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 Gentleman Vagabond and Some OthersIn a vivid portrait of Southern society and spirited characters, a Major navigates friendships, social ranks, and personal histories in a world rich with tradition and transformati…
Level C1ClassicsA Garden of Peace: A Medley in QuietudeStep into a garden where peace and conflict intertwine, as two voices debate the meaning of tranquility amid history's battles—from ancient Eden to royal intrigues and revolutionar…
Level B2ClassicsA Gamble with LifeA desperate inventor proposes a risky financial gamble backed by his own life insurance, confident his scheme will bring fortune—or else he has a final escape planned.
Level C1ClassicsA Fountain SealedIn wintry Boston, three lifelong friends from vastly different worlds—steadfast Mary, elegant yet discontent Rose, and restless Jack—navigate the complexities of love, loss, and id…
Level B2ClassicsA Fortnight of FollyA daring hotelier offers a select group of distinguished authors a free summer retreat at the remote and grandly scenic Hotel Helicon, nestled atop the rugged Mt.
Level C1ClassicsA Foregone ConclusionIn wartime Venice, Don Ippolito, a reserved priest, nervously seeks a passport from the American consul, navigating the city's silent canals and hidden tensions.
Level B2ClassicsA Fool's Paradise: An Original Play in Three ActsIn a charming country house, a young man boldly proposes to the woman he loves, despite doubts about status and family history, sparking a thoughtful exploration of love, responsib…
Level C1ClassicsA Fool There WasIn a distinguished New York neighborhood, two boys and a girl grow up amid the weight of family legacy and quiet ambitions, where inherited virtues meet the mysteries of life and h…
Level C1ClassicsA Fluttered DovecoteAt eighteen, Laura Bozerne feels trapped in the stifling confines of Chester Square, her life marked by tears and turmoil as she begins to chronicle a year filled with emotional ch…
Level C1ClassicsA Florentine Tragedy; La Sainte CourtisaneIn a world where art defies censorship and scandal, a controversial play unfolds, exploring passion, power, and forbidden desires.
Level C1ClassicsA Fleet in Being: Notes of Two Trips With The Channel SquadronStep aboard a cutting-edge cruiser and join a youthful, daring crew as they navigate intricate naval maneuvers, balancing precision, speed, and camaraderie in the tense world of th…
Level C1ClassicsA First Family of TasajaraA remote general store in the struggling Sidon settlement faces relentless storms and stalled progress, as locals debate the future of their isolated community and the elusive prom…
Level C1ClassicsA Few Suggestions to McGraw-Hill Authors.: Details of manuscript preparation, typograpy, proof-reading and other matters in the production of manuscripts and books.Explore expert guidance on manuscript preparation, typography, and proofreading designed to help authors produce high-quality technical books with consistent style and editorial st…
Level C1ClassicsA Few Short SketchesAmid the glittering society of a grand reception, a mysterious young woman captivates with her perfumed gloves and elusive Russian violets, sparking a night of charm, intrigue, and…
Level C1ClassicsA Fearful Responsibility and Other StoriesA historian escapes the American Civil War’s turmoil to Venice, wrestling with guilt and purpose as he pursues his research amid a city under foreign rule and the shadow of impendi…
Level C1ClassicsA Far Country — CompleteA corporation lawyer reflects on his restless American youth, shaped by ambition, family expectations, and the clash between romantic dreams and stern Calvinist values.
Level C1ClassicsA Family Man : in three actsIn a quiet provincial town, John Builder balances family tensions and political ambitions as he contemplates reconciling with his estranged daughter while preparing to accept the m…
Level C2ClassicsA Fairy Tale in Two Acts Taken from Shakespeare (1763)A group of amateur actors in Athens prepare to perform the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisby before the Duke and Duchess, rehearsing with comedic enthusiasm and earnestness u…
Level C1ClassicsA Fair PenitentA passionate French actress, known for her strength and fiery spirit, faces heartbreak when her lover rejects marriage, leading her to a profound spiritual awakening and a dramatic…
Level B2ClassicsA Fair Mystery: The Story of a CoquetteA devoted family faces ruin when a trusted friend’s betrayal threatens to strip them of their home and future.
Level C1ClassicsA Fair JewessA dedicated but struggling doctor prepares to leave his impoverished Portsmouth practice for London, driven by ambition and compassion for those he must leave behind.
Level C1ClassicsA Face IlluminedA determined young artist, torn between ambition and inspiration, pours himself into a perfect painting as dusk falls, while his easygoing friend urges him to seize life's pleasure…
Level C1ClassicsA Duel in the Dark: An Original Farce, in One ActA husband’s flirtation with a mysterious veiled Countess turns into a tangled comedy of mistaken identity when his own wife, disguised and determined to test his fidelity, arrives…
Level C1ClassicsA DuelA newlywed woman discovers her husband's financial ruin and deceit, unraveling a web of lies involving his mother’s small shop and their dwindling fortunes.
Level C1ClassicsA Drift from Redwood CampIn the aftermath of a devastating flood, a shiftless outcast drifts into an uncharted wilderness, forced to rely on raw instinct and newfound acuity to survive amid hostile surroun…
Level C1ClassicsA Drama on the SeashoreA young dreamer, standing on a rocky seashore, envisions a future filled with grand ambitions and the joys of love.
Level C1ClassicsA Drake by George!When the larger-than-life Captain Drake arrives in the quiet parish of Highfield, his booming voice, exotic treasures, and imposing presence disrupt the local order, sparking confl…
Level C1ClassicsA Double KnotA young woman pleads for her mother's mercy after a scandalous betrayal threatens to shatter their family’s fragile peace.
Level B2ClassicsA Doll's House : a playIn a cozy, wintertime home, Nora playfully navigates Christmas preparations and her husband’s strict views on money, hinting at the delicate balance beneath their seemingly happy m…
Level B2ClassicsA Dog's TaleA witty and heartfelt canine narrator reveals the quirks and courage of his family, blending humor with lessons on bravery and kindness in a world seen through a dog's eyes.
Level B2ClassicsA Dog Day; or, The Angel in the HouseA loyal dog recounts a chaotic day filled with heroism, mischief, and the ups and downs of family life, revealing his sharp wit and spirited personality through charming diary-styl…
Level C1ClassicsA Doctor of the Old School — CompleteIn a rugged Scottish village where hardy men defy the elements and tradition reigns, a devoted country doctor confronts the trials of rural life with unwavering courage and compass…
Level C1ClassicsA Distinguished Provincial at ParisA young provincial and a mysterious woman journey to Paris, where ambition, love, and social intrigue collide amid the city's unforgiving salons and hidden scandals.
Level C1ClassicsA Dissertation upon Roast PigIn a world where humans once ate meat raw, a young boy’s accidental fire reveals the delicious secret of roasting pork, sparking a surprising discovery that changes culinary histor…
Level C1ClassicsA Desperate Character and Other StoriesStep into the vivid world of 19th-century Russia through six tales that blend sharp realism with poetic insight, revealing the struggles of humble souls, the clash of ideals, and t…
Level C1ClassicsA Description of Millenium Hall: And the Country Adjacent Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants and Such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections As May Excite in the Reader Proper Sentiments of Humanity, and Lead the Mind to the Love of VirtueJourney into the serene Millenium Hall, a hidden retreat where virtue thrives away from society’s distractions, as a weary traveler discovers a community whose lives offer inspirin…
Level C1ClassicsA Deal in Wheat and Other Stories of the New and Old WestCaught in a fierce battle of grain speculation, a Kansas wheat farmer faces ruin as market prices plunge, forcing desperate choices against powerful brokers manipulating the future…
Level C1ClassicsA Day with Robert Louis StevensonStep into the vibrant world of Robert Louis Stevenson, a fiercely dedicated writer battling illness and obscurity to craft timeless tales of adventure and mystery.
Level C1ClassicsA Day with John MiltonExperience a day in the life of John Milton, the blind poet and staunch defender of liberty, as he navigates family tensions and the crushing disappointment of political defeat fol…
Level C1ClassicsA Day Well Spent: A Farce, in One ActWhen Cotton leaves his shop in the care of two seemingly reliable apprentices, a day of comedic chaos and mistaken identities unfolds, revealing the unpredictable consequences of a…
Level B1ClassicsA Daughter of the MorningCaught between the harsh realities of farm life and the quiet desperation of a troubled neighbor, a young girl begins writing a secret book to capture her world, revealing the stru…
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of the Middle BorderA family returns to their Wisconsin homestead after years apart, seeking comfort and connection on the fading frontier.
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of the LandA determined young woman challenges her family's expectations and gender roles as she struggles to balance relentless household duties with her dream of education and independence…
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of To-DayIn a small town, Miss Kimpsey, a dedicated schoolteacher with a strong conscience, navigates the social complexities of Sparta as she prepares to approach the influential Mrs.
Level B2ClassicsA Daughter of JapanIn a tastefully blended Japanese-English setting, tensions rise as a naval officer confronts the secret romance between Mr.
Level C1ClassicsA Daughter of EveIn a lavish Parisian boudoir, two sisters bound by love and tears navigate the intrigues of ambition and shifting fortunes amid the opulent yet fragile world of a rising banking fa…
Level C1ClassicsA Dark Night's WorkIn a small county town, the ambitious Edward Wilkins returns from his grand tour to join his father's legal practice, navigating the rigid social hierarchies of the local gentry an…
Level C1ClassicsA Cry in the WildernessDefying the suffocating heat and relentless city life, a young woman recovering from illness answers a mysterious advertisement seeking a strong, country-raised companion in the va…