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 Rejuvenation of Aunt MaryAunt Mary faces the challenge of her mischievous nephew Jack, whose repeated college troubles and wild antics threaten to derail his future.
Level C1ClassicsThe Reign of Law; a tale of the Kentucky hemp fieldsSet against the rugged Kentucky frontier, this tale explores the rise and decline of hemp cultivation, revealing the profound impact of this humble crop on a community’s fortunes,…
Level B2ClassicsThe Redheaded Outfield, and Other Baseball StoriesIn a minor league baseball season charged with rivalry, the Redheaded Outfield trio—eccentric Red Gilbat, showman Reddy Clammer, and swift Reddie Ray—take the field, blending wild…
Level C1ClassicsThe Redemption of Kenneth GaltIn a quiet town touched by spring’s gentle glow, a compassionate young doctor notices the weariness of a beautiful organist burdened by family illness, setting the stage for a stor…
Level B2ClassicsThe Redemption of FreetownIn a troubled district plagued by crime, a judge grapples with the limits of justice and the desperate need for true redemption.
Level C1ClassicsThe Redemption of David CorsonIn a serene Ohio valley untouched by time, a young boy's innocent wonder unfolds beneath the watchful gaze of a wise woman, capturing the quiet beauty and profound mysteries of lif…
Level C1ClassicsThe Red and the Black: A Chronicle of 1830In post-Napoleonic France, ambitious Julien navigates a world where passion and power collide, revealing a complex character who defies simple judgment.
Level C1ClassicsThe Red RoomAmid the bustling streets and serene gardens of Stockholm, a young man wrestles with hope and defiance against the weight of his past and the challenges of his present.
Level C1ClassicsThe Red RoomA skeptical man accepts a chilling challenge to spend a night alone in the notorious Red Room, where eerie custodians and ancient fears linger.
Level C1ClassicsThe Red House Mystery: The Piccadilly NovelsPerched atop a bleak hill, the ominous Red House harbors dark secrets beneath its gloomy exterior, while its inhabitants grapple with sorrow, suspicion, and a haunting atmosphere t…
Level B2ClassicsThe Red Court Farm: A Novel (Vol. 1 of 2)On a remote English coast, the isolated Red Court Farm overlooks a perilous, nearly inaccessible beach steeped in superstition and haunted whispers.
Level C1ClassicsThe RectorIn a genteel town where society thrives on tradition, the arrival of a mysterious new Rector stirs curiosity and speculation about his true beliefs and intentions, challenging the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Recruiting OfficerIn a bustling Shrewsbury market, a charismatic sergeant recruits men for the king’s army with wit and humor, navigating the lively characters and challenges of military life in thi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Recreations of a Country ParsonA country parson reflects on the unexpected challenges and quiet joys of embracing a life and place assigned by Providence, exploring the moral effort to find contentment and purpo…
Level C1ClassicsThe Record of Nicholas Freydon: An AutobiographyA restless soul flees London seeking peace of mind, only to confront the tangled memories of a life lived in pursuit of understanding.
Level C1ClassicsThe Real Thing and Other TalesA gentleman and a lady arrive shyly at an artist’s studio, hoping to become models for illustrations rather than formal portraits.
Level C1ClassicsThe Real CharlotteIn the sweltering streets of Dublin, youthful Francie Fitzpatrick navigates Sunday-school dramas, budding romances, and family duties, revealing the complex social tapestry behind…
Level C1ClassicsThe ReadjustmentAmidst the sunlit apricot orchards and bustling harvest, a seasoned judge and his spirited wife navigate family tensions and changing times, while a young college man challenges ol…
Level B2ClassicsThe Re-Creation of Brian KentA chance encounter with Auntie Sue, a dignified schoolteacher in the remote Ozarks, sets the stage for a story of life’s quiet strength and transformation amid the rugged beauty of…
Level C1ClassicsThe RapinIn the glittering salons of Paris, the reckless young Toto stirs trouble with wild generosity and charming mischief, defying his mother’s hopes and society’s expectations.
Level B2ClassicsThe Ranch at the WolverineIn a rugged Idaho valley, a tough pioneer woman and her shiftless husband battle harsh wilderness to tame a hidden cove, while a spirited girl named Billy Louise grows up amid rugg…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ramrodders: A NovelIn the quiet village of Fort Canibas, entrenched political power faces a rebellious surge as reformers rally behind the fiery "War Eagle" Ivus Niles, challenging the long-standing…
Level C1ClassicsThe RalstonsIn a rigidly proper family torn by conflicting ambitions, two daughters chart very different paths—one married into political power, the other still bound to the old family home.
Level C1ClassicsThe Rake's ProgressIn a fading English estate, whispers swirl around the charming Rose and her cousin Marius, whose return stirs tensions of love, scandal, and looming financial ruin.
Level C1ClassicsThe RainbowAmid the rich farmland and timeless rhythms of the Brangwen family, a woman yearns for a life beyond the earth-bound cycle of birth and harvest, seeking the distant world of knowle…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ragged Trousered PhilanthropistsIn a small English town, a group of building workers navigate the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, and class struggle, revealing the unseen hardships of working-class life…
Level B2ClassicsThe Radiant CityIn a town shadowed by despair and revelry, a young man named Amer faces a mysterious herald whose dire prophecies challenge the mirth and meaning of their lives.
Level B2ClassicsThe Quiet Hotel: A Farcical Sketch in One ActIn a hilariously quiet country hotel run by the multi-tasking Susan, an aspiring actor and a dramatic actress disrupt the peace with their antics, turning a simple lodging into a s…
Level B2ClassicsThe QuickeningIn a small valley revival led by the fervent Reverend Silas Crafts, the townsfolk wrestle with faith, sin, and redemption as young Thomas Jefferson navigates the stirring transform…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queer Folk of Fife: Tales from the KingdomIn a sleepy Scottish town where life moves at an easy pace, local storytellers keep the community entertained with tales drawn from their rich memories and close-knit connections.
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen's Twin and Other StoriesAlong the rugged Maine coast, a curious visit to a hidden hilltop stirs memories of distant lands and untold stories, as a spirited woman ventures through wild swamps and forgotten…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen's Scarlet: The Adventures and Misadventures of Sir Richard FrayneCaught in the tangled debts of his cousin, Sir Richard Frayne faces unexpected demands from a persistent tailor, forcing him to confront financial and social entanglements that thr…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen of the Swamp, and other plain AmericansIn a lively 1846 Ohio community, festive Christmas gatherings bring neighbors together amidst faith, courtship, and rural life’s challenges.
Level B2ClassicsThe Queen of Spades, and other storiesDive into a collection where haunting mysteries, duels, and vivid tales from Russian life intertwine, revealing passion, intrigue, and the shadows lurking beneath society’s polishe…
Level C1ClassicsThe Queen PedauqueDive into the lively adventures and sharp wit of l'Abbé Jérôme Coignard, a man whose keen intellect and playful spirit weave through a tapestry of romance, intrigue, and religious…
Level B2ClassicsThe Queen Of SpadesIn a frostbitten night of gambling, a young officer becomes obsessed with a legendary secret held by an enigmatic countess—a secret promising unstoppable luck with three mysterious…
Level C1ClassicsThe Quality of MercyIn a snowy village caught between winter’s hold and the promise of spring, a mysterious figure disrupts a quiet evening, stirring tensions among familiar faces and restless horses.
Level C1ClassicsThe Quaint Companions: With an Introduction by H. G. WellsIn a world grappling with race and identity, a compelling group of flawed yet vivid characters navigate personal ambitions and societal prejudices.
Level C1ClassicsThe PurseA young painter lost in his art suffers a sudden fall and is rescued by two mysterious women whose refined grace and gentle care awaken his curiosity and stir a tender, unexpected…
Level B2ClassicsThe Purple HeightsIn a humble South Carolina cottage, young Peter navigates life without his father, finding comfort in his mother's sewing and the soulful songs of Emma Campbell.
Level C1ClassicsThe Puritan WidowA grieving widow mourns her unmatched husband while her brother-in-law urges her to embrace life and consider remarriage, revealing a sharp contrast between sorrow and practical am…
Level C1ClassicsThe Purgatory of St. PatrickA drunken artisan is suddenly thrust into the lavish life of a duke, awakening to a dazzling world of courts and ceremonies that blurs the line between dream and reality.
Level C1ClassicsThe PupilA timid young tutor is hired to educate Morgan Moreen, an intelligent but sickly boy with a sharp tongue and mysterious family dynamics.
Level C1ClassicsThe Punster's Pocket-book: or, the Art of Punning Enlarged by Bernard Blackmantle, illustrated with numerous original designs by Robert CruikshankDive into the witty world where puns and playful jests ignite laughter and cleverness, enriched by original illustrations and a rich collection of puns from celebrated wits.
Level B2ClassicsThe Puddleford Papers; Or, Humors of the WestStep into the rough-and-tumble life of Puddleford, where rugged pioneers forge order and justice with grit and humor.
Level B2ClassicsThe Public SquareA nineteen-year-old girl arrives in New York with dreams of writing, renting a modest room in a mysterious green-painted house near Washington Square.
Level C1ClassicsThe Prussian OfficerA harsh Prussian captain leads his regiment through a scorching landscape, his rigid, cold demeanor clashing with the warm, instinctive vitality of his young orderly.
Level C1ClassicsThe ProvostA seasoned magistrate recounts his rise to power and the public duties that defined his life, revealing the wisdom and challenges behind his thrice-held office in the royal burgh o…