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 Beautiful LadyA young Neapolitan actor's dreams of the stage are dashed, forcing him into a humiliating role as a living billboard in the heart of Paris.
Level C1ClassicsThe Beast in the JungleA man attends a grand estate tour, where a chance encounter with a mysterious woman stirs a forgotten past and unspoken tensions, setting the stage for a haunting exploration of me…
Level C1ClassicsThe Battle of the Books, and other Short PiecesAmidst a fierce literary quarrel between defenders of Ancient and Modern writers, a sharp-witted scholar navigates rivalries with wit and satire.
Level C1ClassicsThe Battle of LifeAmidst the peaceful English countryside lies a forgotten battlefield, where nature thrives over the scars of a fierce and bloody fight.
Level C1ClassicsThe Bath Keepers; Or, Paris in Those Days, v.2: (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume VIII)In a stormy Paris night, Ambroisine confronts the turmoil of family strife and unexpected visitors, revealing a world of hardship, loyalty, and secrets among the city's bath keeper…
Level C1ClassicsThe Barton ExperimentIn a small town united against alcohol, a grand temperance meeting brings together clergy, citizens, and reformers for a stirring call to battle King Alcohol.
Level C1ClassicsThe Baronet's Bride; Or, A Woman's VengeanceIn a grand estate shadowed by impending tragedy, Sir Jasper Kingsland faces a harrowing night as his wife lies gravely ill, forcing him to confront his past and the weight of his o…
Level C1ClassicsThe Baritone's Parish; or, "All Things to All Men"In a city church where pulpit and choir rarely connect, the new baritone singer forms an unexpected bond with the pastor, revealing the complex harmony between music, faith, and pe…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ball at SceauxA steadfast royalist and war hero struggles to reclaim his lost honor and fortune in post-revolutionary France, only to face cold indifference and political intrigue at the royal c…
Level B2ClassicsThe Bad Man: A NovelA determined young American stakes his claim in the harsh Arizona borderlands, facing relentless raids and government inaction while struggling to protect his ranch and find hope a…
Level B1ClassicsThe Bad Boy at Home, and His Experiences in Trying to Become an Editor: 1885A mischievous young man with grand ambitions dives into the chaotic world of newspaper publishing, navigating quirky editors, odd tasks, and the lively hustle of New York’s press s…
Level C1ClassicsThe Babe, B.A. : being the uneventful history of a young gentleman at Cambridge UniversityA young undergraduate navigates the ordinary yet chaotic life of Cambridge University, where cricket, football mishaps, and academic trials shape the uneventful but spirited days o…
Level C1ClassicsThe Ayrshire Legatees; Or, The Pringle FamilyWhen Dr.
Level C2ClassicsThe Awkward AgeIn the heart of London’s social scene, a young woman’s awkward transition from girlhood sparks tension and revelation among her family and society.
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening: (The Resurrection)In the oppressive confines of a city jail, a young woman named Maslova prepares to face trial, embodying the harsh clash between nature's renewal and human cruelty in a world blind…
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening, and Selected Short StoriesIn a vibrant coastal retreat, a woman begins to question the confines of her marriage and the roles imposed on her, as her restless spirit stirs beneath the surface of everyday lif…
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of ChildhoodAdolescents grapple with the harsh realities of ignorance and societal repression in a stark exploration of youthful innocence confronted by natural instincts.
Level C1ClassicsThe Awakening of Helena RichieIn a small town marked by secrets and solitude, a widow's quiet life stirs curiosity as a doctor seeks a home for an orphaned boy.
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of an Ex-Colored ManBorn into a post-Civil War South, a fair-complexioned Black boy navigates the complex, often painful realities of race in America, uncovering hidden truths about identity, prejudic…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Super-TrampExperience the candid journey of a man living on society's edges, whose simple, poetic reflections reveal the raw truths of a life spent wandering as a super-tramp, untouched by li…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a SlanderIn a sleepy town where gossip reigns, a scandalous slander comes to life, weaving through social intrigues and whispered secrets.
Level B2ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Quack, and The Case of George DedlowConfined to a hospital bed with a mysterious illness, a clever and defiant man recounts his colorful life and dubious schemes, challenging the judgments of society while seeking pu…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Play: Papers on Play-Making, IIExplore the art of play-making through the meticulous craft and human insight of a pioneering American dramatist, revealing how thoughtful construction and deep sympathy shape comp…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of a Journalist, Volume IA journalist reflects on his life’s journey from strict New England Puritan roots to intellectual freedom, sharing personal and public experiences that shaped his unique perspectiv…
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of Mark Rutherford, Edited by his friend Reuben ShapcottA reflective soul wrestles with the weight of lofty ambitions and the pursuit of happiness amid ordinary life’s demands.
Level C1ClassicsThe Autobiography of Goethe: Truth and Poetry: From My Own LifeJourney through a lifetime of poetic creation and self-reflection as a renowned artist arranges his works chronologically, revealing the passions, influences, and intellectual purs…
Level C1ClassicsThe Author's CraftA young, naive puppy’s fatal encounter with a motor-bus sparks a quiet spectacle of public opinion, authority, and human indifference on the streets of Fulham Road.
Level C1ClassicsThe Author of BeltraffioA young American writer nervously seeks out the elusive and brilliant author of "Beltraffio," hoping for insight into art and genius during an intimate visit in the English country…
Level C1ClassicsThe Auction BlockA family faces tough choices as political ambitions clash with small-town loyalties, pushing them toward a new life in the bustling, corrupt world of New York politics.
Level C1ClassicsThe Attaché; or, Sam Slick in England — CompleteAn outspoken Canadian wit arrives in England, offering sharp political views and quirky humor as he navigates new social landscapes.
Level C1ClassicsThe Athelings; or, the Three Gifts. Vol. 3/3A determined boy confronts his mother to uncover his family's tangled past, revealing secrets of forgery, betrayal, and a disgraced lord poised for political power.
Level C1ClassicsThe Athelings; or, the Three Gifts. Vol. 2/3Two young girls step into the enchanting world of a riverside villa, captivated by its beauty and the mysterious guests within.
Level C1ClassicsThe Athelings; or, the Three Gifts. Vol. 1/3Two sisters, alike in dress but distinct in spirit, navigate the bustling streets of suburban London, their innocence and differences unfolding amid everyday life and family ties.
Level C1ClassicsThe Athelings; or, the Three Gifts. CompleteTwo sisters, alike in dress but strikingly different in spirit and beauty, navigate life’s modest challenges in a bustling London suburb.
Level C1ClassicsThe Atheist's MassA brilliant surgeon renowned for his scientific genius and staunch atheism confronts the mysteries of life and death with unyielding skepticism, challenging the very nature of the…
Level C1ClassicsThe Astonishing History of Troy TownIn a genteel seaside town thriving on tradition and propriety, social rituals and whispered scandals shape the lives of its inhabitants.
Level C1ClassicsThe Associate HermitsA young couple defies tradition by refusing a wedding trip, proposing instead that their parents take the honeymoon journey while they begin married life at home.
Level C1ClassicsThe Aspirations of Jean ServienBorn into humble beginnings and nurtured by a mother's lofty dreams, Jean Servien navigates a life shaped by family ties and quiet struggles in a Parisian neighborhood.
Level C1ClassicsThe Aspern PapersA determined scholar schemes to live as a lodger in a reclusive Venetian palace to uncover the elusive, priceless letters of the celebrated poet Jeffrey Aspern, guarded by two prou…
Level C1ClassicsThe Asbestos Society of Sinners: detailing the diversions of Dives and others on the playground of Pluto, with some broken threads of drop-stitch history, picked up by a newspaper man in Hades and woven into a Stygian nights' entertainmentA newspaper man receives a mysterious assignment to explore Hades, the playground of Pluto, weaving together dark humor and historical tales from the underworld in a witty and imag…
Level C2ClassicsThe Art or Crafte of RhetorykeDelve into the art of persuasive speech and instruction as a dedicated tutor crafts a guide to rhetoric for young scholars destined for law, diplomacy, or teaching in a flourishing…
Level C1ClassicsThe Art of the Moving PictureExplore the emergence of cinema as a revolutionary art form, blending architecture, sculpture, and painting in motion.
Level C1ClassicsThe Art of Theatrical Make-upExplore the transformative world behind the stage as actors harness makeup to breathe life into characters, blending psychology, art, and craftsmanship.
Level C1ClassicsThe Art of Public SpeakingMaster the art of public speaking by focusing on authentic self-expression and inner confidence rather than rigid rules or mimicry.
Level C1ClassicsThe Art of LecturingUnlock the secrets to captivating an audience with expert guidance on voice training, personal magnetism, and crafting compelling openings.
Level C1ClassicsThe Art of DisappearingWhen a train crash strands Horace Endicott alongside a Monsignor carrying holy oils, an unexpected bond forms amid chaos and questions of faith, duty, and the true meaning of life…
Level C1ClassicsThe Art of Being Bored: A Comedy in Three ActsIn a lively drawing-room at Madame de Céran’s château, a missing letter sparks a search among witty characters embodying the quirks and boredom of high society.
Level C1ClassicsThe Arrow-Maker: A Drama in Three ActsIn a Southwestern tribe, a gifted woman known as the Chisera holds the mysterious power of the Medicine Woman, caught between her divine gifts and the tribe’s demands.