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 C1ClassicsThe Widow's DogNestled in a tranquil Hampshire village, a picturesque cottage by the Great Pond hides stories woven into its lush gardens and ancient woods.
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow Barnaby. Vol. 3 (of 3)A heartbroken widow plots to confront her deceitful lover in London, seeking justice and revenge with the help of a loyal friend and a clever attorney brother.
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow Barnaby. Vol. 2 (of 3)A young woman grapples with the pressures of society and mourning attire as her aunt arranges for her debut at fashionable balls, navigating the delicate balance between appearance…
Level C1ClassicsThe Widow Barnaby. Vol. 1 (of 3)In a quaint Devonshire town, Miss Betsy Compton, a resilient and independent woman with a deformity, defies family expectations and carves out her own life and legacy amid social t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wide, Wide WorldA young girl named Ellen faces the quiet trials of a gloomy day and her mother's mysterious distress, learning to find strength and grace in a world full of uncertainty and tender…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wicker Work Woman: A Chronicle of Our Own TimesIn a cramped study shadowed by dismal light, a literature professor wrestles with his unfulfilled dreams and bitter domestic life while preparing to teach ancient battles and heroi…
Level B2ClassicsThe White VirginIn a world of old mines and family tensions, a young man navigates love, loyalty, and a potentially fortune-making venture while contending with jealous rivals and protective elder…
Level C1ClassicsThe White StoneA group of French friends explores the ancient ruins of Rome’s Forum, uncovering forgotten monuments and imagining the vibrant daily life that once filled these historic streets.
Level C1ClassicsThe White SisterAn American portrait painter captures more than a likeness when he paints a young Italian noblewoman whose serene exterior conceals a deeper, almost religious intensity—challenging…
Level B2ClassicsThe White PeopleA lonely heiress in a remote Scottish castle recounts her strange, secret experiences and the mysterious legacy of her vanished parents.
Level C1ClassicsThe White PeacockIn a quiet valley where nature broods over its past, two friends confront the stillness of life and the restless stirrings beneath the surface, revealing tensions between inertia a…
Level C1ClassicsThe White House (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XII)In 1825 Paris, a modest government clerk navigates the bustling corridors of power while maintaining appearances among wealthier acquaintances.
Level C1ClassicsThe White Hecatomb, and Other StoriesAmidst the fierce struggles of tribal wars and relentless migrations, a haunting tale unfolds where ancient customs clash with the terrifying arrival of strange new weapons, changi…
Level C1ClassicsThe White FlagIn a small, prosperous town, Elizabeth Spellman prides herself on a life built around her ambitious husband’s success and their elegant home.
Level C1ClassicsThe White DoveA determined young woman urges a weary doctor to leave his quiet life and seize the vibrant opportunities of London, sparking a journey of ambition, self-discovery, and the fragile…
Level C2ClassicsThe White DevilIn a ruthless Italian court, exiled Count Lodovico confronts betrayal, corruption, and deadly ambition as powerful figures vie for control and desire, setting the stage for a trage…
Level C1ClassicsThe WhirlpoolHarvey Rolfe, a man caught between past poverty and present leisure, navigates London's social circles with a quiet detachment.
Level C1ClassicsThe Whirligig of TimeTwo boys lie awake on a tense night as their mother’s mysterious illness unfolds in silence and whispered voices.
Level B2ClassicsThe Wheels of TimeA devoted doctor balances his demanding medical practice with the tender life he shares in a sunlit rose-garden home, where love, family, and the mysteries of the human mind intert…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wheel of LifeTrapped in a gilded cage of wealth and beauty, Gerty Bridewell wrestles with unexpected unhappiness in her marriage and the elusive promise of contentment, as memories of friendshi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wellfields: A novel. Vol. 3 of 3Struggling with financial ruin and moral dilemmas, Jerome Wellfield faces a crossroads when a surprising job offer challenges his wavering honor and desperate circumstances.
Level C1ClassicsThe Well-Beloved: A Sketch of a TemperamentIn a remote English peninsula steeped in ancient customs, a young man returns after years away, confronting the island’s timeless landscape and its curious inhabitants as he embark…
Level C1ClassicsThe Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three ActsTwo blind beggars navigate harsh judgments and whispered rumors in a rural Irish village, yearning to see themselves as others do and confront the bitter truths of sight and percep…
Level C1ClassicsThe Weird Orient: Nine Mystic TalesStep into the mystical heart of the East with nine captivating tales drawn from centuries-old legends and the vibrant life of Tetuan, Morocco.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wedding Guest: A Friend of the Bride and BridegroomExplore the delicate dance of marriage, where love’s initial glow confronts the true test of character, wisdom, and patience as two souls learn to grow together beyond youthful pas…
Level B2ClassicsThe Web of TimeA devoted wife waits anxiously for her husband, whose descent into addiction threatens to unravel their once-happy family life amid the turmoil of labor strikes and hardship.
Level C1ClassicsThe Web of LifeIn a tense hospital room, a young surgeon confronts a mysterious patient’s fate amid the chaotic night at St.
Level C1ClassicsThe Ways of MenDiscover the humble origins of "Uncle Sam," a symbol born from a kindly inspector of provisions whose integrity and patriotism shaped the identity of a nation on the brink of a new…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ways of Life: Two StoriesAs the tide of life recedes, a poignant revelation dawns: success fades, dreams dissolve, and the future once imagined slips away.
Level C1ClassicsThe WayfarersIn the tired crowd of evening commuters, individuality and hidden stories emerge, revealing the quiet struggles and deep loves that define their lives.
Level B2ClassicsThe Way to PeaceA restless woman and her scholarly husband embark on a strenuous morning climb, seeking a view that promises something beyond the ordinary.
Level C1ClassicsThe Way of the WorldIn a society where wit is both weapon and mask, characters navigate the delicate dance of false cleverness and genuine folly.
Level B2ClassicsThe Way of the WindA young woman leaves her peaceful Kentucky hometown, braving the fears of storms and the unknown, to follow her husband's dream of fortune in the restless, wind-swept West.
Level C1ClassicsThe Way of the GodsA writer debates with a whimsical bronze god over the art of storytelling, the use of dashes, and the delicate balance between clarity and reader imagination, revealing the challen…
Level C1ClassicsThe Way of AmbitionIn a drawing-room charged with skepticism and longing, a group debates the emergence of a mysterious new English composer, Claude Heath, whose soul-stirring music promises to break…
Level B2ClassicsThe Way OutIn the rugged Cumberland hills, a young man’s love of music clashes with his preacher father’s stern religious convictions, igniting a fierce family and spiritual conflict that cha…
Level C1ClassicsThe Wave: An Egyptian AftermathHaunted since childhood by a colossal, suspended wave that never crashes, a young boy grapples with a mysterious nightmare that defies nature and threatens to unravel his reality.
Level C1ClassicsThe Watsons: By Jane Austen, Concluded by L. OultonIn a quiet Surrey village, the Watson sisters prepare for their first winter assembly, navigating society’s expectations and the charms of the flirtatious Tom Musgrave.
Level C1ClassicsThe Waters of EderaIn a rugged land where shepherds rule with brutal hands, a fierce ram fight becomes a harsh testament to survival and cruelty.
Level B2ClassicsThe Water-FindersIn the drought-stricken village of Willowton, three unlikely companions gather by a dwindling stream, setting the stage for a gripping tale of survival, community struggles, and th…
Level B2ClassicsThe Water Goats, and Other TroublesIn a small town, Mayor Dugan and his crafty council plot to win public favor with a new park featuring two gondolas on the lake—though their true motives hint at political scheming…
Level C1ClassicsThe Water Ghost and OthersOn Christmas Eve at Harrowby Hall, a relentless water ghost drenches anyone who dares to confront her eerie presence.
Level C1ClassicsThe Washer of the Ford: Legendary moralities and barbaric talesJourney to the remote North where pagan rites entwine with Christian saints, and ancient Celtic legends reveal a world of mystery, sacrifice, and ancestral echoes.
Level C1ClassicsThe WardenIn a tranquil cathedral town, the benevolent Rev.
Level B2ClassicsThe War-WorkersIn a bustling wartime depot, the tireless Miss Vivian leads a group of dedicated volunteers managing troop arrivals and vital supplies.
Level C1ClassicsThe Wall Street GirlA young man inherits his late father's estate—but with strings attached, including living in the family home without control over its sale or income.
Level B2ClassicsThe Walking DelegateHigh above the city, steelworkers brave dizzying heights to build a towering hotel, while a tough contractor and his vigilant foreman navigate the tensions and dangers of a massive…
Level C1ClassicsThe VulturesAboard a transatlantic steamer, two solitary men—Joseph Mangles and Reginald Cartoner—navigate uneasy companionship amid the indifferent crowd, while Mangles' niece, Netty Cahere,…