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 DaredevilRoberta, a determined young woman, embarks on a perilous ocean journey from war-torn France to America, carrying her family’s fragile hope and a legacy intertwined with love, loss,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dangerous Age: Letters and Fragments from a Woman's DiaryA woman’s candid diary reveals the turmoil and restless discontent of middle age, confronting societal expectations with raw honesty and piercing insight.
Level C1ClassicsThe Danger MarkIn a grand household thrown into chaos by a sudden family crisis, two mischievous siblings turn the mansion into their playground, challenging rules and stirring up trouble while w…
Level C1ClassicsThe Danes, Sketched by Themselves. Vol. 3 (of 3): A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish AuthorsA young boy's heart is captivated by the sea, dreaming of the sailor's life while living with his widowed mother.
Level C1ClassicsThe Danes, Sketched by Themselves. Vol. 1 (of 3): A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish AuthorsA reckless young man sent to Hamburg for discipline finds himself drawn into wild nights and daring escapades, defying strict watchfulness while seeking out riotous company.
Level C1ClassicsThe Dancing FaunIn a world where truth is undignified and life is a carefully crafted illusion, Lady Geraldine navigates society’s contradictions with wit and innocence.
Level C1ClassicsThe Dance of DeathA candid exposé challenges the seductive allure and hidden dangers of modern dancing, revealing its perilous grip on society and warning those unaware of the moral decay swirling b…
Level C1ClassicsThe Damnation of Theron WareIn a packed Methodist conference hall, ministers await their appointments with a mix of hope and dread, embodying a changing clergy caught between heroic pasts and uncertain future…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daltons; Or, Three Roads In Life. Volume II (of II)Tensions flare as Norwood faces a sudden challenge to his honor, but his ally mysteriously vanishes, forcing him into a desperate search.
Level C1ClassicsThe Daltons; Or, Three Roads In Life. Volume I (of II)As a fashionable German resort falls into winter's quiet, three men—each choosing a different path—navigate the contrasts of society, ambition, and honor amid fading illusions and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Dakotan Languages, and Their Relations to Other LanguagesExplore the intricate relationships among the Dakotan languages and their dialects, tracing connections to allied tribes and uncovering the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Daisy Chain, or AspirationsIn a quaint country town, spirited sisters Ethel and Flora embark on a compassionate mission to aid a struggling family, navigating youthful aspirations and the challenges of their…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cynic's Word BookDive into a sharply witty lexicon where words are given cynical, humorous definitions that expose society’s quirks and contradictions with biting satire and clever poetic illustrat…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cynic's Rules of ConductNavigate society’s quirks with sharp wit and biting advice on manners, courtship, and social conduct, revealing the clever, cynical rules that govern human interactions and the art…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cycle of SpringIn a royal court shadowed by the looming presence of death and famine, a distressed king grapples with the weight of time and destiny, seeking wisdom from his Pundit amid political…
Level C1ClassicsThe Custom of the CountryA young socialite navigates the glittering but cutthroat world of New York high society, where ambition and charm mask deeper intrigues.
Level C1ClassicsThe Curse of EveA quiet outfitter’s life unravels as his wife faces a difficult childbirth, revealing the fragile line between routine and chaos.
Level C1ClassicsThe Curious Republic of Gondour, and Other Whimsical SketchesIn a nation where voting power multiplies with education and property, political influence reshapes society’s values and hierarchies.
Level C1ClassicsThe Curate in ChargeA refined scholar reluctantly takes charge of a damp, rural parish where the idyllic landscape contrasts sharply with the struggles of village life and his own dissatisfaction.
Level C1ClassicsThe Cup of Trembling, and Other StoriesIn a remote mountain mining town, whispered rumors swirl around a sudden, mysterious elopement involving a wealthy mine-owner’s wife and the trusted superintendent who abruptly van…
Level C1ClassicsThe Cuckoo in the Nest, v. 2/2Tensions rise as Colonel Piercey confronts his proud cousin Margaret about the unsettling new dominance of Mrs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Crystal CupIn the shadow of a fading family legacy, young Gita Carteret defies tradition with her boyish defiance and sharp tongue, clashing fiercely with her old-fashioned grandmother as the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crux: A NovelIn a small New England town, the Foote sisters stir up gossip about Morton Elder, a troubled orphan whose scandal threatens to shake the community.
Level B2ClassicsThe Crushed Flower, and Other StoriesA six-year-old boy named Yura experiences the world as a vast, magical place filled with towering people and endless mysteries.
Level C1ClassicsThe Cruise of the Shining LightA grizzled, scarred sea veteran with a wooden leg and a mysterious past guides his nephew through the harsh realities of life by the sea, blending rough wisdom with dark family sec…
Level B2ClassicsThe Crucifixion of Philip StrongA devoted minister faces a difficult choice between two inviting pastoral calls: one in a bustling, prosperous church, the other in a quiet, scholarly town where he can nurture his…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crucial Moment: 1911As floodwaters rise against the Mississippi’s levees, laborer Walter Hoxer confronts the fragile barrier between order and disaster, challenging the arrogance and stakes that threa…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crown of LifeA young man newly come of age wanders London, captivated by art and haunted by dreams of fate, when a chance meeting with his estranged half-brother stirs questions about family ti…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crowded StreetAt a grand party filled with shimmering gowns and whispered expectations, young Muriel navigates the delicate tensions of childhood and society, caught between innocence and the al…
Level B2ClassicsThe Crow's NestEnter a world where tigers embody contrasting natures: the bold hunter, the armchair scholar, and the sheltered idealist, while medieval knights reveal a brutal reality behind thei…
Level C1ClassicsThe CromptonsA mysterious Northern stranger arrives late at a Southern river landing, his cold demeanor setting him apart from the curious locals.
Level C1ClassicsThe Crock of Gold: A Rural NovelIn a harsh rural world, Roger Acton endures relentless toil and poverty with unwavering faith and quiet dignity.
Level C1ClassicsThe Crime of Henry Vane: A Study with a MoralA young man, newly independent and heartbroken, grapples with lost love and the harsh judgment of society.
Level B2ClassicsThe Crescent MoonIn war-torn East Africa, a weary stranger arrives in Nairobi to escort wounded soldiers but encounters a mysterious, distant woman whose haunting presence evokes memories of a fara…
Level C1ClassicsThe Creators: A ComedyIn a world of celebrated artists and biting wit, a complex relationship unfolds between Jane Holland, a fiercely independent writer, and George Tanqueray, as they navigate fame, ge…
Level C1ClassicsThe Crayon PapersAmidst a wild Hudson River landscape, a young dreamer nurtures a vivid imagination fueled by fairy tales and ancient family lore, turning a sprawling ancestral mansion into a realm…
Level C1ClassicsThe CraterIn the oppressive heat off East Africa, a mysterious man named Ross shares a tale of Norah Sinclair, a proud woman whose reckless choices unravel amid the unforgiving wilderness wh…
Level C1ClassicsThe Coxon FundWhen the enigmatic Frank Saltram takes up residence with the Mulvilles, their infinite hospitality is tested by his dazzling intellect and mysterious allure.
Level C1ClassicsThe Coverley Papers, From 'The Spectator'Step into the genteel world of Sir Roger de Coverley, where wit and wisdom illuminate the quirks of country life and manners.
Level C2ClassicsThe Covent Garden Theatre, or Pasquin Turn'd DrawcansirStep behind the scenes of Covent Garden Theatre, where satire and farce expose the social foibles of the age in this witty two-act afterpiece.
Level C1ClassicsThe Court of the King, and Other StudiesStep beyond the ordinary into realms where fairyland’s magic weaves through everyday life, revealing hidden meanings in nature, history, and imagination.
Level C1ClassicsThe Courage of the CommonplaceOn Tap Day at Yale, fifteen seniors must choose just as many juniors to join secret societies, igniting fierce hopes and heartbreaks beneath the watchful eyes of the entire campus.
Level C1ClassicsThe Country of the Pointed FirsAmid the rugged beauty of a Maine coastal village, a visitor returns to Dunnet Landing, where quaint homes and fragrant herb gardens reveal a close-knit community steeped in tradit…
Level B2ClassicsThe Country School: An Entertainment in Two ScenesStep into a lively 19th-century country schoolhouse where mischievous pupils stir up antics, from playing hooky to playful pranks, as a stern teacher strives to maintain order amid…
Level C1ClassicsThe Country HouseAs guests arrive at the sprawling Pendyce estate, old alliances, social tensions, and personal ambitions quietly unfold among the landed gentry in this vivid portrait of English co…
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess of Rudolstadt: A Sequel to "Consuelo"In the opulent Berlin opera-house of Frederick the Great's reign, political intrigue and royal scrutiny unfold amid grand performances and rigid court customs.
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess of EscarbagnasIn a provincial town buzzing with gossip and courtly airs, a young couple navigates secret love amid family feuds and the comical extravagances of the vain Countess of Escarbagnas,…
Level C1ClassicsThe Countess FannyIn a remote Cornish estate shadowed by loss and isolation, Ambrosia Sellar prepares to leave her gloomy home for a marriage of duty—but she yearns to escape the suffocating monoton…