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 Training of a Public SpeakerMaster the art of public speaking with timeless guidance on persuasion, clarity, and eloquence tailored for modern audiences.
Level B2ClassicsThe Trail of the Hawk: A Comedy of the Seriousness of LifeAn adventurous boy, restless and rebellious, leads imaginary battles in his Minnesota backyard while dreaming of the wide world beyond—the Great World that calls him to seek his fo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Trail of ConflictTwo powerful families negotiate a high-stakes ultimatum: a marriage alliance to secure fortunes and legacies, as ambition and tradition clash over love, loyalty, and the price of s…
Level C2ClassicsThe Tragical History of Doctor Faustus: From the Quarto of 1616A brilliant scholar, Faustus grows disillusioned with theology and law, turning to forbidden magic to gain power, wealth, and knowledge beyond human limits—yet heavenly forces warn…
Level C2ClassicsThe Tragical History of Doctor Faustus: From the Quarto of 1604A brilliant scholar, Faustus grows disillusioned with theology and medicine, turning instead to dark magic in pursuit of ultimate power and knowledge.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragic MuseA young man abandons public life to pursue a challenging artistic craft, navigating the clash between creative passion and societal expectations.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragic BrideIn a fading Irish baronetcy, a mysterious marriage drapes Gabrielle Hewish in silence, intertwining her fate with that of Arthur Payne and a secret that promises to unravel beneath…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragedy of Pudd'nhead WilsonIn the charming town of Dawson’s Landing, a sharp-witted lawyer known as Pudd’nhead Wilson navigates a world where identity and justice intertwine, revealing how truth can be twist…
Level C2ClassicsThe Tragedy of MacbethAmid thunder and swirling fog, three witches plot a fateful meeting with Macbeth, a valiant soldier whose brutal battlefield triumphs ignite a chain of dark events in the Scottish…
Level C2ClassicsThe Tragedy of Dido Queene of CarthageAmid gods and mortals, the passionate tale of Dido, Queen of Carthage, unfolds with divine jealousy and human desire, where love and fate clash in a dramatic struggle for power and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragedies of SenecaExplore the gripping world of Roman tragedy where stoic philosophy meets intense drama, revealing the roots of Western theater through Seneca’s powerful adaptations of Greek classi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tragedies of Euripides, Volume I.Dive into the gripping world of ancient Greek tragedy, where gods and mortals clash in tales of fate, passion, and revenge.
Level C1ClassicsThe Trader's Wife: 1901In the sultry South Seas, a wealthy trader returns to Levuka with his beautiful wife, stirring tensions beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic life.
Level C1ClassicsThe Toys of Peace, and Other PapersDive into a collection of sharp, witty tales that blend youthful joy with life’s poignant realities, inspired by a spirited writer who found beauty and satire in both the wild wood…
Level C1ClassicsThe Toy Shop (1735) The King and the Miller of Mansfield (1737)In a world where every trifle tells a tale, a witty Toy Shop master dispenses sharp satire and moral lessons from the smallest objects.
Level B2ClassicsThe Town TravellerIn a bustling London boarding house, the lively and cantankerous interactions between Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe TouchstoneA man haunted by his unfulfilled love for a brilliant yet distant woman wrestles with regret and longing as he confronts the fading memory of their tragic relationship amid the pub…
Level B2ClassicsThe Touch of AbnerIn a town meeting for an orphanage, Abner Andrews shocks everyone by pledging a thousand dollars but quickly exposes the empty promises of the town's elite, challenging their true…
Level C1ClassicsThe Torrent (Entre Naranjos)A celebrated young deputy returns to his sun-drenched hometown, basking in the adulation of its people while reflecting on his childhood and the political legacy he inherits.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tobacco Tiller: A Tale of the Kentucky Tobacco FieldsJourney into Kentucky’s tobacco fields, where the harsh toil and intricate history of tobacco cultivation unfold through the lives of those who depend on this demanding crop for th…
Level B2ClassicsThe Title: A Comedy in Three ActsAmidst a West End family’s holiday gatherings, sharp wit and wartime realities collide as a schoolboy returns home to find his father’s new authority questioned and his sister’s fo…
Level C1ClassicsThe TitanEmerging from prison and stripped of his social standing, Frank Cowperwood sets out to rebuild his fortune far from Philadelphia's staid world.
Level B2ClassicsThe Tipster: 1901, From "Wall Street Stories"A savvy stockbroker wrestles with missed opportunities and the volatile pulse of Wall Street, balancing ambition, luck, and loyalty as he contemplates leaving the market behind for…
Level C1ClassicsThe Tinker's WeddingIn a rustic Irish village, a tinker struggles to craft a wedding ring while his spirited partner pushes for marriage, revealing tensions, humor, and dreams amid their rugged, wande…
Level B2ClassicsThe Tin SoldierIn a rain-soaked city, a shabby old gentleman returns to a struggling toy shop, haunting the shelves with his longing for tin soldiers amid the shadows of war and fading childhood…
Level B2ClassicsThe TigressUnder moonlight in Simla, a young man confronts Nina, a captivating and elusive woman whose charm ensnares hearts even as she dismisses love and attachment.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tiger LilyA sharp-faced man battles relentless pain and faces a risky operation with the help of a young surgeon and an unexpected, compassionate nurse.
Level C1ClassicsThe Tidal Wave and Other StoriesOn a sunlit shore, Rufus the Red, a solitary fisherman with fierce blue eyes, navigates tense relationships and looming challenges, while his steadfast partner Adam faces unexpecte…
Level C1ClassicsThe Thunders of SilenceA charismatic congressman faces fierce opposition and accusations as he champions a controversial message of world peace during a time of war, risking everything to awaken a divide…
Level B2ClassicsThe Three Stages of Clarinda ThorbaldA young bride-to-be wrestles with the intoxicating joys and haunting fears of love, confronting the bittersweet end of her youth on the day of her wedding amid a house filled with…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three PartnersThree partners strike gold on a remote mountain, yet their newfound wealth brings unexpected silence and tension.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three FatesA father ruined by financial betrayal pins his hopes on a son who rejects the world of business and finance, choosing instead a path driven by ideals and the pen.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three ComradesThree orphans—Petrik, Ondrejko, and their faithful dog Fido—find solace and brotherhood under the stern watch of "Bacha" Filina in a remote mountain hut, where survival and friends…
Level B2ClassicsThe Three ClerksIn the midst of Victorian London's bustling civil service, three clerks navigate the complexities of ambition, society, and personal intrigue.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 5Amid the shadowy grandeur of Rome, a young priest named Pierre wrestles with grief and compassion after a tragic loss, seeking solace within the silent, solemn halls of the Vatican…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 4In the intricate and secretive world of ecclesiastical politics, Pierre navigates a maze of cautious alliances and hidden adversaries as he seeks support for his controversial book…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 5Two brothers navigate the shadowy streets of Paris on the eve of a grim execution, confronting the city's stark contrasts—from its monumental basilica to the desperate souls that h…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 4As Pierre accompanies Guillaume to Montmartre, they reunite with a family deeply devoted to their crafts and each other, where work and love intertwine under the warm spring sun.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 3Amid political intrigue and social unrest, a grand charity bazaar unfolds in a bombarded Parisian mansion, where tensions simmer beneath the surface and personal dramas threaten to…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Paris, Volume 1In a Paris on the brink of religious and social upheaval, a doubting Catholic priest confronts the clash between faith, reason, and the rising tide of socialism.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 5At Lourdes, restless nights and chaotic pilgrim gatherings set the stage for deep human dramas as Pierre, a young priest, confronts urgent calls of faith, death, and the fragile ho…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 4In a hospital filled with hope and despair, Marie awaits a miraculous cure from the Blessed Virgin, clinging to faith amid the shadows of illness and death surrounding her.
Level B2ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 3Amid the bustling Hotel of the Apparitions, a weary young priest and an optimistic inventor navigate faith, hope, and strange encounters during a pilgrimage in a town alive with de…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 2As a great national pilgrimage descends on Lourdes, Father Fourcade and Dr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 1In the midst of a vast pilgrimage to Lourdes, a tapestry of intertwined lives unfolds—pilgrims, priests, and the desperate sick all seeking hope and miracles at the famed Grotto.
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, CompleteAmid the bustling crowds of a national pilgrimage to Lourdes, the hopes and doubts of countless sick pilgrims intertwine, revealing a profound exploration of faith, suffering, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Brothers; vol. 3/3A young girl with a remarkable talent faces the tension between innocent childhood and the demands of a public career, as her mother struggles with the prospect of preparing her fo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Three Brothers; vol. 2/3A young painter struggles between ambitious visions and harsh critiques in the competitive art world, learning the delicate balance between inspiration and convention.