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 Second Mrs. Tanqueray: A Play in Four ActsAubrey Tanqueray, a charming bachelor, surprises his closest friends with news of his imminent marriage to a mysterious woman whose past may challenge their social circle.
Level C1ClassicsThe Second Class Passenger: Fifteen StoriesIn the sultry streets of Mozambique, a second-class passenger's quest to retrieve a mysterious bronze idol plunges him into a shadowy world where danger lurks in every dark alley a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Search PartyIn the remote, uninviting Rosivera house, a mysterious new tenant named Guy Theodore Red settles in for six months, sparking curiosity and suspicion among the local gentry and Dr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Seaboard Parish, CompleteAn intimate reflection on aging and wisdom unfolds as a storyteller invites elder readers to embrace life’s deeper truths, urging them to keep their hearts young amidst the passage…
Level C1ClassicsThe Sea FogsA writer battles fragile health amid the haunting, poisonous sea fogs of California’s coast, seeking hope and happiness in a deserted mining camp while witnessing nature’s breathta…
Level B2ClassicsThe Sea BrideOn the eve of her wedding to the seasoned sea captain Noll Wing, Faith Kilcup faces the bittersweet pull of leaving her cherished coastal home and family behind.
Level B2ClassicsThe Scrubtown sewing circle's ThanksgivingIn the quaint village of Scrubtown, a lively sewing circle of spirited old ladies gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving with heartfelt stories, quirky gifts, and humorous exchanges, re…
Level C1ClassicsThe Scripture Club of Valley Rest; or, Sketches of Everybody's NeighboursIn a quaint village, neighbors gather in the Scripture Club, sparking lively discussions and revealing the charming intricacies of small-town life.
Level B2ClassicsThe Scratch PackIn a windswept Irish coastal village, Darby Dillon, a war-injured soldier, and Gheena Freyne navigate life’s challenges alongside their loyal dog Crabbit, set against the rugged be…
Level C1ClassicsThe Scornful LadyTwo brothers face debts and romantic trials, while a proud lady's cold heart challenges their hopes for love and reconciliation in a world where wit and will collide.
Level C1ClassicsThe Schoolmistress: A Farce in Three ActsAt Volumnia College, the mysterious absence of the schoolmistress and the secret presence of her enigmatic husband spark intrigue among servants and students alike, setting the sta…
Level B2ClassicsThe Schoolmaster and Other StoriesA dedicated schoolmaster struggles with perfectionism and rivalry during the annual factory school dinner, revealing tensions beneath polite celebrations and exposing the human fla…
Level C1ClassicsThe School for HusbandsTwo contrasting husbands—one strict and controlling, the other wise and trusting—navigate the challenges of marriage and authority, revealing that kindness triumphs over tyranny in…
Level C1ClassicsThe Scarlet Stigma: A Drama in Four ActsIn a Puritan town rife with judgment and whispered scandal, a gentlewoman faces public trial for adultery, stirring whispers, harsh laws, and the shadow of a harsh stigma.
Level B2ClassicsThe Scarecrow, and Other StoriesIn a lonely farmstead, young Benny wrestles with the oppressive stillness and unyielding chores that trap him, while a mysterious scarecrow in an old military uniform seems to beck…
Level C1ClassicsThe ScapegoatIn a land where tyranny rules and justice is bought, a humble leader emerges in Morocco’s darkest days, offering hope to the oppressed through faith and courage.
Level C1ClassicsThe Scape-Goat: A Farce in One ActIn a scholarly household where love is forbidden, a young tutor fiercely guards his pupil from distractions—especially the affections of a spirited maid determined to defy him.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sayings of Mrs. Solomon: being the confessions of the seven hundredth wife as revealed to Helen RowlandExplore the witty confessions of a seasoned wife who unveils the mysteries of men and marriage, revealing the paradoxes of love, the quirks of husbands, and the subtle art of under…
Level C1ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 07: Marchena NotesUncover lost fragments and scandalous tales from ancient Rome, where soldiers, courtesans, and forbidden loves intertwine amidst the mysteries of Priapus worship.
Level C2ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 06: Editor's NotesDive into the vivid and unvarnished world of ancient Rome, where the interplay of desire and society shapes the oldest profession and reveals the complexities of law, culture, and…
Level C2ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 05: Crotona AffairsIn a decadent city where power and desire collide, a cunning servant navigates intrigue and temptation, encountering a mysterious woman whose beauty and intentions challenge his fa…
Level C2ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 04 : Escape by SeaFleeing threats and jealous rivals, a trio embarks on a perilous sea voyage filled with unexpected encounters and hidden dangers, where friendship and survival intertwine under the…
Level C2ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 03: Encolpius and His CompanionsDrunk and lost in a shadowy city, Encolpius and his companions navigate betrayal, rivalry, and chaotic nights where friendship is tested and passions ignite.
Level C1ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 02: Dinner of TrimalchioDive into the lavish and eccentric world of Trimalchio, a wealthy freedman whose decadent dinner party unveils a spectacle of opulence, bizarre rituals, and vivid scenes from Roman…
Level C1ClassicsThe Satyricon — Volume 01: IntroductionDive into a vivid miscellany of wit and realism set in Nero's Rome, where sharp characters and racy episodes unfold with elegance and humor, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of anci…
Level C1ClassicsThe Satyricon — CompleteDive into a vivid, satirical journey through the decadent life of ancient Rome, where sharp wit and scandalous episodes reveal the complexities of society under Nero's rule.
Level C2ClassicsThe Satyricon of Petronius ArbiterDive into a vivid tapestry of Roman life where extravagant feasts and colorful characters like the infamous Trimalchio reveal a society rich in excess, ambition, and satire, offeri…
Level C1ClassicsThe SalamanderA fiercely independent young woman navigates New York’s social labyrinth with wild curiosity and fearless defiance, challenging conventions as she explores the thrilling and danger…
Level C1ClassicsThe SaintHaunted by past love and tormented by faith, Benedetto lives a life of prayer and penance while those he left behind wander in despair, caught in a clash of belief, passion, and re…
Level C1ClassicsThe SaharaExplore the vast, sun-scorched Sahara where isolation breeds a haunting stillness, and encounter the resilient people navigating the relentless desert and the mysterious, sleepy to…
Level B2ClassicsThe Sagebrusher: A Story of the WestIn the rugged Two-Forks Valley, Sim Gage wrestles with the harsh realities of frontier life, haunted by dreams of fortune and the unyielding wilderness that both traps and defines…
Level B2ClassicsThe Safety Curtain, and Other StoriesIn a packed theater, a mesmerizing dancer known as the Dragon-Fly captivates the audience until a sudden fire traps the performers on stage.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sad Shepherd: A Christmas StoryIn a stark winter landscape, a weary shepherd leads a restless flock while confronting robbers and the harshness of his path.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sacred FountAt a lively social gathering on a fast train, intriguing acquaintances reconnect and secrets simmer beneath polite conversation.
Level C1ClassicsThe Rush for the Spoil (La Curée): A Realistic NovelAmid the glittering excess of Paris under the Second Empire, a young woman trapped in luxury seeks escape through forbidden love, while a ruthless speculator plots to amass a fortu…
Level B2ClassicsThe Runaways: A New and Original StoryIn a snowbound manor, Redmond Maynard grapples with guilt and loss as his estranged son vanished after a bitter accusation two years prior.
Level C1ClassicsThe Ruling Passion: Tales of Nature and Human NatureIn a remote Adirondack village, the arrival of a mysterious stranger stirs the community, setting the stage for stories that explore the hidden passions shaping human nature agains…
Level B2ClassicsThe Rules of the GameIn the late 1890s, an aging outdoorsman reunites with an old friend by a quiet river, hoping to steer his son toward a rugged life in the lumber industry despite the call of politi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Rudder Grangers Abroad and Other StoriesSet sail on the Indian River with a quirky group of travelers aboard a small yacht, where sunlit waters and unexpected encounters blend with the whims and reflections of a Paying T…
Level C1ClassicsThe RubiconIn the quiet Wiltshire town of Hayes, old family rivalries simmer beneath the surface as Eva returns from a tedious visit, stirring the tranquil summer days with subtle tensions an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Roycroft Dictionary, Concocted by Ali Baba and the Bunch on Rainy Days.Dive into a witty and satirical dictionary that redefines common words with sharp humor and unexpected insights, exposing the quirks and contradictions of society through playful,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Rosery FolkIn a lush garden where temptation and trust intertwine, an old gardener’s confession sparks a mystery over missing grapes that threatens the harmony of Sir James Scarlett's estate.
Level B2ClassicsThe Root of EvilA young Southern lawyer in New York clings to love and memories of home while navigating the ambitions and schemes of his fiancée’s social-climbing mother.
Level C1ClassicsThe Romance of the Milky Way, and Other Studies & StoriesExplore a journey through vivid essays and stories that unveil the author's quest for artistic expression, cultural insight, and the elusive emotions that shape human experience ac…
Level C1ClassicsThe Romance of the CommonplaceExplore a lively philosophy that finds wonder in everyday moments, offering playful insights and practical wisdom for navigating middle age with enthusiasm, humor, and a fresh pers…
Level C1ClassicsThe Romance of the CoastA secluded colony of skilled pilots guards a treacherous north-country river, their unique dialect and traditions setting them apart.
Level C1ClassicsThe Romance of the Canoness: A Life-HistoryIn a quiet provincial town shadowed by melancholy, a visitor uncovers the serene charm and hidden stories of a noblewoman's life within a unique religious community where freedom a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Romance of a ShopFour sisters face sudden loss and hardship, transforming their family’s glass conservatory into a photography studio to forge a new future.