Classics
Read Classics Classics in English
5,248 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 B2ClassicsSixpenny PiecesIn the gritty streets of London, a battered woman leans on a determined doctor who defies the authorities to care for her at home, revealing the harsh realities of life, loyalty, a…
Level C1ClassicsSixes and SevensA wandering minstrel, Sam Galloway, the Last of the Troubadours, leaves a lively ranch to seek solitude on a remote sheep ranch, blending music, humor, and the rugged spirit of the…
Level C1ClassicsSix WomenHaunted by a loveless marriage and a deep despair, a handsome civil servant in colonial India struggles with a life drained of passion and meaning, seeking solace amid the dust and…
Level B2ClassicsSix Short PlaysTwo brothers grapple with a chilling confession: one has killed a man in a desperate act tied to a troubled woman’s torment.
Level C1ClassicsSix PlaysStep into the authentic world of English country life where peasants speak with vivid, homely metaphors and simple stories unfold, capturing timeless folk traditions and the heart…
Level C1ClassicsSix One-Act PlaysIn a richly detailed Arabian setting, a wedding feast unfolds amid mysterious delays, whispered secrets, and the arrival of a captivating stranger whose presence stirs passion and…
Level B2ClassicsSix Bad Husbands and Six Unhappy WivesExplore the unraveling marriage of a once-kind man whose love and confidence erode under his wife's constant criticism and superiority, revealing the painful dynamics behind six un…
Level B2ClassicsSisters ThreeThree sisters trapped in a quiet country home long for excitement beyond daily chores, dreaming of adventure and change as they face the monotony of their sheltered lives and the w…
Level C1ClassicsSistersA young sailor marries a struggling girl and, after months apart, prepares a heartfelt surprise homecoming for his new family.
Level C1ClassicsSister TeresaIn a convent gripped by financial crisis, Evelyn confronts unexpected challenges that test faith and resilience.
Level C1ClassicsSister Dolorosa, and Posthumous FameA young woman named Sister Dolorosa stands at a crossroads between earthly hardship and spiritual devotion, gazing beyond a bleak landscape to a radiant vision that promises transc…
Level C1ClassicsSister Carrie: A NovelAn eighteen-year-old girl leaves her rural home for the dazzling, dangerous allure of Chicago, where the city's seductive charms and harsh realities threaten to reshape her innocen…
Level C1ClassicsSister CarmenOn a radiant Easter morning in a Moravian village, a young girl named Sister Carmen reflects amid timeless traditions and heartfelt faith, revealing a community bound by love, sacr…
Level C1ClassicsSister Anne (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume X)In the quiet Parisian night, Dubourg, an unlucky and idle man with a penchant for self-deception, grapples with debts, lost money, and a life of half-hearted work and fleeting plea…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott: A Lecture at the SorbonneExplore the remarkable journey of a novelist whose Scottish roots and dialect shaped timeless tales that captivated Europe, blending vivid local color with sweeping historical roma…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter Scott as a Critic of LiteratureExplore the overlooked critical and scholarly works of Sir Walter Scott, revealing how his literary criticism intertwines with his renowned novels and poems to deepen our understan…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the rich ancestry and historical roots of Sir Walter Scott, tracing his Celtic, Anglo-Norman, and Scottish heritage that shaped his profound connection to the past and fuel…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottExplore the early life and lineage of a literary giant, tracing his roots from noble Scottish families to his formative years amid family, legend, and education, revealing the orig…
Level C1ClassicsSir Walter ScottDive into the rich heritage and adventurous spirit that shaped the life of a great literary figure, tracing his roots from daring ancestors to the influential family that inspired…
Level C1ClassicsSir TomAfter years of restless wandering and near ruin, Sir Thomas Randolph unexpectedly marries a young heiress, restoring his fortune and status.
Level B2ClassicsSir Hilton's SinA young student indulges in marmalade and chemistry lessons under the watchful eye of his devoted aunt, whose hopes and concerns for family, society, and propriety unfold against t…
Level C1ClassicsSir Henry Irving—A Record of Over Twenty Years at the LyceumFollow the relentless journey of an actor rising from humble beginnings to commanding the stage at the Lyceum Theatre, revealing the grit, discipline, and resilience behind a celeb…
Level C1ClassicsSir Harry Hotspur of HumblethwaiteA proud English baronet faces the crushing loss of his only son and heir, forcing him to confront the future of his centuries-old estates and the fate of his family legacy through…
Level C1ClassicsSir GibbieIn the gritty streets of a grey city, a young boy named Gibbie, with striking blue eyes and an untamed spirit, scours the gutters with an unfathomable fascination for dirt, hinting…
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IIIn the tense world of London society and politics, George Tressady navigates family conflicts and social intrigues while managing his duties in the House of Commons.
Level C1ClassicsSir George Tressady — Volume IA newly elected MP returns from a hard-fought, narrow victory in a mining district, grappling with the weight of political promises and the simmering unrest among the working class…
Level C1ClassicsSir Dominick FerrandAn aspiring writer navigates the harsh realities of literary rejection while finding unexpected solace in the melancholic music of his enigmatic new neighbor, Mrs.
Level B2ClassicsSir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume II.A fierce storm ravages a rocky island, bringing tales of shipwreck and desperate survival.
Level C1ClassicsSir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I.Amid Dublin’s military society, the enigmatic Sir Brook Fossbrooke—once the fastest man in town—emerges as a gentleman angler with secrets beneath his stern exterior, setting the s…
Level C1ClassicsSink or swim?In a quaint English village resistant to change, scandal brews over John Beacham’s controversial choice to marry an Irishwoman, stirring gossip and suspicion among the locals.
Level C1ClassicsSingle Life: A Comedy, in Three ActsIn a witty exploration of courtship, a devoted admirer plans to transform a confirmed bachelor’s untidy apartment—and perhaps his heart—while a cynical friend vows to keep him sing…
Level C1ClassicsSimon the JesterA bold politician retreats to the desolate seaside village of Murglebed-on-Sea, a place so bleak and hostile it bewilders even his closest companions.
Level C1ClassicsSimon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch. Two Stories of Jewish LifeIn the heart of a bustling city, a doctor encounters Simon Eichelkatz, a venerable man whose sharp wit and deep connection to tradition reveal the complexities of Jewish life and f…
Level C1ClassicsSimon Called PeterAmid the shattered illusions of World War I, a soldier named Peter confronts the harsh realities behind the glamorized tales of war, wrestling with faith, temptation, and the haunt…
Level B2ClassicsSimeon Tetlow's ShadowIn a bustling railroad office, Simeon Tetlow, a relentless and powerful president, clashes with his young assistant John Bennett, whose quiet resignation reveals deeper struggles a…
Level B2ClassicsSilver Pitchers: and Independence, a Centennial Love StoryThree young women face a scandal at a town festival when secret brandy spoils the evening, prompting them to lead a bold social boycott that challenges their community’s customs an…
Level C1ClassicsSilent StrugglesAmid a fierce Boston storm, two unlikely companions meet on a windswept hill, both drawn by a restless hope and an urgent secret loomed in the turbulent sea.
Level B2ClassicsSilence, and other storiesIn a snowbound village shadowed by the threat of war, Silence senses a lurking danger despite reassurances of safety.
Level C1ClassicsSilas Strong, Emperor of the WoodsIn the fading wilderness of the Adirondacks, Silas Strong—the rugged "Emperor of the Woods"—stands as a living symbol of a vanishing world.
Level B2ClassicsSigning the Contract, and What It CostA chance glimpse of a desperate woman seen from a speeding train sparks a journey into hardship and sorrow.
Level B2ClassicsSielanka: An IdyllNestled in a tranquil forest clearing, a humble forester’s home thrives amid blooming flowers and whispering trees, where young Kasya learns life's gentle lessons from nature’s qui…
Level B2ClassicsSide-stepping with ShortyWhen a tough-talking physical culture expert is hired by a wealthy, demanding client, he faces the challenge of transforming a high-society man out of shape—on terms that test his…
Level C1ClassicsSide LightsImmerse yourself in the life of a towering, passionate schoolmaster who transforms a London slum with fierce kindness and relentless energy, battling injustice both in the classroo…
Level C1ClassicsSibyllaA young student torn between his passion for knowledge and his family’s expectations faces a difficult choice that challenges duty, love, and the pursuit of his true calling.
Level B2ClassicsShorty McCabe on the JobWhen a tough streetfighter crosses paths with a polished conman claiming a mysterious legal summons, a gritty showdown unfolds, blending raw brawls with sharp wit in a city where t…
Level B2ClassicsShorty McCabeA former boxer turned trainer teams up with the enigmatic Leonidas Dodge, a slick salesman with a mysterious product, as they navigate the gritty streets and high-stakes hustle of…
Level C1ClassicsShorter novels, vol. 3Explore the final echoes of Augustan thought alongside the dawn of Romantic imagination through three tales that journey from philosophical reflection to gothic mystery and exotic…
Level C1ClassicsShorter Prose PiecesWitty and provocative aphorisms challenge conventions on art, society, and identity, while vivid portraits explore beauty’s timeless influence.