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 C1ClassicsSuburban SketchesExperience the quiet charm and unexpected dramas of suburban life in Charlesbridge, where nature's resilience meets the rhythms of a close-knit community and the promise of simple…
Level C1ClassicsStyle and the ManExplore the intimate art of style and its impact on writing, as the author navigates personal preferences, literary tastes, and timeless influences shaping the way we express ourse…
Level C1ClassicsStyleExplore the art of style as it transcends mere writing, shaping expression across literature, music, and even human gesture.
Level C1ClassicsStudying the short-story: Sixteen short-story classics with introductions, notes and a new laboratory study method for individual reading and use in colleges and schools.Explore sixteen carefully selected short stories, each accompanied by critical introductions, notes, and study questions designed to deepen understanding and analysis.
Level C1ClassicsStudy of a WomanIn a world where virtue and ambition intertwine, the Marquise de Listomere navigates society with calculated grace while a young, clever man, Eugene de Rastignac, intrigues her wit…
Level C1ClassicsStudies in WivesA young bride navigates the complexities of her new life in a stately Westminster home, caught between societal expectations and her own quiet discontent.
Level C1ClassicsStubbleIn a rain-soaked Southern home, Mary Louise confronts the arrival of Zenie, who brings an unexpected bundle—a fragile infant named Nausea Zekiel Thompson—unveiling secrets and shif…
Level C1ClassicsStrong as DeathAn aging artist, once celebrated for his strength and beauty, struggles with fading inspiration and the pressure to please a fickle public, as he searches for a new muse amidst the…
Level C1ClassicsStrong HeartsIn the post-war South, a young man known as "Crackedfiddle" navigates the tangled realms of faith, poetry, and survival, revealing the profound unity between religion and the human…
Level C1ClassicsStrife: A Drama in Three ActsTensions ignite at the Trenartha Tin Plate Works, where a fierce winter strike pits the company’s board and management against the determined workers’ committee.
Level C1ClassicsStrife and PeaceAmidst the majestic, untamed mountains and serene valleys of ancient Norway, discover a land untouched by time, where nature’s grandeur and tranquil beauty offer refuge from the wo…
Level C1ClassicsStrictly Business: More Stories of the Four MillionBehind the vaudeville curtain, two performers navigate the realities of the stage far from the glamorous myths—one harboring a secret sketch and searching for the perfect partner t…
Level C2ClassicsStray leaves from strange literature; and, Fantastics and other fanciesDive into a mosaic of exotic legends, fables, and parables drawn from Indian, Buddhist, Polynesian, Moslem, and Talmudic traditions, each reconstructed with poetic license to revea…
Level C1ClassicsStrangers at LisconnelIn the remote hamlet of Lisconnel, life unfolds in quiet rhythms amid vast boglands and changing seasons, where the arrival of strangers is a rare and intriguing event.
Level B2ClassicsStrangers and WayfarersIn a wintry New England journey, a timid mail carrier armed with caution and an elderly passenger wrapped in shawls face the biting cold and quiet roads, weaving tales of old peril…
Level B2ClassicsStrange watersWhen the government commandeers the freighter Aurora for ocean service, little Tim Donahue faces a wrenching change from his life as a humble fireman, caught between loyalty to his…
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from the Lodge of LeisuresDive into a world where Taoist magicians, wandering souls, and Buddhist reincarnations intertwine, revealing the mysterious beliefs and everyday life of eighteenth-century China th…
Level B2ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 2 (of 2)A young trader’s son is swept away by a typhoon to a strange land where beauty dictates power, and the people fear his unusual appearance.
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Vol. 1 (of 2)Enter a world where ancient Chinese customs, beliefs, and supernatural tales unfold through the eyes of a scholar deeply immersed in his culture.
Level C1ClassicsStrange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes 1 and 2)Delve into a collection of eerie and fascinating tales that reveal the customs, superstitions, and spiritual life of ancient China, as told by a scholar deeply immersed in Chinese…
Level C1ClassicsStrange StoriesVenturing into the realms of psychology and sensation, these stories explore hereditary character, moral ambiguity, and cultural clashes through gripping tales of human nature’s de…
Level B2ClassicsStory of Chester Lawrence: Being the Completed Account of One who Played an Important Part in "Piney Ridge Cottage"As a lone passenger aboard a rain-soaked ship departing New York, Chester Lawrence finds unexpected camaraderie with fellow Mormon missionaries bound for distant lands.
Level B2ClassicsStories of the Foot-hillsIn a rugged foothill valley, Lysander Sproul navigates land disputes, stubborn neighbors, and the harsh realities of ranch life, where every acre and alliance is hard-won amid the…
Level C1ClassicsStories of a Western TownIn a quiet Western town dusted with silver frost, a desperate woman races against time to save her husband from his recurring shadows of despair and attempts on his own life, revea…
Level B2ClassicsStories of Red HanrahanOn Samhain Eve, Red Hanrahan, a fiery-haired schoolmaster, sets out on a urgent journey to reunite with his sweetheart Mary Lavelle, whose mother has just died and whose future han…
Level C1ClassicsStories of New YorkIn a New York drawing-room, Esther Van Dyke prepares for an afternoon tea that stirs old flames and unresolved feelings, as unexpected guests and past loves converge in a delicate…
Level C1ClassicsStories of IntellectA man rents a reputedly haunted London house, only to find an undefinable terror that drives him and his wife away.
Level C1ClassicsStories of ExileAmid the flickering glow of a mountain kiln, a mysterious laughter unsettles a father and son, hinting at deeper, haunting secrets.
Level C1ClassicsStories of ComedyIn a lively Irish fishing village, Barny O'Reirdon, a respected and jovial fisherman, clashes and converses with a rival cousin, blending humor, local rivalries, and rural wisdom i…
Level C1ClassicsStories in yellow, black, white, blue, violet and redDive into a collection of vivid tales painted with poetic rhythm and color, where happiness sparks stories as fleeting and bright as a stroll on a sunny afternoon.
Level C1ClassicsStories in Light and ShadowIn a quaint German town where soldiers parade like actors on a stage, the American consul navigates the curious blend of military spectacle and peaceful industry, uncovering the ch…
Level B2ClassicsStories from the PentameroneA melancholy princess who never laughs embarks on a quest to break a mysterious curse, aided by magical fairies and enchanted gifts, as she seeks the elusive Prince of Round-Field…
Level B2ClassicsStories from the Greek TragediansA loyal wife offers her own life to save her husband from death, setting in motion a divine struggle between gods and fate.
Level B2ClassicsStories from the Chap-Book: Being a Miscellany of Curious and Interesting Tales, Histories, &c; Newly Composed by Many Celebrated Writers and Very Delightful to Read.An elderly couple grapples with the haunting memories of their lost daughters on a stormy night, as the boundaries between grief and the supernatural blur beneath the moonlit sky.
Level B2ClassicsStories from TagoreA curious young girl befriends a gentle fruit seller from Kabul, sparking a tender connection that bridges their worlds.
Level B2ClassicsStories from Northern MythsBefore the earth existed, fiery sparks meet icy mists, birthing giants and gods in a world of cosmic battles and creation.
Level C1ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: SpanishIn the serene pine groves near the Escurial, a civil engineer recounts a mysterious tale of love, loss, and supernatural events that defy reason and science, challenging the skepti…
Level B2ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: ScandinavianA wealthy parish leader navigates the joys and sorrows of fatherhood, facing profound loss and seeking redemption in a tale of faith, family, and the enduring hope for a true bless…
Level C1ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: RussianIn a gloomy Moscow courtyard, Gerasim, a deaf and mute giant, struggles to adapt from a life of rural labor to servitude as a porter under a cold widow.
Level B2ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: Polish, Greek, Belgian, HungarianAn aging soldier, weathered by battles and wanderings, seeks solace as the new lighthouse keeper on a remote, rocky island where isolation and duty converge amid treacherous waters…
Level B2ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: ItalianAs Italy braces for the army's advance on Rome, a young patriot defies his family's fears and sets out to witness history firsthand, igniting a clash of ideals and emotions within…
Level C1ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: German — Volume 2Step into 18th-century Leipzig with Christian Gellert, a beloved poet and moral philosopher wrestling with the true meaning of honor, fame, and the impact of his teachings on youth…
Level C1ClassicsStories by Foreign Authors: German — Volume 1A determined young woman named Laurella defies local gossip and sets sail for Capri with a kindly priest, carrying a mysterious bundle and a fierce independence in a vibrant coasta…
Level C1ClassicsStories by English Authors: Scotland (Selected by Scribners)In a lively Scottish village, Sam’l Dickie navigates rivalry, romance, and local gossip as he courts T’nowhead’s Bell, facing competition from Little Sanders Elshioner and the watc…
Level C1ClassicsStories by English Authors: London (Selected by Scribners)In a London club where waiters blend into the background, one man’s inattentive service sparks a surprising shift in their quiet relationship, revealing the unseen lives and tensio…
Level C1ClassicsStories by English Authors: IrelandAn old Irish gentleman’s servant, Pat, spins a wild tale of survival after their ship sinks in the Atlantic, leaving them adrift with dwindling supplies and hope amid the vast, unf…
Level B2ClassicsStories by English Authors: Germany (Selected by Scribners)A young woman arrives alone at a Swiss hotel, tuning the piano with a passion that surprises onlookers and sparks curiosity.
Level C1ClassicsStories by English Authors: EnglandA chance encounter on an 1847 train journey sparks a delicate dance of attraction and wit between a captivating lady and a charming cavalry officer, set against the mysterious back…