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 Blood Red DawnIn a San Francisco church, an impassioned foreign speaker ignites a quiet young woman’s curiosity amidst a crowd indifferent to a distant war’s call.
Level C1ClassicsThe Blithedale RomanceA poet journeys to the experimental community of Blithedale, where mysterious figures like the Veiled Lady and the enigmatic Zenobia weave a complex tale of idealism, secrets, and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Blind MusicianA blind musician, gifted and refined, navigates life’s challenges with remarkable insight into the inner world of those without sight, revealing their struggles and triumphs throug…
Level C1ClassicsThe Blind Mother, and The Last ConfessionIn a serene valley, a blind mother tenderly connects with her infant son, whose first encounters with the world around him stir hope and quiet longing.
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Poodle, and Other TalesA man recounts the most embarrassing episode of his life involving a menacing black poodle and his awkward attempts to win favor with new neighbors in a quiet country villa.
Level B2ClassicsThe Black PearlA theatrical manager arrives in a remote desert village chasing a mysterious performer known only as the Black Pearl.
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Monk, and Other StoriesExplore the quiet desperation and subtle ironies of Russian life through sharply observed tales of misunderstood intellects, social repression, and the unprofitable struggles of ex…
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Lion InnA struggling man seeking refuge from alcohol stumbles upon the mysterious Black Lion Inn, where a captivating physician offers hope and a chance to reclaim his life from the grip o…
Level C1ClassicsThe Black DiamondBorn into a coal mining family on the edge of a grim industrial town, young Abner navigates a world split between the pit and the pub, where football offers a fleeting escape from…
Level B2ClassicsThe Black Creek Stopping-House, and Other StoriesIn a gritty Winnipeg setting, a reformed gambler seeks redemption through honest work and love, challenging the harsh judgments of his past.
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Cat: A Play in Three ActsA provocative exploration of modern relationships and societal expectations unfolds in a play where comedy masks a tragic fate, challenging the boundaries of morality and the roles…
Level C1ClassicsThe Black Baronet; or, The Chronicles Of Ballytrain: The Works of William Carleton, Volume OneA mysterious stranger weaves through the lives of the Gourlay and Cullamore families, sparking secrets, deceit, and dramatic confrontations in an Irish town shadowed by intrigue an…
Level C1ClassicsThe Bishop of Cottontown: A Story of the Southern Cotton MillsAmid the vibrant cotton fields of the Tennessee Valley in 1874, the story unfolds with the rich symbolism of the cotton plant—nature’s delicate yet powerful artisan weaving the fab…
Level C1ClassicsThe Bishop and Other StoriesIn a quiet monastery on the eve of Palm Sunday, a weary bishop is haunted by memories and an unexpected visit from his long-absent mother.
Level C1ClassicsThe BirthplaceA weary couple in a dreary town receive an unexpected offer to oversee the birthplace of a great poet, thrusting them from their confined lives into the heart of a sacred literary…
Level C1ClassicsThe BirdsTwo Athenians, fed up with their city's endless quarrels, seek refuge with the birds to build a utopian city in the sky, challenging the gods themselves in a whimsical battle of wi…
Level C1ClassicsThe Bird in the BoxA majestic new ship, the Merida, awaits its launch amid the bustling shipyard, while a young girl prepares to christen the vessel—her presence igniting anticipation as this monumen…
Level C1ClassicsThe Biography of a Prairie GirlAmid a fierce prairie blizzard, a family hunkers down in their snow-buried farmhouse, awaiting the arrival of a long-absent husband and father whose journey through the storm tests…
Level B2ClassicsThe Bill-ToppersA young girl named Lily dazzles crowds across continents with her daring cycling acts and charming performances, supported by her determined father who dreams of stardom for the en…
Level C1ClassicsThe BigamistA man haunted by a secret past cherishes the love of his devoted young wife, yet an unspoken worry shadows their tranquil life.
Level B2ClassicsThe Big MogulIn the grand Townsend mansion, a grieving patriarch clings to a comfort in his stately library while mourning his late daughter.
Level B2ClassicsThe Bicyclers and Three Other FarcesThaddeus Perkins embarks on his comedic journey into bicycling, navigating quirky friends, eccentric gadgets, and unexpected mishaps in a lively drawing-room farce.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bickerstaff-Partridge PapersA sharp critique of astrology exposes the folly of almanac-makers while promising a new, rational approach to predictions.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bibliotaph, and Other PeopleDive into the passionate world of bibliophiles where collecting rare books becomes an art of obsession, humor, and devotion.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beth Book: Being a Study of the Life of Elizabeth Caldwell Maclure, a Woman of GeniusIn a world where women accept their lot without question, one delicate mother’s quiet suffering and unfulfilled dreams set the stage for a remarkable life.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Vol. V (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland IIIDive into the vibrant world of 18th-century Britain through the eyes of a young Scottish lawyer determined to befriend the formidable Dr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume III (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland IExplore the timeless wisdom and knowledge preserved in books, where truth shines brighter than gold and rulers and scholars alike find guidance.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VIII (of X) - Continental Europe II.Explore the tension between majority rule and individual rights as power concentrates in democratic societies, questioning whether freedom can survive when the majority’s will beco…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VI (of X)—Great Britain and Ireland IVExplore the early years of a transformative religious movement through the reflections of a devoted scholar at Oxford, as he navigates friendships, faith, and the stirring beginnin…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. IX (of X) - America - IEncounter the vivid and perilous early days of America’s first English settlements through the dramatic story of John Smith and Pocahontas, revealing alliances, betrayals, and the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. IV (of X)—Great Britain and Ireland IIDive into a rich collection of prose that captures the wit and social nuances of Britain and Ireland from 1672 to 1800, exploring themes of friendship, flattery, and human nature t…
Level C1ClassicsThe Best Letters of Charles LambDive into the intimate world of a beloved literary circle, where wit, friendship, and lively debates unfold over hearty meals and late-night gatherings.
Level C1ClassicsThe Best American Humorous Short StoriesDive into a curated collection of American short stories that blend sharp wit with literary craft, capturing humor’s broad spectrum from frontier satire to playful exaggeration.
Level C1ClassicsThe Berkeleys and their neighborsIn post-Civil War Virginia, the Campdown race-course becomes a stage for a community clinging to old traditions and fading grandeur, where hope and hardship intertwine in a world s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Benefit of the Doubt; a Comedy in Three ActsIn a sunlit drawing-room near Regent’s Park, the suspense of a high-stakes divorce case grips a fashionable family, as they await a verdict that could clear a young woman’s name an…
Level C1ClassicsThe BenefactressAt twenty-five, Anna Estcourt wrestles with the emptiness of a life shaped by dependence on her wealthy sister-in-law and societal expectations of marriage.
Level B2ClassicsThe Belovéd TraitorOn a stormy night in the quiet fishing village of Bernay-sur-Mer, tensions rise inside the aging tavern as locals grapple with memories of past tragedies and the harsh realities of…
Level C1ClassicsThe Bellman Book of Fiction, 1906-1919Amidst wartime turmoil, a mute and deaf peasant named Le Muet navigates danger and suspicion with silent resilience, accompanied only by his loyal dog.
Level B2ClassicsThe Belles of Canterbury: A Chaucer Tale Out of SchoolFour modern schoolgirls plan a Thanksgiving party while wrestling with Chaucer's characters and lines, blending medieval tales with their lively, contemporary banter and schoolroom…
Level C1ClassicsThe Belle's StratagemIn a lively London setting, a witty gentleman navigates high society’s intrigues and romantic entanglements, as new arrivals and family schemes stir the fashionable world.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bell-Ringer of Angel's, and Other StoriesIn a secluded riverside settlement transformed by gold discovery, a sharpshooting prospector known as the Bell-ringer of Angel's guards his peaceful domain while new fortunes and r…
Level C1ClassicsThe BelfryA young journalist’s chance encounter with a passionate, unconventional sports reporter sparks a story woven with risk, ambition, and the untold depths behind public personas, reve…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beldonald HolbeinAn artist is invited to paint Lady Beldonald, a beautiful yet elusive American woman whose life seems frozen by vanity and circumstance.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bed-Book of Happiness: Being a colligation or assemblage of cheerful writings brought together from many quarters into this one compass for the diversion, distraction, and delight of those who lie abed,—a friend to the invalid, a companion to the sleepless, an excuse to the tiredFind comfort and cheer in a curated collection of uplifting writings designed to brighten the spirits of the ill, the sleepless, and the weary, offering a gentle escape and a frien…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beaux-StratagemTwo charming rogues devise a clever scheme to marry rich women and escape their debts, sparking a whirlwind of wit, deception, and romance that unfolds in a single, lively day and…
Level C1ClassicsThe Beauty Of The VillageIn the quaint village of Aberleigh, Hannah Colson reigns as the undeniable beauty, adored yet spoiled by family and neighbors alike.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beautiful and DamnedA young man, heir to a vast fortune and burdened by high society's expectations, grapples with irony, honor, and his place in a world teetering between grandeur and decay.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beautiful Wretch; The Pupil of Aurelius; and The Four MacnicolsSeventeen-year-old Nan Beresford, dubbed the "Beautiful Wretch" for her sharp wit and independent spirit, wanders the serene English coast, navigating the challenges of youth, fami…