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 DisentanglersIn a shabby London room, two struggling young men hatch a daring plan to escape poverty and reshape society, driven by wit, ambition, and the promise of a "Great Idea" that could c…
Level B2ClassicsThe Dinner ClubSix distinguished men form a club where each hosts a dinner and shares a gripping story from his profession.
Level C1ClassicsThe DictatorAn exiled dictator awakens in a London hotel, surrounded by symbols of power and memory, plotting a return to glory.
Level B2ClassicsThe Diary of a SaintA young woman grapples with faith, doubt, and the weight of her community’s strict beliefs as she cares for a troubled child haunted by the fear of damnation.
Level B2ClassicsThe Diary of a NobodyA meticulous city clerk begins a diary chronicling the humorous trials of domestic life, from troublesome tradesmen to neighborhood visits and household mishaps.
Level C1ClassicsThe Diary of a Man of FiftyA man in his fifties returns to Florence, where the warmth of the sun revives memories of a lost love and youth long past.
Level B2ClassicsThe DevourersA mysterious baby with dark hair disrupts the quiet household, bringing tension and secrets to light.
Level C1ClassicsThe Devil's PoolIn a humble countryside, simple lives unfold beneath the watchful eyes of nature and the looming presence of death.
Level C1ClassicsThe Devil's GardenA village postmaster’s steady routine shatters when he receives a sudden suspension notice, thrusting him into a tense struggle for his position and reputation amid the quiet stree…
Level C1ClassicsThe Devil's DictionaryA razor-sharp lexicon satirizes human nature and society with wit and cynicism, redefining words to reveal the absurdities of power, ambition, and convention through clever definit…
Level C1ClassicsThe Devil is an AssIn a sharp satire of London’s vices and manners, a mischievous devil stirs chaos among the city’s inhabitants, exposing human folly and the absurdity of ambition in a world ruled b…
Level C1ClassicsThe DevilA man struggles with overwhelming desire for a servant woman, battling temptation and conscience on his estate.
Level C1ClassicsThe Desultory Man: Collection of Ancient and Modern British Novels and Romances. Vol. CXLVII.A solitary man reflects on the painful year that has shaped his existence, seeking to capture the thoughts and events that define his troubled past and present.
Level C1ClassicsThe Desired WomanIn the heart of Atlanta's bustling banking world, a high-stakes gamble threatens to unravel the life of a driven banker pushed to his limits by risky deals and relentless pressure.
Level C1ClassicsThe Desire of LifeTwo men journey through the rugged Swiss Alps toward St.
Level B2ClassicsThe DeserterIn the tense backdrop of wartime Salonika, a young soldier battles despair and the haunting urge to desert his post, confronting the harsh realities of duty, honor, and the cost of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Desert and the SownIn a frontier home, a spirited clash of generations unfolds as a colonel and his future mother-in-law navigate family tensions, societal roles, and the clash between tradition and…
Level B2ClassicsThe Desert FiddlerA skilled fixer and reluctant fiddler rides through the desert night to repair a tractor, only to be captivated by a mysterious woman in a remote shack.
Level C1ClassicsThe Descent of Man and Other StoriesA devoted professor retreats to the Maine woods, escaping the confines of domestic life through a captivating idea that stirs his imagination and offers a glimpse into a world of i…
Level C1ClassicsThe Deputy of ArcisIn a provincial French town preparing for a pivotal election, tensions rise as Simon Giguet faces the daunting challenge of winning a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, with family a…
Level C1ClassicsThe Depot MasterIn a seaside village transformed by wealth and old rivalries, a versatile handyman faces a delicate challenge: moving a beloved colonial house to a contested estate, stirring tensi…
Level B2ClassicsThe Demi-godsIn a quiet countryside, Mary tenderly tends her donkey while sharing a simple meal with her father, whose musings reveal a world where kindness and hardship intertwine beneath a fa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Demagogue and Lady PhayreA passionate young cabinetmaker faces a tempting offer to leave his trade for political ambition, confronting the clash between principle and opportunity in the rising tides of new…
Level C1ClassicsThe Delectable MountainsIn a secret woodland altar where ancient idols linger, Aaron and Silvia grapple with fear and defiance as they face a menacing family fate, their fragile hope flickering amid natur…
Level C1ClassicsThe Delectable DuchyA journalist escapes the bustle of city life to explore the hidden charms of a quaint Cornish harbor town, discovering that its true allure lies not in grand sights but in the smal…
Level C2ClassicsThe Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 1 (of 3)At a lavish Roman banquet, a gathering of erudite guests engages in vibrant discussions spanning history, poetry, music, cuisine, and curiosities, weaving a rich tapestry of ancien…
Level C1ClassicsThe DefendantDive into a series of incisive essays defending optimism against the tide of pessimism, exploring how love for the world’s hidden virtues sparks true progress amid doubt and skepti…
Level C1ClassicsThe DeemsterIn a rugged island community, the death of a revered patriarch sparks a fierce struggle for control between two very different brothers, revealing secrets, ambition, and the heavy…
Level C1ClassicsThe Debtor: A NovelIn the genteel village of Banbridge, where social rituals and appearances govern life, two women navigate the delicate dance of status, friendship, and obligation during the town’s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Death of the LionA young journalist is tasked with writing about the elusive author Neil Paraday, whose reclusive life and upcoming book stir curiosity and challenge journalistic conventions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Death of BalderIn a rugged Norwegian pine-wood, Balder, tormented by unrequited love for the proud Nanna, confides in Thor as he struggles against a relentless fate and the cold echoes of his des…
Level B2ClassicsThe Dearest Things in BootsA young man starts his first day working in his family’s shoe store, determined to charm every customer—especially Betty, the lively girl with the “dearest little feet.
Level B2ClassicsThe Dead Lake, and Other TalesIn a remote Alpine inn shadowed by a mysterious lake, a weary stranger arrives amid storm and silence, seeking to fish by torchlight.
Level B2ClassicsThe Dead Are Silent: 1907In the shadowy streets near the Prater, a tense rendezvous unfolds as Franz and Emma navigate secrecy and suspicion during a stormy autumn evening, their clandestine meeting shadow…
Level C1ClassicsThe Deacon: An Original Comedy Drama in Five ActsIn a lively Virginia town, a hapless Deacon stumbles through a series of comic misadventures involving mistaken identities, a hidden treasure, and a thwarted romance, all unfolding…
Level C1ClassicsThe De Coverley Papers, From 'The Spectator'Step into the genteel world of Sir Roger de Coverley, a charming country gentleman whose simple, generous spirit and whimsical quirks reveal timeless English character through live…
Level C1ClassicsThe Days of My Life: An AutobiographyA proud country girl encounters two mysterious strangers on an autumn evening, sparking tension and curiosity as they claim a surprising connection to her family estate.
Level C1ClassicsThe Days of Auld Lang SyneIn a tight-knit Scottish community, the delicate balance of tradition and change unfolds through the fierce negotiations and spirited rivalries over farm leases, where wit and dipl…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day's WorkAmid the relentless heat and danger, two engineers labor tirelessly to complete a monumental railway bridge over the Ganges, confronting unexpected challenges and the weight of res…
Level B2ClassicsThe Day of the BeastWounded soldiers return home from war to a changed world, facing the harsh reality of lost connections and fading dreams.
Level C1ClassicsThe Day of Small ThingsConfined to her sofa for two years, a woman finds unexpected blessings in the small joys of life—a comforting bed, the changing light on a nearby hill, and the kindness around her—…
Level C1ClassicsThe Day of His YouthA grieving father retreats to the wilderness to raise his son in nature's pure embrace, building a simple log cabin and forging a life of strength and solitude away from society's…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daughters of DanausIn a moonlit garret, a mysterious sister leads her siblings in a secretive dance before challenging their beliefs on fate with a bold lecture that promises to ignite fierce debate…
Level B2ClassicsThe DashwoodsA family from the countryside navigates the overwhelming bustle of city life, each member reacting differently to the noisy streets and endless attractions.
Level B2ClassicsThe Darling and Other StoriesA devoted woman finds purpose and love in the struggles of running a failing open-air theatre, where art battles against an indifferent, demanding public and relentless rainy weath…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dark Lady of the SonnetsIn a witty exploration of Shakespeare’s mysterious Dark Lady, a determined scholar unravels theories linking her to Mistress Mary Fitton, sparking a theatrical clash of jealousy in…
Level B2ClassicsThe Dark FlowerA young Oxford student, caught between tradition and his own restless spirit, contemplates the world around him, his tutor, and the mysterious allure of freedom and creativity.
Level C1ClassicsThe Dark FleeceIn a rugged coastal town, Olive Stanes faces the weight of family duty and change as she awaits the return of Jason Burrage, whose years of gold-seeking promise to transform their…