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 Prelude to AdventureIn a misty wood, Olva Dune confronts a haunting moment of fate after striking down Carfax, a man he has long despised.
Level B2ClassicsThe Preliminaries, and Other StoriesA young man’s love for the daughter of a convicted embezzler faces fierce loyalty, family secrets, and the challenge of winning approval from both sides.
Level C1ClassicsThe Precipice: A NovelAs Kate Barrington graduates and returns home, she navigates the shifting tides of early 20th-century womanhood, caught between tradition, ambition, and the awakening call of a cha…
Level B2ClassicsThe Preacher of Cedar Mountain: A Tale of the Open CountryIn a rugged Ontario town shaped by sawmills and wilderness, young Jim Hartigan faces loss and hardship that threaten to define him.
Level C1ClassicsThe Praise of Shakespeare: An English AnthologyExplore centuries of acclaim and debate surrounding the genius of Shakespeare, unraveling the rich history of opinions that affirm his enduring literary eminence from his own time…
Level C1ClassicsThe Power of Mesmerism: A Highly Erotic Narrative of Voluptuous Facts and FanciesIn a grand Devon estate, the return of the enigmatic Frank stirs forbidden desires and mysterious influences within his alluring family, awakening passions and secrets that challen…
Level B2ClassicsThe Power of DarknessIn a remote Russian village, tensions simmer as a sickly peasant struggles to manage his household, laborers, and family disputes, revealing the harsh realities and simmering confl…
Level C1ClassicsThe Power and the GloryIn a humble mountain cabin, a young mother faces hardship as she prepares for her newborn amid scarcity and suspicion.
Level C1ClassicsThe Potter's ThumbIn a decaying Indian town haunted by superstition and colonial tension, an English officer faces the mysterious "potter's thumb" affliction and a treacherous local power struggle,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Potiphar PapersDive into a satirical exploration of high society’s glittering facade, where lavish parties and aristocratic airs mask a world obsessed with appearances and shallow pretenses, chal…
Level C1ClassicsThe Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. 2Explore a collection of critical and imaginative essays that delve into the minds of Coleridge, Shakespeare, and Cicero, while unraveling historical events and literary critiques w…
Level C1ClassicsThe Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2 (of 2)In a frost-covered churchyard on Christmas Eve, the gloomy sexton Gabriel Grub toils alone, haunted by his own bitterness and the eerie silence of the night.
Level C1ClassicsThe Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 1 (of 2)Join the eccentric Samuel Pickwick and his companions as they embark on curious travels filled with humorous observations and peculiar adventures, exploring the quirks of society a…
Level B2ClassicsThe Post OfficeA sick boy confined indoors dreams of freedom beyond distant hills, while those around him wrestle with hope, care, and the yearning to embrace life beyond walls.
Level B2ClassicsThe PortygeeA seventeen-year-old arrives at the bleak South Harniss railway station, feeling utterly isolated amid the raw December wind and desolate landscape.
Level C1ClassicsThe Portland Sketch BookExplore the vibrant literary spirit of Portland through original works by its native and long-time authors, capturing the city’s unique culture and history in a rich anthology that…
Level C1ClassicsThe Portion of LaborA young girl’s vivid imagination brings the Norway spruce trees to life as they long for their northern home, while her family’s sharp tensions and tender care weave a portrait of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Poor Scholar: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of: William Carleton, Volume ThreeAmid harsh winter toil on a barren Irish hill, a father and son endure poverty and bitter injustice, dreaming of reclaiming their lost land and confronting the harsh realities of l…
Level C1ClassicsThe Poor ManAmid the serene rituals of a temple to the goddess Kwan-Yin, Edward R.
Level C1ClassicsThe Poor GentlemanA weathered gentleman journeys toward Antwerp in a rickety calèche, his noble presence contrasting with his faded surroundings.
Level C1ClassicsThe Pool in the DesertStruggling with poverty and duty on a harsh Indian frontier, a devoted couple navigates the trials of parenthood and survival, sending their sick infant away while clinging to hope…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pomp of the Lavilettes, CompleteIn 1837 French Canada, a secluded society braces for upheaval as an overseas aristocrat disrupts the delicate balance between French political ambitions and British colonial rule,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Politician Out-WittedIn post-Revolutionary New York, opposing fathers debate the Federal Constitution, revealing the era’s political tensions through sharp dialogue and early American drama.
Level C1ClassicsThe Poison Tree: A Tale of Hindu Life in BengalIn a stormy season on the Ganges, Nagendra, a wealthy landowner, embarks on a crucial journey, urged by his devoted wife Surja Mukhi to heed the river's dangers.
Level C1ClassicsThe Point of ViewA young woman writes from a sea voyage to New York, reflecting on her newfound freedom and her mother's complex feelings about returning to their native land.
Level C1ClassicsThe Pocket R.L.S.: Being Favourite Passages from the Works of StevensonImmerse yourself in vivid reflections on nature, friendship, and the spirit of adventure, as a wanderer finds beauty in unexpected moments and the profound harmony between the worl…
Level C1ClassicsThe Poacher; Or, Joseph RushbrookOn a stormy November night, a fallen schoolmaster and a pedlar grapple with the ruinous effects of drink in a small Devonshire village, revealing harsh truths about despair, duty,…
Level B2ClassicsThe Plumed SerpentOn a tense Sunday after Easter in Mexico City, a group of outsiders confronts the strange, thrilling spectacle of a bullfight, caught between fascination and unease in a harsh and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Plum TreeA young lawyer battles poverty and self-doubt in a small Midwestern town, inspired by his courageous mother to claim his independence and establish his own practice amidst the skep…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pleasures of IgnoranceDiscover the joy found in our shared ignorance of nature, from the elusive cuckoo's song to the surprise of spring blooms, as each new discovery renews wonder and transforms the fa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pleasant Street Partnership: A Neighborhood StoryIn a neighborhood clinging to tradition, a quirky new building disguised as a drug store stirs curiosity and resistance, especially when a poised young woman arrives to lease the u…
Level C1ClassicsThe Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. StevensonIn 18th-century Edinburgh, William Brodie leads a double life as a respected craftsman by day and a cunning housebreaker by night, weaving a tense drama of loyalty, secrecy, and da…
Level C1ClassicsThe Plays of Philip Massinger, Vol. IExplore the refined and moral dramas of early English playwrights, carefully adapted to omit coarse language and scenes, revealing vivid characters and compelling plots that champi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Playboy of the Western World: A Comedy in Three ActsIn a rugged Irish village, Pegeen Mike, a spirited young woman, navigates love and local life amid the wild imagination and raw realities of her community, where every word and ges…
Level C1ClassicsThe Place Beyond the WindsIn a remote village where rugged landscapes and deep traditions shape life, Priscilla Glenn faces the challenges of farm life and the lure of the wider world beyond.
Level C1ClassicsThe Piper: A Play in Four ActsIn medieval Hamelin, a mysterious piper’s enchanting music promises to rid the town of a devastating rat plague, but his sudden disappearance leaves the townsfolk questioning fate,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pilot and His WifeOn a remote Norwegian island, a solitary former pilot clings to life in isolation, haunted by his past and sustained by an unlikely alliance with smugglers.
Level C1ClassicsThe Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come: Delivered under the similitude of a dream, by John BunyanJourney alongside a pilgrim navigating a dreamlike allegory of faith, trials, and salvation, where metaphors and parables reveal profound spiritual truths about the path to glory a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pigeon: A Fantasy in Three ActsOn Christmas Eve, a compassionate artist wrestles with the complexities of charity and social reform, challenged by his pragmatic daughter and conflicting ideologies.
Level C1ClassicsThe Pictures; The Betrothing: NovelsIn a Germany awakening from post-Reformation lethargy, society grapples with fading national pride and the dominance of foreign influence, revealing tensions between native identit…
Level C1ClassicsThe Pickwick PapersJoin the eccentric Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Piccinino, Volume 2 (of 2); The last of AldinisIn a grand palace filled with ancestral portraits, a young artist challenges the value of noble lineage and hereditary honor, sparking a profound debate on identity, ambition, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe PicaroonsIn a gritty San Francisco café, a trio of roguish adventurers await a mysterious stranger on the ominous Thirteenth of October, promising a night of unexpected encounters and tales…
Level C1ClassicsThe Piazza TalesNestled in an old farmhouse surrounded by stunning mountain vistas, a man decides to build a unique northern piazza to savor nature’s changing beauty despite neighbors’ doubts.
Level C1ClassicsThe Physiology of Marriage, CompleteExplore the intricate dynamics of marriage through sharp meditations on love, fidelity, and societal expectations, revealing the hidden tensions and evolving customs that shape the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Photoplay: A Psychological StudyExplore the fascinating evolution of moving pictures, tracing their origins from early optical illusions to the birth of cinema as a powerful art form that captures human passions…
Level C1ClassicsThe PhilistinesA talented artist forsakes his ideals to win favor among Boston's wealthy art patrons, trading sincerity for success in a world where appearances and influence rule.
Level C1ClassicsThe PhilanderersIn a remote African camp, a group of Englishmen confront the harsh demands of justice and honor among the wilderness, where loyalty, betrayal, and a hidden fortune test their resol…