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 Golden Link of FriendshipExplore the profound power of friendship through timeless reflections and inspiring quotes that reveal its role in shaping character, offering refuge, and enriching life with trust…
Level C1ClassicsThe Golden HouseIn a lavish city studio at midnight, an elite audience gathers to witness the mysterious and provocative art of an ancient Spanish dance, where beauty, passion, and danger intertwi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Golden FloodA young man unexpectedly arrives at a prestigious Wall Street bank with a mysterious $100,000 deposit and a letter of introduction, sparking intrigue in a world of high finance and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Golden CalfIn a strict English school ruled by the formidable Miss Pew, Ida Palliser's defiance and untidy desk spark tension and rebellion, revealing the simmering conflicts beneath rigid au…
Level C1ClassicsThe Golden Bowl — CompleteA restless prince navigates the glittering streets of London, freshly bound by an impending marriage that promises to shift the course of his life—amid intricate social dances, cul…
Level C1ClassicsThe Golden AsseA curious traveler named Lucius embarks on a transformative journey filled with enchanting fables and moral lessons, where myth and philosophy intertwine to reveal the deeper truth…
Level B2ClassicsThe Gold BrickA struggling cartoonist’s life transforms overnight with a ten-thousand-dollar-a-year job, but success brings unexpected challenges as he navigates love, ambition, and loyalty to h…
Level B2ClassicsThe Going of the White SwanIn the remote wilderness, a young boy wounded by a wildcat clings to life and memories, while his father wrestles with silent fears and the haunting song of a mysterious bird in th…
Level B2ClassicsThe Gods and Mr. Perrin: A Tragi-ComedyVincent Perrin, a dedicated schoolmaster, faces a new term filled with hope and quiet determination amid the challenges of his worn surroundings and a cast of peculiar characters.
Level C1ClassicsThe God of His Fathers: Tales of the KlondykeSet against the harsh wilderness of the Klondyke, these tales explore the clash between ancient traditions and the relentless advance of civilization, following indomitable men and…
Level C1ClassicsThe God in the Car: A NovelIn a world of high society and sharp wit, a circle of influential figures navigates old grudges, business intrigues, and delicate alliances, as a forgotten past stirs beneath their…
Level C1ClassicsThe Glory of Clementina WingIn a quiet, prim London street, an uncompromising portrait painter wrestles with art, money, and disillusionment while navigating complex relationships and the clash between youthf…
Level C1ClassicsThe Glebe 1913/11 (Vol. 1, No. 2): Diary of a SuicideA young man chronicles his harrowing battle with despair, exhaustion, and the search for meaning amid life's relentless struggles.
Level C1ClassicsThe Girl with the Golden EyesIn the restless heart of Paris, a city pulsing with fiery passions and relentless desire, a mysterious girl with golden eyes captivates amid a world consumed by gold and pleasure.
Level C1ClassicsThe Girl from the Marsh CroftIn a rural courtroom, a young, vulnerable farmer’s daughter faces a harsh trial as she seeks support from a prosperous married man, challenging the rigid judgments of society and t…
Level B2ClassicsThe Girl and Her FortuneTwo orphaned sisters, one clever and one charming, step into the world beyond school under the watchful eye of their chaperone and benefactor.
Level B2ClassicsThe Girl Who Had NothingTwelve-year-old Joan Carthew, left to fend for herself in a Brighton lodging-house, dreams of a better life as she confronts the harsh divide between her world and that of a privil…
Level B2ClassicsThe Gilded Age: A Tale of TodayIn a booming post-Civil War America, enter the lives of the ambitious Hawkins family and the cunning Colonel Sellers as they navigate land speculation, political intrigue, and soci…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 7.A gripping courtroom drama unfolds as Henry Brierly testifies about a shocking shooting involving Miss Hawkins and Colonel Selby, revealing tangled relationships, secrets, and a de…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 6.In the wake of political victory, Philip races to uncover the mystery behind Laura's sudden disappearance and her unexpected alliance with Harry, navigating a landscape of power, i…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 5.In the tangled world of politics and society, Laura Hawkins navigates charm and strategy to secure alliances, all while concealing her true intentions behind a delicate facade of w…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 4.In the heart of Wall Street, an engineer confronts financial chaos and corporate deception as he struggles to secure wages for laborers amid missing funds and mounting debts, revea…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 3.In the bustling town of Hawkeye, a charming land speculator weaves his way through society, using wit, influence, and a touch of flirtation to navigate the tangled politics and amb…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 2.In a small town rife with gossip, Laura discovers troubling secrets about her birth and her connection to a disgraced former congressman.
Level C1ClassicsThe Gilded Age, Part 1.In a sleepy mountain town where life drifts slowly and the mail arrives monthly, the townsfolk gather to share news, trade gossip, and face the quiet struggles of rural life amid f…
Level B2ClassicsThe Gift of the MagiStruggling to buy a meaningful Christmas gift with only $1.
Level B2ClassicsThe Gibson UprightIn a piano factory where craftsmanship meets labor unrest, a determined owner and a passionate worker navigate the tensions between industry, socialism, and personal conviction as…
Level C1ClassicsThe Giant's RobeIn the imposing halls of St.
Level C1ClassicsThe Ghost of Jerry BundlerIn a cozy, old-fashioned hotel, a group of commercial travelers gather to share eerie tales, centering on a haunted house no tenant can endure.
Level C1ClassicsThe GhostIn the wealthy, historic streets of Boston's Beacon Hill, a mysterious ghost lingers on a bitter Christmas Eve, silently watching for someone as the biting wind howls through the n…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ghetto: A Drama in Four ActsIn the heart of Amsterdam's Ghetto, tensions simmer between tradition and change as a young musician's secret passions ignite conflict within a tight-knit community.
Level B2ClassicsThe Getting of WisdomOn the eve of her first day at school, young Laura grapples with her mother's strict expectations and her own rebellious spirit, navigating the tender challenges of growing up and…
Level C1ClassicsThe German Classics, v. 20: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into EnglishIn a quiet French town, the sudden death of a retired lawyer under mysterious circumstances sparks rumors and suspicion among the townsfolk.
Level C1ClassicsThe German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 11: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated Into EnglishDive into a richly detailed exploration of 19th-century German literature and its pivotal role in shaping liberal thought through vivid biographies and translations of influential…
Level C1ClassicsThe German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 09: Friedrich Hebbel and Otto LudwigDelve into the lives and works of Friedrich Hebbel and Otto Ludwig, two powerful German dramatists of the 19th century, whose struggles and artistic triumphs reflect a passionate q…
Level C1ClassicsThe German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 08: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into EnglishExplore the rich tapestry of rural life through vivid stories and illustrations that trace the journey from birth to death in traditional German villages.
Level C1ClassicsThe German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty VolumesExplore the rich tapestry of German Romantic literature and art through intimate portraits, philosophical essays, and enchanting tales by masters like Jean Paul, Novalis, and Heinr…
Level C1ClassicsThe German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 02: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty VolumesIn a serene marriage tested by unexpected passions, two middle-aged souls confront the unpredictable forces that challenge duty and desire.
Level C1ClassicsThe George Sand-Gustave Flaubert LettersExperience the rich, candid correspondence between two literary giants as they navigate friendship, ideological clashes, and personal growth amid the turbulence of 19th-century Fra…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gentleman from IndianaIn a quiet Indiana town where life moves slowly and the world beyond seems distant, a young man arrives to stir the settled rhythms of Plattville.
Level C1ClassicsThe Gentle GrafterIn a flood-isolated Texas town, two cunning men seize control of all the saloons, turning Bird City into their personal stronghold.
Level B2ClassicsThe Gentle Art of Cooking WivesIn a lively ladies' club meeting, spirited young women debate a scandalous article titled "How to Cook Wives," blending humor, social satire, and sharp wit as they navigate the com…
Level C1ClassicsThe Genial Idiot: His Views and ReviewsDive into a witty debate as a skeptical thinker challenges the timeless wisdom of proverbs, revealing their contradictions and questioning their role in shaping character through s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gay Lord Quex: A Comedy in Four ActsIn a vibrant London manicure parlor, sharp wit and social intrigue unfold over the course of twenty-four hours, weaving comedy through the tangled lives of its colorful characters…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gay Gnani of Gingalee; or, Discords of Devolution: A Tragical Entanglement of Modern Mysticism and Modern ScienceIn a world where mysticism clashes with modern science, a cautious occultist is drawn into temptation by a daring friend promising a glimpse of forbidden knowledge—and a mysterious…
Level C1ClassicsThe Gates BetweenA seasoned physician recounts an extraordinary event that defies his scientific understanding, revealing a mysterious encounter that challenges his lifelong worldview and compels h…
Level B2ClassicsThe Gates AjarGrieving a brother lost to war, a young woman confronts the unbearable silence of home and the haunting question of what lies beyond death’s gate.
Level B2ClassicsThe GarottersCaught in a fierce snowstorm, Mr.