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 Fitz-Boodle PapersA once-successful whist player faces ruin after meeting a rival whose skill and luck outmatch his own.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fisher GirlIn a quiet fishing town shaped by the sea, young Peter struggles between his humble origins and his father's high hopes for refinement and success, navigating family expectations,…
Level C1ClassicsThe First and the Last: A Drama in Three ScenesTwo brothers grapple with a shocking confession: one has killed a man in a desperate act to protect a woman he loves.
Level C1ClassicsThe First ManIn a comfortable Connecticut home, Curtis Jayson wrestles with a life-changing decision: to embark on a grueling five-year expedition in search of humanity’s earliest ancestor.
Level B2ClassicsThe First DistillerA humble peasant’s simple lunch is stolen by a mischievous imp eager to claim his soul for Hell, but instead of cursing, the peasant’s kindness confounds the devilish plans—sparkin…
Level C1ClassicsThe Firm of NucingenIn the smoky privacy of a Parisian dining room, four cunning young men navigate the ruthless world of modern finance and high society, their sharp wit and ambition masking deeper i…
Level C1ClassicsThe Finer GrainA rising literary star in Paris finds his success unexpectedly intertwined with a young Lord’s shy request to judge a friend’s ambitious novel, setting the stage for a delicate dan…
Level C1ClassicsThe Fine Lady's Airs (1709)Satire and wit collide as a sharp-tongued lady navigates society’s pretensions, exposing the follies of manners and intrigue in early 18th-century England.
Level C1ClassicsThe Financier: A NovelIn a bustling 19th-century Philadelphia, young Frank Cowperwood emerges as a sharp, ambitious boy fascinated by economics and power.
Level C1ClassicsThe Figure in the CarpetA young writer is tasked with reviewing a mysterious new novel by the elusive Hugh Vereker, whose work promises a hidden secret to uncover.
Level C1ClassicsThe Figure In The Mirage: 1905Under Morocco’s vast desert sky, a chance meeting by a fire sparks tales of a mysterious French woman captivated by the fierce allure of Spahis cavalrymen.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fighting ChanceA young man arrives at a bustling railway station, uncertain of his destination but carrying a loyal hunting dog and a mysterious purpose.
Level B2ClassicsThe FighterA fierce and crafty railroad president known for winning every fight faces fresh challenges as rival interests clash over a powerful steel company.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fiend's DelightIn a rain-soaked coastal city, a desperate woman teeters on the edge of a wharf while a weary officer fails to stop her—setting the stage for dark tales of human frailty and eerie…
Level C1ClassicsThe Fiction Factory: Being the experience of a writer who, for twenty-two years, has kept a story-mill grinding successfullyA writer abandons a steady job to fully commit to his craft, navigating the uncertain world of publishing with only his typewriter and determination.
Level B2ClassicsThe Ffolliots of RedmarleyA determined father names his newborn Eloquent, convinced his son will become a powerful orator and politician shaping the future.
Level C1ClassicsThe Female WitsIn a sharp theatrical satire set in 1696 London, a playwright’s clash with actors and critics exposes the bitter rivalry and gender biases faced by women dramatists daring to claim…
Level C1ClassicsThe Female Gamester: A TragedyIn a world where gaming's grip threatens all ranks of society, private lives unravel amid moral struggles and social dilemmas.
Level C1ClassicsThe Faust-Legend and Goethe's 'Faust'Dive into the origins and interpretations of the Faust legend, exploring Goethe’s philosophical approach and the challenges of capturing the living spirit behind this timeless stor…
Level C1ClassicsThe Father and Daughter: A Tale, in ProseAmidst a harsh winter night, Agnes, burdened with her child, journeys back to her father's home, haunted by the choices that led her away.
Level B2ClassicsThe Fatal GloveIn rain-soaked New York, young street-sweeper Arch dreams of bringing a white rose to his ailing mother, but kindness from a mysterious girl and a harsh world challenge his hopes.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fatal Falsehood: A Tragedy. In Five ActsIn a noble household shadowed by war and secret grief, a web of loyalty, love, and rivalry unfolds as young warriors await a hero’s return to secure a destined union—yet hidden mot…
Level C2ClassicsThe Fatal DowryA gripping tragedy unfolds amid the shadows of a deadly dowry, where secrets and betrayals threaten to unravel lives bound by fate and fortune.
Level B2ClassicsThe Fatal BootsFollow the misadventures of Bob Stubbs, a once-wealthy gentleman whose life spirals into a series of unlucky events, told through twelve tales reflecting a year of hardship, humor,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Fascinating Stranger, and Other StoriesIn a vast, silent factory filled with abandoned car bodies, Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Far HorizonDominic Iglesias, a middle-aged gentleman and paying guest, gazes out over a peaceful London suburb as storm clouds gather on the horizon, hinting at the quiet tensions beneath gen…
Level C1ClassicsThe Family at Gilje: A Domestic Story of the FortiesSet in the mountain district of Valders, this intimate tale explores the lives and social realities of a Norwegian family in the 1840s, revealing vivid character portraits and the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Family Letters of Oliver Goldsmith: A Paper Read Before the Bibliographical Society, October 15th, 1917Explore the intimate family letters of Oliver Goldsmith, revealing the warmth and simplicity behind the celebrated poet's Irish character through personal correspondence with relat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Fallen LeavesA young woman’s delicate health sparks a quiet rebellion against her father’s iron rule, setting in motion events that will ripple through lives across land and sea.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fall of Ulysses: An Elephant StoryAn Englishman acquires Ulysses, a real Asiatic elephant with remarkable intelligence and personality, and sets out to teach him all an elephant can learn—only to discover the preca…
Level C2ClassicsThe Faithful Shepherdess: The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10).A devoted shepherdess mourns her lost love and vows to embrace a life of chastity and healing, wielding the secret virtues of herbs while navigating encounters with mystical woodla…
Level C1ClassicsThe Faith Healer: A Play in Three ActsIn a fading Midwestern farmhouse, the arrival of the enigmatic Michaelis stirs restless minds and unsettles old beliefs, challenging a family grappling with illness and fading fort…
Level C1ClassicsThe Faith Doctor: A Story of New YorkIn the bustling heart of New York, Charles Millard navigates the complexities of society and the rising tide of faith-healing movements, exploring the clash between modern skeptici…
Level C1ClassicsThe Fair RewardsA troubled director battles stomach pains and artistic clashes while rehearsing a controversial play poised to captivate women with its scandal and humor.
Level C1ClassicsThe Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime in ConnecticutA man’s peaceful day is upended when a strange, mocking dwarf who eerily resembles him appears uninvited, challenging his habits and stirring unsettling reflections.
Level C1ClassicsThe Fables of Æsop, and Others: With Designs on WoodAnimal characters reveal timeless moral lessons and human nature’s complexities through vivid fables, blending wisdom, religion, and ethics to guide youth toward integrity, virtue,…
Level C2ClassicsThe Fables of Phædrus: Literally translated into English prose with notesTimeless fables featuring cunning animals and clever humans reveal lessons about power, folly, and justice through sharp, entertaining tales that challenge human behavior and socie…
Level C1ClassicsThe Faa's revenge, and other talesAs autumn settles over Rothbury, a mysterious stranger ignites a tale of ancient bards, fierce games, and the enigmatic gypsy clans known as the Faa, weaving history and legend int…
Level C1ClassicsThe Eyes of the WorldIn a wintry city, a dying woman clings to life with fierce determination, awaiting the arrival of her son who may hold the key to her final purpose.
Level C1ClassicsThe Exiles of FalooOn a remote island where an exclusive Exiles’ Club gathers, Sir John Sweetling and his companions navigate leisurely days filled with peculiar characters, tropical quirks, and subt…
Level C1ClassicsThe Exemplary Novels of CervantesDive into thirteen inventive tales drawn from keen observation and rich Andalusian life, blending eloquence and vivid natural descriptions that reveal a unique spirit beyond tradit…
Level C1ClassicsThe Executor: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine vol. LXXXIXA mysterious will surfaces at a funeral, shattering long-held hopes and igniting fierce disputes among mourners.
Level C1ClassicsThe Exclusives (vol. 3 of 3)Amid London’s high society, Lady Delamere warns her sister of Lord Albert's troubling new associations and their impact on her niece Adeline's impending marriage, challenging notio…
Level C1ClassicsThe Exclusives (vol. 2 of 3)Amid the refined intrigues of Restormel, a fainting lady sparks whispered wagers and hidden intentions, as Lord Albert's planned departure becomes uncertain.
Level C1ClassicsThe Exclusives (vol. 1 of 3)Enter Lady Tilney’s boudoir, a vibrant salon where fashion, politics, and art collide under her commanding rule.
Level C1ClassicsThe Everlasting ArmsAmidst the turmoil of war, men debate the mysterious appearances of angels at Mons—spiritual guardians whose presence challenges skepticism and offers comfort beyond death.
Level C1ClassicsThe Eustace DiamondsLizzie Greystock, young and charming but burdened by her late father's debts, navigates society’s intrigues and financial entanglements to reclaim her pawned jewels and secure a we…
Level C1ClassicsThe EuropeansIn a chilly Boston inn, a restless woman watches the city's bustle and its strange new omnibus, while a young artist sketches nearby—setting the stage for a clash of European sophi…