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 C1ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 10In a bleak Breton village, a ship's surgeon witnesses the harsh customs and the devastating grip of alcohol on a rugged coastal community, revealing a chilling tale of tradition, s…
Level B2ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 09In a quaint Norman hamlet, the larger-than-life innkeeper Toine, famed for his fiery cognac and boisterous charm, holds court at "The Friends' Meeting-Place," where laughter, local…
Level B2ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 08In a rural village, a boy’s vivid memories of Mother Clochette—a mysterious, bearded seamstress with a captivating presence—unfold through haunting tales and simple adventures that…
Level B2ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 07A devoted husband mourns his virtuous wife who adored imitation jewelry, only to face financial ruin after her death.
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 06A struggling clerk from a fallen aristocratic family seizes a rare chance to brighten his family's bleak existence with a country outing, but his inexperience and pride may turn th…
Level B2ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 05A devoted father navigates the complexities of family tension and unspoken struggles during quiet moments with his son.
Level B2ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 04In a rural farmstead, a dying man’s final hours cast a quiet shadow over daily life, revealing the harsh realities and stoic resilience of a peasant family as they prepare for the…
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 03A group sets out on a serene autumn morning along the Normandy coast, where an old painter begins to recount his saddest love affair, blending memories of rustic romance with the e…
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 02Amid the harsh aftermath of war, a determined French colonel leads his exhausted troops through a snow-covered landscape, where a mysterious encounter with a vulnerable woman spark…
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Short Stories — Volume 01Explore vivid tales rooted in the landscapes and lives of Normandy, where youthful discovery and literary passion intertwine to reveal the early inspirations of a master storytelle…
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Plays, Second SeriesOn a mystical island where love and sorrow intertwine, a deformed dwarf hides secrets that unravel amid veils and moonlight.![Cover of Original Plays [First Series] by W. S. Gilbert](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dackl4fvk76c73frb4l0.webp)
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Plays [First Series]In a whimsical fairyland above the clouds, ethereal beings grapple with love and desire when mortal knights descend, igniting passions and conflicts that blur the lines between mag…
Level B2ClassicsOriginal Penny Readings: A Series of Short SketchesA spirited reflection on the value of hard work and contentment, this series of sketches challenges social pretensions and celebrates the sturdy worth of the common man amidst life…
Level C1ClassicsOriginal Letters and Biographic EpitomesA detailed critique delves into the ambitious yet flawed depiction of "Ecce Homo," exploring the tension between artistic skill and spiritual expression in this intense portrayal o…
Level C1ClassicsOratory Sacred and Secular; Or, The Extemporaneous Speaker: With Sketches of the Most Eminent Speakers of All AgesExplore the art of extemporaneous speaking through practical guidance and reflections on the power of natural, spontaneous speech, drawing on insights from history’s most eminent o…
Level C1ClassicsOration on VoltaireIn the shadow of revolution and social upheaval, a powerful oration celebrates Voltaire’s legacy as a beacon of progress and reason, challenging old creeds and inspiring humanity t…
Level C1ClassicsOranges and lemonsWhen a distant island governor’s wife entrusts her delicate daughter to a reluctant bachelor uncle, old family tensions and cultural clashes surface, challenging notions of duty, i…
Level C1ClassicsOptionsIn post-Civil War Georgia, Colonel Telfair takes the helm of The Rose of Dixie magazine, determined to revive Southern pride through literature and history while navigating the cha…
Level C1ClassicsOpinionsExplore the restless mind of a novelist grappling with the life of opinions—how they form, change, and shape both writer and character alike.
Level C1ClassicsOpenings in the Old TrailA boy’s simple journey to the post-office turns into a curious adventure when he encounters a mysterious woman near the mining tunnels, sparking a tale of youthful tenacity, secret…
Level C1ClassicsOpening a Chestnut BurrA weary young man battles physical and spiritual exhaustion amid the harsh realities of city life, searching for renewed strength and purpose.
Level B2ClassicsOnly an Irish GirlIn a windswept Irish village, young Honor Blake faces the legacy of her family's troubled past and the arrival of a charming Englishman, igniting passions and rivalries that threat…
Level C1ClassicsOnly an IncidentIn the idyllic town of Joppa, where leisure and tradition reign supreme, the lives of refined inhabitants intertwine amid picturesque lakeside charm and societal expectations.
Level C1ClassicsOnly a Girl: or, A Physician for the Soul.In a neglected German estate, young Ernestine battles harsh authority and isolation, her fragile body mirroring the decay around her.
Level B2ClassicsOne way outA middle-class New Englander breaks family tradition by emigrating to America, sharing his personal struggles and sacrifices to offer hope and guidance to those seeking "one way ou…
Level C1ClassicsOne thousand dollars a day. Studies in practical economicsExplore the stark realities of labor and capital as one man grapples with economic injustice, questioning the true value of wages and the human cost behind the machinery of industr…
Level B2ClassicsOne of OursA young man on a sprawling prairie ranch faces the hardships of rural life and the complexities of family dynamics, all set against the backdrop of a warm summer day and the promis…
Level C1ClassicsOne of Our Conquerors — CompleteA charming gentleman's tumble on London Bridge sparks a clash of class and character, revealing the tensions beneath polite society’s surface.
Level C1ClassicsOne of Life's SlavesIn a gritty portrayal of Christiania's working-class life, a smith's apprentice grapples with harsh realities and a consuming passion that threatens to destroy him.
Level C1ClassicsOne Woman's LifeA sixteen-year-old girl and her family move into a cramped, dreary house on Chicago’s West Side, confronting harsh realities and dashed hopes as they seek stability amid constant u…
Level C1ClassicsOne Touch of Nature: A Petite Drama, in One ActIn the bustling world of 19th-century theatre, a playwright battles the frustrations of rehearsals, temperamental actresses, and the ambitions of his servant, who dreams beyond his…
Level C1ClassicsOne Third OffA witty and candid exploration of the trials and triumphs of losing weight, blending humor and personal insight into the challenges faced by those seeking to shed excess pounds and…
Level C1ClassicsOne Of ThemA man claiming magical powers faces a desperate challenge: uncover priceless stolen gems within forty days or face death.
Level C1ClassicsOne Man's ViewA man becomes unexpectedly captivated by a mysterious girl seen on a boarding house balcony, sparking a quiet yet profound exploration of passion, ambition, and the clash between d…
Level C1ClassicsOne Man in His TimeIn a city caught between fading traditions and relentless progress, a young man wrestles with his place in a changing world, haunted by past wars and yearning for meaning amid the…
Level B2ClassicsOne Hundred Merrie And Delightsome Stories: Right Pleasaunte To Relate In All Goodly Companie By Way Of Joyance And JollityDive into a lively collection of one hundred witty tales brimming with humor, cunning, and unexpected twists, each crafted to entertain and delight readers in good company.
Level B2ClassicsOne Day's Courtship, and The Heralds of FameAn artist ventures into the wilds to capture the majestic Shawenegan Falls with his camera, relying on the help of a wealthy lumber king and local guides.
Level C1ClassicsOne Day More: A Play In One ActIn a quiet seaside town, a blind widower and his daughter navigate tensions with their enigmatic neighbor, a retired captain obsessed with finding his long-lost son.
Level C1ClassicsOne Day At ArleIn a remote fishing village, a proud and silent woman returns from heartbreak only to face betrayal from her own husband, setting the stage for a simmering clash of secrets and fie…
Level C1ClassicsOn the eve: A novelA young Russian woman’s passionate inner world unfolds amid the quiet tensions of family and love, while contrasting characters reveal the complexities of identity, patriotism, and…
Level C1ClassicsOn the art of writing fictionDiscover the challenges of crafting fiction beyond mere storytelling, as the art lies in mastering style and captivating the reader’s imagination.
Level C1ClassicsOn the TrackIn a rugged mining town, children navigate the mysterious divide between the feared "bad girls" and the respectable families next door, uncovering secrets behind haunting songs and…
Level C1ClassicsOn the StairsTwo boys from different worlds cross paths on the worn stairs of an academy in 1873, only to find their roles reversed by 1916 within the marble halls of a bank.
Level B2ClassicsOn the Stage--and Off: The Brief Career of a Would-Be ActorA young man’s dream of the stage sparks a humorous and honest journey through the trials of aspiring to act, discovering the harsh realities behind theatrical glamour and the trans…
Level C1ClassicsOn the Seaboard: A Novel of the Baltic IslandsA tense voyage to the isolated East Skerries sets the stage for a clash between a fearless fish commissioner and a domineering surveyor, as they navigate perilous waters under an o…
Level C1ClassicsOn the Old Road, Vol. 2 (of 2): A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays and Articles on Art and LiteratureExplore the art and architecture of picture galleries through a detailed examination of their design, function, and the ideal relationship between sculpture and painting.
Level C1ClassicsOn the Old Road Vol. 1 (of 2): A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays and Articles on Art and LiteratureStep into a bygone literary world where a writer reflects on decades of meticulous editing, shifting ideals, and the evolving landscape of art, politics, and society.
Level B2ClassicsOn the Iron at Big CloudA determined young man takes on the grueling role of Locomotive Foreman in the rugged Hill Division, where tough conditions and fierce competition test every ounce of skill and res…