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 Under-SecretaryIn the shadowed halls of Westminster, a youthful Under-Secretary defends a faltering government amid political storms and whispered secrets.
Level B2ClassicsThe Under DogIn a world where misunderstood men struggle against judgment and hardship, a painter captures the raw spirit of Kentucky mountaineers living under harsh laws and social neglect, re…
Level C1ClassicsThe UndefeatedIn a sweltering English town, two neighbors debate the meaning of sport, business, and the brewing tensions that hint at an impending war, capturing a society on the brink of uphea…
Level C1ClassicsThe Uncommercial TravellerWandering through city streets and country by-roads, an observant traveler shares vivid tales and curious encounters that reveal the hidden stories and human interest behind everyd…
Level C1ClassicsThe Uncollected Writings of Thomas de Quincey—Vol. 1: With a Preface and Annotations by James HoggExplore the intimate reflections and unpublished essays of a profound thinker, revealing his literary journey, personal struggles, and insights into language, education, and societ…
Level C1ClassicsThe Uncollected Writings of Thomas de Quincey, Vol. 2: With a Preface and Annotations by James HoggExplore the turbulent clash between Britain and China in the mid-19th century, as one writer passionately defends British national morality and critiques Chinese policies amid risi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Uncle of an Angel: 1891A curmudgeonly Philadelphia gentleman unexpectedly becomes guardian to his spirited niece just as she comes of age, forcing him to navigate family duty, social expectations, and hi…
Level C1ClassicsThe UnclassedIn a London schoolroom, a shocking injury and a child's startling confession disrupt the usual order, revealing tensions beneath the surface.
Level C1ClassicsThe Unbearable BassingtonIn a drawing-room filled with treasured relics of past triumphs and elegant pleasures, Francesca Bassington clings to a life of smooth comforts and guarded happiness, revealing the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tysons (Mr. and Mrs. Nevill Tyson)A worldly man inherits a quiet country estate, stepping into a small village where his exotic past and fresh ambitions stir curiosity and suspicion.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tyranny of the DarkNestled in a secluded mountain valley, a once-thriving mining town now draws curious visitors to its healing springs and majestic peaks.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tyranny of Tears: A Comedy in Four ActsIn a witty exploration of domestic life, a gentle yet firm wife subtly asserts her quiet tyranny, revealing the delicate balance of power and affection in marriage.
Level B2ClassicsThe Two Wives; Or, Lost and WonA devoted wife’s tender love faces the test when her husband’s restless steps stray toward ruin, revealing the fragile balance between forgiveness and despair in a marriage challen…
Level C2ClassicsThe Two Noble KinsmenTwo noble kinsmen, Palamon and Arcite, vie for the love of the fair Emilia amid the backdrop of Athenian power and ancient rites, where honor, loyalty, and fate intertwine in a tal…
Level C2ClassicsThe Two Noble KinsmenIn ancient Athens, noble bloodlines and fierce loyalties collide as queens beseech Duke Theseus for justice amid war’s brutal toll, setting the stage for a tale of honor, love, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Two MarysIn a bustling London neighborhood, Mary Peveril navigates a life of modest means alongside her devoted clergyman father, dreaming of grandeur and hidden fortunes amid the narrow st…
Level C1ClassicsThe Two Guardians: or, Home in This WorldIn a tranquil Devonshire setting, a spirited young girl navigates everyday joys and trials alongside her companions, embodying quiet strength and self-sacrifice.
Level C2ClassicsThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaTwo friends part ways as one urges the other to explore the world beyond home and the other remains bound by love’s chains—setting the stage for a tale of youthful passion, loyalty…
Level C1ClassicsThe Two BrothersIn 1792, amidst the quiet town of Issoudun, a stern doctor’s troubled household reveals the harsh realities of paternal authority and domestic strife, where societal expectations c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Twins: A Domestic NovelIn the quiet coastal town of Burleigh-Singleton, a young wife faces the trials of separation from her soldier husband, torn between duty, love, and personal interest as their fragi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Twins of Table Mountain, and Other StoriesHigh atop a serene mountain, two identical brothers carve out a solitary life, their calm retreat contrasting with distant worldly conflicts and the wild nature surrounding their e…
Level B2ClassicsThe Twilight of the SoulsA burly man wakes from a haunting nightmare, weighed down by invisible burdens and the weariness of his life.
Level C2ClassicsThe Twilight of the Gods, and Other TalesAmidst ancient mountains, a mysterious captive awakens, bound yet free, in a world where gods once ruled and their twilight looms.
Level C1ClassicsThe Twa Miss DawsonsIn a modest Scottish town, young Jean Dawson defies expectations by fiercely protecting her family and forging her own path through shrewd business and quiet determination.
Level B2ClassicsThe Turtles of TasmanA stern patriarch confronts the arrival of a distant relative with a tangled past and a desperate plea for help, challenging family loyalties and the legacy of wealth amid the rugg…
Level C1ClassicsThe TurnstileIn the sweltering heat of an Argentine estancia, a wealthy couple contemplates leaving their hard-won life behind to return to England, torn between the comfort of old ties and the…
Level B2ClassicsThe Turn of the Tide: The Story of How Margaret Solved Her ProblemAfter years of hardship and separation, Margaret returns to her childhood home, where she must navigate the mysteries of her past and the strange emptiness that lingers in the gran…
Level C1ClassicsThe Turn of the BalanceAmidst the first snow of winter, Elizabeth Ward finds solace in the quiet beauty outside her window, while the world beyond buzzes with untold stories of duty, pride, and unexpecte…
Level C1ClassicsThe Turkish Jester: or, The Pleasantries of Cogia Nasr Eddin EffendiFollow the witty and whimsical Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi as he spins clever tales and humorous anecdotes that challenge common sense and delight his congregation with unexpected wisd…
Level C1ClassicsThe Truth About an AuthorDive into a candid literary autobiography that shatters romanticized illusions about the writing life, revealing the harsh realities of earning a living by the pen and the mixed re…
Level C1ClassicsThe Truth About Tristrem Varick: A NovelA young heir shocks New York by relinquishing a seven-million-dollar fortune to a hospital, defying society's expectations and sparking rumors of madness.
Level C1ClassicsThe Trumpeter SwanIn the aftermath of war, a young Virginian returns to his ancestral home, grappling with pride, sacrifice, and change as he journeys through rain-soaked landscapes aboard a delayed…
Level B2ClassicsThe Trufflers: A StoryA once-successful playwright, struggling with creative block and fading fame, confronts the challenges of modern life and love in a bustling, bohemian New York.
Level B2ClassicsThe True Story of My Life: A SketchBorn into humble beginnings on a Danish island, a young boy’s journey unfolds through a childhood filled with love, hardship, and dreams sparked by his poetically gifted father.
Level C1ClassicsThe TruantsPamela Mardale lives a seemingly perfect life, yet those closest to her sense a hidden struggle beneath her composed exterior.
Level C1ClassicsThe Troll Garden, and Selected StoriesIn the harsh Nebraska plains, Canute battles isolation and the relentless forces of nature, surrounded by eerie carvings that tell of struggle and despair.
Level C1ClassicsThe Triumph of DeathIn a shadowed Rome, two lovers confront the unsettling chill creeping into their bond as they witness a tragic suicide, forcing them to face the agonies of love, suspicion, and des…
Level C1ClassicsThe Triumph Of Night: 1916A young secretary stranded in a bitter New Hampshire winter meets an unexpected ally while waiting for a forgotten sleigh, leading to a chance invitation that might just thaw the c…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trimmed Lamp, and Other Stories of the Four MillionTwo young women escape rural poverty to work in the bustling city, each choosing a different path—one in a laundry, the other in a shop—while navigating ambition, appearance, and r…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trials of a Country ParsonA country parson returns to his rural parish to navigate the complex social fabric, confronting both the faults and virtues of his community while striving to uplift and understand…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trial; Or, More Links of the Daisy ChainIn a quiet parsonage, the Rivers family navigates the joys and strains of recent weddings, youthful love, and whispered family secrets, while illness and change loom just beyond th…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trespasser, CompleteA man leaves the familiar North behind to confront the clash between the refined traditions of England and the untamed vigor of the colonies, exploring identity and belonging amid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trembling of the VeilA young artist wrestles with the fading charm of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and the rise of modern skepticism, capturing the vibrant tensions of art, tradition, and youth in late…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tree of Knowledge: A NovelA young artist escapes London’s dreariness to a serene English valley, where idyllic landscapes and simple village life awaken his imagination and stir dreams of transformation and…
Level B2ClassicsThe Tree of HeavenUnder a mysterious "tree of Heaven," Frances navigates the gentle chaos of family life, childhood excitement, and quiet worries on a warm afternoon, while the presence of loss and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Travelling Companions: A Story in ScenesTwo very different men meet to embark on a meticulously planned European tour, navigating the chaos and charm of travel arrangements, contrasting personalities, and unexpected adve…
Level C1ClassicsThe Translation of a Savage, CompleteA man’s ill-fated marriage to a mixed-blood woman from the Canadian wilderness sparks scandal and challenges societal prejudices, exploring the transformation of a "savage" into a…
Level B2ClassicsThe Transformation of Job: A Tale of the High SierrasIn a fading gold rush town where hope clings to the arrival of every late stagecoach, a pale-faced boy steps onto the dusty streets of Gold City, setting the stage for a tale of re…