subtle tensions and unspoken histories beneath the serene surface of dower-ho…
Level C1ClassicsA Living LieIn the heart of Paris, a tale unfolds exploring the raw truths of human nature and society through the lens of a novelist committed to unflinching realism.
Level B2ClassicsA Little WorldIn a gritty London street, Richard Pellet scorns his brother Jared’s humble life as a struggling piano tuner with a large family, yet Jared’s simple joys and steadfast spirit chall…
Level C1ClassicsA Little Swiss SojournExperience a rainy Swiss autumn through vivid landscapes, charming local customs, and candid travel observations as the narrator explores the Vaud region, its vineyards, and the qu…
Level C1ClassicsA Little RebelA reserved professor faces an unexpected challenge when the dying wish of an old friend leaves him the guardian of a spirited seventeen-year-old girl with no family to care for her…
Level C1ClassicsA Little Pilgrim in the UnseenA gentle soul awakens in a realm of soft light and serene peace, journeying beyond the familiar into the mysterious Unseen.
Level B2ClassicsA Little Norsk; Or, Ol' Pap's FlaxenAmid the relentless northern blizzard, settlers brace against the bitter cold and isolation of the vast, treeless plains.
Level C1ClassicsA Little Journey in the WorldIn a society obsessed with appearances and prosperity, a woman's soul quietly deteriorates beneath the surface of respectability and charity, revealing the hidden costs of ambition…
Level C1ClassicsA Little Garrison: A Realistic Novel of German Army Life of To-dayA vivid portrait of the German army’s decline from its former glory reveals corruption, lax discipline, and moral decay beneath the surface of military tradition.
Level C1ClassicsA Little Dinner at Timmins'sIn a genteel London street, the newlywed Timmins couple plan an ambitious dinner party, balancing social aspirations with their modest means.
Level B2ClassicsA Little Change: A Farce in One SceneA newlywed couple tries to savor their honeymoon in a seaside hotel, but restless Edwin craves a little change from the monotonous scenery and conversation, sparking witty banter a…
Level C1ClassicsA Little Book of Filipino RiddlesDiscover the rich tradition of Filipino riddles, blending local culture, nature, and European influence into clever puzzles that challenge wit and reveal unique island life.
Level C1ClassicsA Literary Pilgrimage Among the Haunts of Famous British AuthorsExplore the scenic haunts of legendary British authors as you wander through Hampstead, Highgate, and beyond, tracing the footsteps of Dickens, Keats, and George Eliot.
Level C1ClassicsA Likely StoryIn a quaint seaside cottage, Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsA Life's Secret: A NovelIn a quiet English town, young Austin Clay, an orphan of gentle birth, navigates his apprenticeship under a self-made builder, determined to prove that hard work holds no shame.
Level C1ClassicsA Life's MorningA brilliant but fragile Oxford scholar faces the limits of mind and body as he battles exhaustion and the pressures of academic ambition.
Level C1ClassicsA Life of William Shakespeare: with portraits and facsimilesDelve into a meticulously researched narrative unraveling the life, career, and literary achievements of Shakespeare, shedding new light on his works, financial affairs, and relati…
Level C1ClassicsA Life of Walt WhitmanDelve into the complex life of Walt Whitman through the eyes of an English admirer who explores the poet as a mystic and man shaped by his era, offering insights drawn from Whitman…
Level C1ClassicsA Life for a Life, Volume 2 (of 3)Caught between duty and fate, Max Urquhart abandons resolutions to chronicle the unexpected twists of his life amid war and loss.
Level C1ClassicsA Life for a Life, Volume 1 (of 3)Amid the uneasy presence of a military camp near their moorland home, a young woman wrestles with her disdain for soldiers and her place within her family’s strict social expectati…
Level C1ClassicsA Life Sentence: A NovelA man stands condemned by overwhelming circumstantial evidence for the murder of a local gentleman, while his young, frightened daughter—ignorant of the world and faith—unexpectedl…
Level C1ClassicsA Librarian's Open Shelf: Essays on Various SubjectsExplore the curious habits of readers who borrow volumes but seldom finish them, revealing how duty and fleeting interest shape our engagement with books.
Level C2ClassicsA Letter on Shakspere's Authorship of The Two Noble Kinsmen: and on the characteristics of Shakspere's style and the secret of his supremacyExplore a rigorous analysis of Shakespeare's style and the disputed authorship of The Two Noble Kinsmen, questioning whether this play truly reflects the mastery of the Bard’s late…