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 C1ClassicsOn the FrontierA mysterious fog-shrouded California coastline hides a stranded boat with a sleeping child, setting the stage for a suspenseful tale of survival and secrets on the untamed frontier…
Level C1ClassicsOn the Decay of the Art of LyingExplore a witty defense of lying as an essential, even noble art, lamenting its decline in skill and advocating for its careful cultivation in daily life and society’s rituals.
Level C1ClassicsOn reading in relation to literatureExplore the art of true reading beyond mere words on a page, uncovering how genuine literary appreciation demands critical thought, original insight, and a deeper engagement with t…
Level C1ClassicsOn Strike, or, Where do the Girls come in?A wealthy man, devastated by love and loss, dedicates his fortune to improving the lives of working women.
Level C1ClassicsOn SomethingExplore the bold vision of revitalizing English drama by focusing on the nuanced lives of the middle class, where everyday struggles and triumphs unfold in the majestic cadence of…
Level B2ClassicsOn Our SelectionA family's grueling struggle to clear and cultivate a wild Australian selection tests their endurance, hope, and unity amid isolation and harsh nature.
Level C1ClassicsOn Nothing & Kindred SubjectsExplore the profound and paradoxical nature of Nothing as the author delves into philosophy, society, and human experience, revealing the mysterious allure and ultimate significanc…
Level C1ClassicsOn EverythingExplore the enduring power of song as a vital force woven through labor, war, exile, and memory, revealing how melody sustains humanity's spirit and connects us across history and…
Level C1ClassicsOn AnythingA man’s quest to build castles in Spain leads him through deserted gardens, mysterious encounters, and the harsh realities of Aragon’s muddy lands.
Level C1ClassicsOnAn impassioned governor in Egypt seeks a love that truly answers his heart, assembling a grand seraglio yet finding none who can meet his deep longing.
Level C1ClassicsOmbraRaised in cold isolation by a guardian who forbids affection, heiress Katherine Courtenay faces a lonely childhood devoid of comfort or friendship.
Level C1ClassicsOlla PodridaA man plagued by an all-consuming obsession with politics finds his every thought and experience haunted by parliamentary debates and party rivalries, turning everyday life into a…
Level B2ClassicsOlivia in IndiaSet sail with Olivia as she endures a tempestuous sea voyage to India, forging unexpected friendships and facing the challenges of travel with humor and heart.
Level C1ClassicsOliver TwistBorn into hardship in a grim workhouse, an infant named Oliver Twist faces a harsh world from his very first breath.
Level C1ClassicsOliver OctoberBorn on a harsh October day in the small town of Rumley, Oliver Baxter Jr.
Level C1ClassicsOliver Goldsmith: A BiographyExplore the life and struggles of a gifted writer navigating poverty, literary rivals, and social circles in 18th-century England, revealing the challenges behind creative genius a…
Level C1ClassicsOliver GoldsmithExplore the humble beginnings of a beloved English writer, tracing his childhood in a remote Irish village and the quirky characters who shaped his early life, revealing the roots…
Level C1ClassicsOliver Constable, miller and baker, Vol. 3 (of 3)As winter sets in, Harry Stanhope clings to his role as a yeoman with relentless enthusiasm, navigating the hardships of rural life and markets while charming the miller’s family w…
Level C1ClassicsOliver Constable, miller and baker, Vol. 2 (of 3)In a rural town, Oliver Constable, a miller and baker, sparks a spirited debate over cultivating gardens and forming a field naturalists’ society, challenging local attitudes towar…
Level C1ClassicsOliver Constable, miller and baker, Vol. 1 (of 3)Nestled beside the stately Copley Grange, Friarton Mill stands as a picturesque testament to the harmony of water, wood, and heritage.
Level C1ClassicsOlive: A NovelBorn into a modest Scottish home beneath Stirling’s castle, Olive Rothesay enters a world shadowed by hardship and whispered superstitions.
Level C1ClassicsOle Mars an' Ole MissStep into the lush Eastern Shore of Maryland before the war, where vibrant characters sing, dance, and live amid sprawling estates, fragrant gardens, and flowing rivers.
Level C1ClassicsOldtown Fireside StoriesIn a quiet New England town where winter nights stretch long and wild, children gather by the fire to hear Sam Lawson's eerie tales of wilderness adventures, mysterious dreams, and…
Level B2ClassicsOldhamIn a quiet New England parish, a humble red schoolhouse hums with the rhythms of country life, where a determined teacher guides her small class through lessons of faith and resili…
Level C1ClassicsOldfield: A Kentucky Tale of the Last CenturyIn the quiet Pennyroyal Region of Kentucky, two delicate sisters share a tender, ritualized bond in a fading old home, their lives marked by grace and gentle devotion amidst the ch…
Level B2ClassicsOld lamps for newAt a unique school where lessons in empathy outweigh traditional teaching, children experience temporary disabilities—blindness, lameness, silence—to truly understand the challenge…
Level B2ClassicsOld SlowpokeIn rugged hunting grounds, the slow-moving but determined Rall Hollidge relies on his seemingly useless dog, Old Slowpoke, as he vies for the affection of Jane Saunders while facin…
Level C1ClassicsOld People and the Things That PassIn a quiet household filled with complex family ties and unspoken tensions, a young man faces the uncertainty of marriage while navigating the delicate bonds with his mother and st…
Level C1ClassicsOld Mr. TredgoldTwo sisters, Katherine and Stella, navigate the contrasts of youth and society beneath the commanding cliffs of the Isle of Wight, where family legacy and personal shadows stir ben…
Level C1ClassicsOld Mole: Being the Surprising Adventures in England of Herbert Jocelyn Beenham, M.A., Sometime Sixth-Form Master at Thrigsby Grammar School in the County of LancasterA dedicated grammar school master known as "Old Mole" fiercely guards his classroom in a dull English town, shaping a talented but wayward pupil whose journey through literature an…
Level C1ClassicsOld Man Savarin, and Other StoriesAn aging fisherwoman recalls the ruthless Old Man Savarin, who seizes control of fishing rights and extorts her village, igniting fierce resistance over ancestral waters along the…
Level B2ClassicsOld Man Savarin Stories: Tales of Canada and CanadiansJourney into the heart of Canada through vivid tales of honor, hardship, and community, where old debts, family loyalty, and rugged landscapes shape the lives of unforgettable char…
Level C1ClassicsOld Man Curry: Race Track StoriesEnter the world of Old Man Curry, where the thrilling, rugged life of horse racing unfolds through tales of colorful characters and vanished traditions, revealing a bygone era of g…
Level C1ClassicsOld Lady Number 31An aging couple faces the harsh realities of poverty, selling their cherished possessions to secure a future in neighboring old folks’ homes.
Level C1ClassicsOld Lady Mary: A Story of the Seen and the UnseenAn elderly woman reflects on a life filled with beauty, love, loss, and triumphs as she faces the quiet challenge of accepting death.
Level C1ClassicsOld KensingtonIn a tranquil Old Kensington suburb untouched by progress, children like Dolly Vanborough find magic in the echoes of church bells, ivy-clad walls, and timeless memories.
Level C1ClassicsOld Judge PriestIn a worn courthouse warmed by a flickering fire, Judge Priest wrestles with legal papers and the quirks of his old steam heating system, revealing the rhythms of small-town justic…
Level C1ClassicsOld Jabe's Marital Experiments: 1908In the post-Civil War South, Old Jabe, a sly and persistent freedman, navigates freedom on his own terms—trading on his past, juggling numerous wives, and outlasting overseers with…
Level B2ClassicsOld Gorgon Graham: More Letters from a Self-Made Merchant to His SonA self-made pork packing magnate writes candid letters to his son, blending tough business lessons with fatherly advice, revealing the challenges of legacy, leadership, and family…
Level C1ClassicsOld Friends: Essays in Epistolary ParodyDive into a witty collection of imagined letters where beloved literary characters from different worlds and eras engage in humorous and unexpected exchanges, revealing the playful…
Level B2ClassicsOld Friends and NewIn a quiet village, Miss Horatia Dane lives a life shadowed by a lost love and solitude until her young cousin Nelly arrives, bringing fresh energy and unexpected warmth to the old…
Level C1ClassicsOld Fires and Profitable Ghosts: A Book of StoriesHaunted by grief and the mysterious death of his brother, a man confronts the fragile boundary between life and the beyond, where spirits revisit old emotions and forgotten scenes.
Level C1ClassicsOld Familiar FacesStep inside the vibrant world of a literary circle where friendships with celebrated poets and thinkers illuminate a life devoted to art, conversation, and timeless camaraderie.
Level B2ClassicsOld EbenezerIn the slow Southern town of Old Ebenezer, Sam Lyman, a once energetic Northerner turned weary schoolteacher, navigates the clash between ambition and complacency as he seeks purpo…
Level C1ClassicsOld CrowIn postwar Boston, a weary uncle grapples with the harsh realities of life and seeks to pass his burdens onto his idealistic nephew, while a spirited young woman brings unexpected…
Level C1ClassicsOld ChristmasStep back into a time when Christmas was a grand celebration of family, faith, and festive cheer, blending sacred tradition with the warmth of rustic English holiday customs and he…
Level C1ClassicsOff-Hand Sketches, a Little Dashed with HumorA devoted preacher faces the harsh realities of a remote, indifferent circuit, where poverty and ignorance challenge his faith and resolve.![Cover of Of the making of a book by D. Appleton and Company [Compiler]](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da94cstnmvfc73bilhrg.webp)
Level C1ClassicsOf the making of a bookDiscover the meticulous craft behind turning a manuscript into a printed book, with practical guidance on preparing, submitting, and proofreading text to avoid common pitfalls and…